Skip to main content
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Digital Health
    • Transformation
    • ESG
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Blogs
    • AI
    • Deals
    • Layoff Tracker
    • HIMSS 2023
  • Opinion
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 40 Under 40
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Excellence in Governance
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top Innovators
    • Diversity in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
      • - Leaders to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Digital Health Transformation Summit
    • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
    • - Hospital of the Future
    • - Value Based Care
    • - Hospital at Home
    • - Workplace of the Future
    • - AI and Digital Health
    • - Future of Staffing
    • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
  • Data & Insights
    • Data & Insights Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • Newsletters
  • MORE+
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Government
April 19, 2017 12:00 AM

Michigan Senate panel OKs language that could push Medicaid mental health funding to health plans

Jay Greene
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print

    A Michigan Senate subcommittee voted Tuesday for budget language that instructs the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop pilot projects for Medicaid health plans to integrate behavioral and physical health and work toward a single contracting model by Sept. 30, 2020.

    Under the plan, which has been heavily opposed by the state's current public system of mental health providers and advocates, Michigan's 11 Medicaid HMOs could eventually manage both the state's $9 billion physical health and $2.6 billion behavioral health system. Before the new integrated Medicaid financing and delivery system could be fully rolled out, however, a future state Legislature would have to approve the final plan.

    The single Medicaid health plan contracting model and health plan pilot projects were proposed in an amendment by Sen. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, and approved by the Senate subcommittee on health and human services in a 5-0 vote. The committee's two Democratic senators, Curtis Hertel Jr. of Meridian Township and Vincent Gregory of Lathrup Village, passed on the vote.

    "We have been dancing around the concept of integration far too long and the Legislature needs to force things to happen," said Shirkey. "We need to define what integration means. It's missing in the (current) boilerplate language."

    Shirkey said he looks forward to further discussing integration of Medicaid behavioral and physical health services in the Senate and with members of the House HHS appropriations committee. Rep. Ned Canfield, chair of the HHS appropriations subcommittee, is expected to introduce similar boilerplate language at a hearing Wednesday.

    Bob Sheehan, CEO of the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, said he is disappointed with the vote of the committee and plans to continue to press the case that Medicaid HMOs should not take over the entire Medicaid behavioral health system.

    "(Shirkey's) amendment was to privatize (the entire system)," Sheehan said. "Our job is to take seriously the need to integrate care and we will continue to work on that."

    Since January 2016, the mental health and Medicaid HMO associations have been at odds because Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed 2017 state budget included a provision that could have allowed the state's managed care organizations to manage the $2.6 billion Medicaid mental health system. Currently, 10 prepaid inpatient health plans, which are operated by the public mental health system, manage the funding and contract with providers.

    Mental health advocates have continued to object to HMOs taking over the entire system, and the issue has been contentious the past year.

    Dominick Pallone, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, said Shirkey's amendment opened the door to the first step, Medicaid health plan pilot projects, during fiscal 2017, which starts Oct. 1.

    "The pilots could begin at any time. We are very happy. The amendment clearly points, while not exclusive, that not only we can do demo models, but we move forward with a single contracting model with licensed health plans," Pallone said.

    In Section 234, which is a new boilerplate addition to the fiscal 2017 HHS budget, the department was instructed to advance pilots and demonstration models that integrate Medicaid behavioral and physical health benefits.

    "In fulfilling the directive described in this section, the (HHS) should periodcally consult with stakeholder groups, the medical care advisory committee, and the House and Senate appropriations subcomittees on the department budget."

    Shirkey's amendment said the following: "The demonstration models are based on a goal to achieve total Medicaid benefit and financial integration by Sept. 30, 2020, that will rely on a single contracting model between the state of Michigan and licensed health plans, regulated by both the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to assure financial viability and the department to assure overall programmatic performance."

    Pallone, contacted by Crain's minutes after the Tuesday 3 p.m. vote, said he needs to further study how the revised Section 298 works with the new Section 234 and Shirkey's amendment.

    "There is some language that (mental health) advocates might say the system shall be built among the core values that disallows health plans," Pallone said. "We disagree with that interpretation."

    But Pallone said the goal of total integration could happen by Sept. 30, 2020, but it could happen sooner. "There is nothing to prevent it if the Legislature" approves, he said.

    In rewriting Section 298, the Senate appropriations committee proposed the following:

    "(MDHHS) shall continue working with stakeholders to improve the coordination of publicly funded physical health and behavioral health services in this state. All efforts made toward improving the coordination of supports and services for persons having or at risk of having intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, substance abuse use disorders or mental health and physical health needs shall be held upon the published core values agreed upon by the workgroup established in Section 298 of article X of the 2016 PA 268. These values include, but are not limited to, person-centered planning with the expectation of high quality and consistent care provided statewide."

    "Senate panel OKs language that could push Medicaid mental health funding to health plans" originally appeared in Crain's Detroit Business.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    congress prescription drugs
    PBMs, Big Pharma face off in House hearing
    Biden COVID copy_i_i.jpg
    Biden administration asks employers to help more workers who lose Medicaid
    Most Popular
    1
    Centene to lay off 2,000 workers
    2
    How health systems are battling price-gouging allegations
    3
    Senate advances bill to temporarily aid hospitals, health centers
    4
    Elevance, Blue Cross Louisiana halt $2.5B proposed deal
    5
    Tower Health to sell urgent care centers, close others
    Sponsored Content
    Modern Healthcare Alert: Sign up for this breaking news email to be kept in the loop as urgent healthcare business news unfolds.
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Help Center
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Digital Health
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • ESG
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Blogs
      • AI
      • Deals
      • Layoff Tracker
      • HIMSS 2023
    • Opinion
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • 40 Under 40
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Excellence in Governance
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top Innovators
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Hospital at Home
        • - Workplace of the Future
        • - AI and Digital Health
        • - Future of Staffing
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
      • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
    • Data & Insights
      • Data & Insights Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • Newsletters
    • MORE+
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing