Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2024

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

MDHHS issues award recommendation for Michigan’s Medicaid Health Plans
  Health plan coverage awarded based on state’s 10 Prosperity Regions 

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has awarded Comprehensive Health Care Program contracts for Michigan’s Medicaid health plans, which serve nearly 2 million Michigan residents receiving coverage through Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan. 

Nine health plans submitted proposals. The five-year contracts include three, one-year optional extensions and go into effect Tuesday, Oct. 1. Contracts were awarded based on the state’s 10 Prosperity Regions: 

• Region 1 – Upper Peninsula Prosperity Alliance: Upper Peninsula Health Plan, LLC.
• Region 2 – Northwest Prosperity Region: Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., Priority Health Choice, Inc.
• Region 3 – Northeast Prosperity Region: Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., Priority Health Choice, Inc.
• Region 4 – West Michigan Prosperity Alliance: Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., Priority Health Choice, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.
• Region 5 – East Central Michigan Prosperity Region: Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc.
• Region 6 – East Michigan Prosperity Region: Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, HAP CareSource, Inc., McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.
• Region 7 – South Central Prosperity Region: Aetna Better Health of Michigan, Inc., HAP CareSource, Inc., McLaren Health Plan, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.
• Region 8 – Southwest Prosperity Region: Aetna Better Health of Michigan, Inc., McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.
• Region 9 – Southeast Prosperity Region: Aetna Better Health of Michigan, Inc., Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, HAP CareSource, Inc., McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.
• Region 10 – Detroit Metro Prosperity Region: Aetna Better Health of Michigan, Inc., Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, LLC, HAP CareSource, Inc., McLaren Health Plan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., Priority Health Choice, Inc., United Healthcare Community Plan, Inc.

“MDHHS has selected Medicaid health plan contractors with the experience, capabilities and commitment to deliver equitable, coordinated and person-centered care,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “This includes prioritizing health equity, addressing social determinants of health, increasing childhood immunization rates and improving access to health care providers. The overarching goal is to provide Michigan families with a healthier future.” 

MDHHS embedded changes in the new health plan contracts to strengthen Medicaid services provided to enrollees. Several of these changes seek to address social determinants of health through investment in and engagement with community-based organizations. The introduction of “in lieu of services” is one of these important changes and will allow plans to pay for nutrition services that have been shown to improve health. 

The rebid was part of MIHealthyLife, an initiative launched in 2022 to strengthen Medicaid services through new Medicaid health plan contracts. Input from nearly 10,000 enrollees and family members, health care providers, health plans and other community partners informed the creation of five MIHealthyLife strategic pillars: 

• Serve the Whole Person, Coordinating Health and Health-Related Needs.
• Give All Kids a Healthy Start.
• Promote Health Equity and Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities.
• Drive Innovation and Operational Excellence.
• Engage Members, Families and Communities.

The MIHealthyLife initiative guided design of Comprehensive Health Care Program changes embedded in the Medicaid Health Plan contract rebid. An informational webinar is available on the MIHealthyLife home page describing these priority program changes in more detail: 

• Prioritizing health equity by requiring Medicaid health plans achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance Health Equity Accreditation.
• Addressing social determinants of health through investment in and engagement with community-based organizations.
• Increasing childhood immunization rates, including increasing provider participation in the Vaccines for Children program.
• Adopting a more person-centered approach to mental health coverage.
• Ensuring access to health care providers by strengthening network requirements.
• Increasing Medicaid Health Plan accountability and clarifying expectations to advance state priorities.

More information about Medicaid is available at Michigan.gov/Medicaid, or about Medicaid benefits at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2024

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

MDHHS expands Early Childhood Courts Program to two
new counties to help keep young children with their families

LANSING, Mich. – To help ensure young children in the child welfare system grow up in permanent, nurturing homes that support their development, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding the Early Childhood Courts program to St. Clair and Saginaw counties. Often referred to as Baby Court, Michigan’s Early Childhood Courts provide services to biological parents so that, whenever possible, they can be the permanent caregivers for their children who have been in foster care.

“MDHHS is committed to keeping kids safe while expanding access to behavioral health supports,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Early Childhood Court Programs help us address the needs of parents and their young children, so they can build strong families and stay together.”

MDHHS received a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide funding for three counties to support the implementation of Early Childhood Court Programs. In addition to St. Clair and Saginaw counties, Wayne County, which has had a Baby Court since 2008, became a part of the program in January 2023. Partners include MDHHS’ Children’s Services Agency and Bureau of Children’s Coordinated Health Policy, the State Court Administrative Office, local courts, Community Mental Health Services Programs and Wayne State University.

Community and health disparities can be a contributing factor to families living in crisis and unstable environments. Michigan’s Early Childhood Courts seek to understand the disparities and needs of families living in poverty and the connection to child welfare removals. Maltreated children are at particular risk for poor outcomes and need coordinated services across systems to support their physical and emotional well-being. Children age 3 and under are over-represented in Michigan’s child welfare system, with 27% as victims of child abuse or neglect when only 14% of Michigan’s population is made up of children in that age group.

“Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority, together with our local partners, is excited to be chosen as one of the expansion sites for the development of an Early Childhood Court at our Family Division of the 10^th Circuit Court,” said Sandra Lindsey, Saginaw Community Mental Health Authority CEO. “Ultimately our goal is to reunite families and to support them by ensuring the safety and developmental needs of their young children as the focus of our collective interventions.”

The Early Childhood Courts program is for young children, birth to age 3, and their families if the children are at risk of entering foster care due to abuse or neglect or are already in foster care and could be reunified safely if the family receives services. With individualized services and community resources to meet families’ unique needs, many children are safely reunified with their biological parents or caregivers.

The HRSA grant funds the hiring of a statewide coordinator, community coordinators in each county, and establishes working groups at both state and local levels to strengthen partnerships supporting the well-being of parents and infants and toddlers. The community coordinator works collaboratively with courts, providers of foster care, Infant Mental Health Home Visiting Services, early childhood services, and parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers with lived experiences are a crucial part of the working groups to provide insight on the child welfare system. Additionally, Wayne State University is conducting an evaluation to inform quality improvement and assess the impact of the program.

Baby Court proceedings are designed to be non-adversarial with all members taking a strengths-based approach and recognizing the family’s progress. The community coordinator, parents, jurists, attorneys and providers meet monthly. All families involved with Baby Court receive services that are designed to support the parent-young child attachment as well as the parent’s and young child’s mental health. Research shows that Early Childhood Courts help states meet standards set by the federal government for safety, permanency and well-being, and eliminate racial disparities with timely receipt of services or rates of reunification.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2024

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

MDHHS issues RFP for EMS workforce support grants

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workforce grants to provide funding for enhancing and training Michigan EMS workforce personnel.

The focus of the program is to continue and expand the workforce development program used for training people in EMS. The intent is to address the critical shortage of paramedics statewide and increase accessibility by reducing barriers to enrollment in EMS education programming, specifically paramedic programs.

MDHHS has identified several potential uses for funding:

• Traditional grants to cover costs of tuition and associated fees for paramedic training at a Michigan-approved education program, limited to:
  • $20,000 per paramedic student.
  • $1,500 per emergency medical technician specialist student.
  • $2,000 per emergency medical technician student.
  • $500 per medical first responder/emergency medical responder student.
  • $2,000 per instructor student.
• Hourly reimbursement for time spent in EMS training programs at a rate of $15/hour to a maximum of:
  • $16,000 per paramedic student.
  • $2,100 per emergency medical technician specialist student.
  • $3,000 per emergency medical technician student.
  • $900 per medical first responder/emergency medical responder student.
  • $2,600 per instructor coordinator student.

EMS Education Access grants may be funded in the following potential categories:

1. Expansion and increased access to EMS education to areas currently not served by initial education programs. Applicants will be responsible for demonstrating how their proposal increases access to an underserved area.
2. Barrier reduction efforts, if the proposal specifically outlines how the funding request will decrease barriers to enrollment or student success.
3. Outreach campaigns to increase student enrollment in EMS training programs.

The award period begins Oct. 1, 2024, and ends Sept. 30, 2025.  MDHHS expects to award approximately $9 million, with a maximum award of $400,000 per applicant.

Project director requests to get access to the application are due by 5 p.m., Thursday, May 23. Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS system by 3 p.m., Thursday, May 30.

A pre-application conference will be held to discuss this funding opportunity and provide instruction on using the EGrAMS system at 11 a.m., Monday, April 8, and will last approximately 90 minutes. The webinar can be accessed at https://bit.ly/42JnY7S. At the conclusion of the conference, this link can be used to access the recording of this webinar. 

Any questions concerning the content of this RFP must be sent by email at [email protected] on or before Thursday, April 11. Questions may be discussed verbally at the pre-application conference. MDHHS will compile all relevant questions and answers and post these as well as any other clarifications or revisions to the initial RFP by Wednesday, April 17, on the EGrAMS website.

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete RFP can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Public Health Administration” link and selecting the “WEMSS-2025” grant program.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2024

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

MDHHS commemorates 10 years of screening
newborns for critical congenital heart disease  

LANSING, Mich. – Since April 1, 2014, approximately 982,000 babies have been screened for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service (MDHHS) Newborn Screening Program, allowing for timely treatment of a potentially fatal birth defect. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CCHDs are one of the most significant causes of infant death in the United States.

Every Michigan newborn is screened shortly after birth for more than 50 different disorders through the state’s Newborn Screening Program. In addition to blood spot screening, additional tests for CCHD and a hearing screening are preformed prior to discharge. A simple non-invasive test, called pulse oximetry, measures the amount of oxygen in the blood and helps detect CCHD in newborns. CCHDs may require surgery or catheter intervention in the first year of life.

“Michigan’s newborn screening program is designed to quickly diagnose babies who may look healthy but have rare and often serious disorders that require early treatment,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “Failure to detect these conditions can put a baby at risk for death or other serious complications within the first few days or weeks of life. Being able to identify conditions such as critical congenital heart disease allows for early interventions and healthier outcomes.”

As a result of screening, more than 30 babies have been diagnosed with a CCHD and more than 70 babies have been diagnosed with secondary conditions including hemoglobinopathy, hypothermia, infection, lung disease, noncritical congenital heart defect, persistent pulmonary hypertension and other hypoxemic conditions.

Congenital heart defects are the most common group of birth defects, affecting nearly 1% of births per year in the United States. About one in four babies have a critical congenital heart defect requiring immediate intervention.

For more information about CCHD, visit Michigan.gov/cchd.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2024

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

MDHHS Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program offered
to help retain, attract providers through student debt relief

Up to $300,000 available per award to repay educational debt

LANSING, Mich. – As part of the state’s effort to attract and retain talent and expand access to behavioral health services, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is offering the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program. Previously known as the MI Kids Now Loan Repayment Program, this program encourages behavioral health providers to offer their services within nonprofit outpatient organizations statewide.   

The program is available to behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, case managers and certified behavioral analysts. Those eligible must provide in-person, outpatient behavioral health services through eligible nonprofit practice sites, including public school-based systems and community mental health organizations.  

“Under Governor Whitmer, MDHHS has prioritized expanding access to behavioral health services across Michigan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We are continuing to offer loan repayment programs to ensure providers have the supports they deserve, and families can receive services when and where they need them.” 

The loan repayment program is open to providers who serve both children and adults, but priority will be given to those who serve children. Eligible providers will be selected to enter into consecutive two-year agreements. The program will assist those selected with up to $300,000 to repay educational debt over a period of up to 10 years. A prioritization system will be used to rank applicants as follows: 

• Priority Group #1: Child providers in a Community Mental Health Authority setting.
• Priority Group #2: Child providers in a public school-based setting.
• Priority Group #3: Child providers in any nonprofit, eligible setting.
• Priority Group #4: Adult providers in a Community Mental Health Authority setting.
• Priority Group #5: Adult providers in any nonprofit, eligible setting.

Current behavioral health providers are encouraged to apply for the loan repayment program. The application period is April 29 through May 24. Further information regarding eligibility, selection criteria, application instructions and frequently asked questions can be found on the MDHHS website.  

Providers should note that guidelines, eligibility criteria and application instructions have changed for the 2024 application cycle. During previous grant cycles, MDHHS has enrolled around 500 providers and awarded $12.3 million in funding to eligible providers. Further information can be found on the program website. Providers who have questions or need more information can email MDHHS-Behavioral-Health-[email protected].   

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS launches application tracker to allow Michiganders to easily monitor benefits status in MI Bridges

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is announcing the release of a new function to the MI Bridges website where Michiganders apply for benefits like Medicaid, food assistance and more. The new application tracker will allow residents to follow the progress of their benefits application online rather than waiting for a determination letter or having to call into a local office.

Similar to popular trackers used on restaurants and retail websites, residents will be able to log in through their phone or other device to see when their application is received, if an appointment has been scheduled, if additional documents are required and if a decision has been made. At each step, applicants will have quick links available to view more information on what is required for the application to move forward.

“This innovative tool will allow residents to know the exact status of their benefits application 24/7 and help them prepare for any next steps,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director. “In addition to helping Michiganders feel more involved and empowered in their application process, we are hopeful it will also result in lower call volumes to local offices and employee success.”

When an applicant logs into their MI Bridges account, the application tracker will be easily viewed on their client dashboard. For privacy and security, application and benefits information are only shown to residents who are identity-proofed and listed as head of household on the account.

The new benefit tracker will be available on MI Bridges starting today. There will be information prompts available to provide residents with more information about the tracking options available to them. Applicants can also receive assistance through the MI Bridges virtual assistant chat or by calling the MI Bridges help desk at 844-799-9876.