Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 16, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS honors those in recovery from
substance use disorder during Recovery Month  

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is committed to investing in prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery support services to ensure the number of Michiganders impacted by substance use and dying of overdoses continues to decline. As part of Recovery Month, MDHHS is honoring individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. 

Additionally, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared September as Recovery Month. 

“This Recovery Month we honor and support those receiving treatment for substance use disorder and continue to make more resources available to better support those in recovery,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “These supports focus on ensuring the well-being of individuals in recovery including health and wellness, housing and employment.” 

Michigan is making the following investments and policy changes to better support long-term recovery: 

• In partnership with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, provided $2.5 million in opioid settlement dollars through grants to agencies to expand recovery housing capacity.  
• Launched the Michigan Recovery Friendly Workplace program. Employers that are designated as Recovery Friendly Workplaces receive training and assistance to better support employees impacted by substance use disorder. 
• Supported 17 treatment and recovery organizations through $2.7 million in opioid settlement funds to provide transportation to individuals seeking treatment, recovery or harm reduction services. More than 10,200 rides, bus passes and gas cards have been provided and resulted in individuals receiving critical services and support to aid them in their recovery. 
• Supported 18 recovery community organization locations with $500,000 to better serve their communities by offering peer recovery coaching and connections to services and substance-free activities and events. 
• Provided $6 million to eight Pre-paid Inpatient Health Plans for a Recovery Incentives Pilot for Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees. This evidence-based treatment provides motivational incentives, such as gift cards, to people living with an SUD who achieve their treatment goals. 
• Invested $10 million in harm reduction programs to provide naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips. More than one million naloxone kits have been distributed with more than 10,5000 uses reported.   
• Removed the prior authorization to prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) for Medicaid beneficiaries, allowing for a 20% increase in the last four years for the number MOUDs prescribed by primary care physicians. 

More information about Michigan’s efforts to address substance use disorder and available recovery supports is available at Michigan.gov/SUD.  

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Record number of Michigan hospitals pursue Maternal Levels
of Care verification and receive health quality payment  

LANSING, Mich. – Fifty three Michigan hospitals have met the highest benchmarks for maternal health services and applied for the Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) verification through The Joint Commission, announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services today. Michigan has had more hospitals apply for verification than any other state, demonstrating the commitment to high-quality maternal health care.  

MLC verification is a comprehensive verification process, developed in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), to ensure hospitals meet rigorous standards for the care of pregnant and postpartum patients. This includes readiness, capability and effectiveness in identifying and managing complex maternal conditions, which may include transferring patients to a more appropriate care level as needed.  

“The successful launch of the Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program in Michigan is a testament to our commitment to excellence and a significant step forward in advancing maternal health,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Success can be achieved when we align efforts, form true partnerships and invest in maternal and infant health to improve outcomes for parents.”

In April 2024, MDHHS announced it would begin providing quality payments to birthing hospitals fully participating in the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) and for applying for MLC verification. Payments are based on the number of Medicaid-covered births and each hospital’s maternal morbidity rate. These payments support the continuation of maternal quality initiatives in hospitals and their associated implementation costs. The quality payments are funded by $9 million in Michigan’s state budget dedicated to investing in maternal health improvement efforts.  

“We applaud each of the hospitals and their birthing teams for the time and effort they spent over recent weeks to complete the application process,” said Brian Peters, Michigan Health & Hospital Association CEO. “This work signifies the dedication Michigan birthing hospitals have toward providing high quality and safe care to Michigan mothers and babies.”  

“The Joint Commission commends the state of Michigan, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, and Michigan hospitals for their commitment to excellence in maternal and neonatal care,” said Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, president and CEO of The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International. “We look forward to working closely with Michigan hospitals to provide support and validation of their maternal capabilities and policies for formal level of maternal care determination.”  

Supporting MLC Verification is one part of MDHHS’ broader initiative to address and improve maternal health disparities and outcomes. Last month, the Detroit Medical Center became the first hospital system in the state to complete applications for MLC verification. These efforts align with national strategies to strengthen maternal care systems.  

“As the country takes steps to reduce the unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality, ACOG applauds the Michigan hospitals that are aiming to make birth safer in their state by applying for MLC Verification,” said Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG Chief of Clinical Practice and Health Equity and Quality. “MLC Verification is beneficial to hospitals, clinicians and patients by helping hospitals identify and fill gaps in capabilities and personnel to ensure pregnant and postpartum individuals receive risk-appropriate maternal care. The state, MHA and ACOG member OB-GYNs in Michigan have done a tremendous job working together to support this effort and I am hopeful it will lead to a rapid expansion of MLC Verification in Michigan and beyond.” 

Birthing hospitals wishing to learn more about MLC Verification can visit the MHA’s Maternal Levels of Care webpage. 

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 20, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov

Michigan’s older residents have taken 1.5 million GetSetUp classes

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is observing four years of partnership with GetSetUp, an online learning platform tailored for older adults to support active aging and independence. This collaboration aims to enhance mental, physical and social well-being in older Michigan residents to combat social isolation and provide opportunities for lifelong learning.

Through this partnership, Michigan residents aged 60 and older have free access to a catalog of more than 5,000 classes across 40 different categories. Over 1.5 million classes have been attended by Michiganders since the partnership began in 2020.

“We are proud to partner with GetSetUp to offer a wide array of classes that enrich the lives of older Michigan residents,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to support the health and well-being of our senior community and create opportunities for our residents to connect and engage.”

GetSetUp offers a number of benefits, including:

• Digital Literacy: Classes on digital skills needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world to meet older adults where they are.
• Health Equity: Virtual education options on aging benefits, demonstrating how to use websites and apps, and offering health and wellness classes.
• Mental Health: Classes on mindfulness, meditation and cognitive exercises help enhance mental clarity and reduce stress.
• Physical Health: Fitness sessions promote physical well-being with low-impact exercises and modified exercises like chair yoga and yoga for arthritis.
• Social Health: Interactive and live classes create opportunities for social engagement, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• Equity and Accessibility: Combat social isolation and provide equitable access to services. GetSetUp ensures that older adults in Michigan’s rural and socio-economically diverse areas can benefit from these resources.

Many of these classes are also available embedded on websites such as area agencies on aging (AAAs) and libraries through GetSetUp Anywhere.

“Michigan was our first statewide partner, and we are incredibly proud to positively impact Michiganders as we move into our fourth year of a thriving partnership that benefits hundreds of thousands of older adults,” said Lawrence Kosick, GetSetUp president and co-founder. “The success and engagement we’ve seen in Michigan exemplify the power of lifelong learning and community connection. Our partnership highlights the practical impact that MDHHS has on its older residents daily to show a shift and change to offer this growing aging demographic empowering opportunities.”

About GetSetUp

GetSetUp is an online platform for active agers, ensuring opportunity exists at every age. Through expert-led sessions by older adults for older adults and vibrant community interactions, we inspire continuous learning, holistic well-being and a renewed sense of purpose, turning aging into an era of boundless growth and connection. GetSetUp partners with AAAs, Departments of Aging, DHHS, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans to offer programming to millions of older adults. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin.