Not All Wounds are Visible
On behalf of members, the MHA convenes a Behavioral Health Integration Council a minimum of four times per program year. Council members inform the policy and advocacy efforts that the MHA takes related to behavioral health issues in Michigan.
Inpatient Behavioral Health Grant
A request for proposal (RFP) is available for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services. The funding was appropriated by the Michigan Legislature as part of the state fiscal year 2023 state budget with the goal to increase the number of beds available to care for pediatric psychiatric patients requiring inpatient hospitalization.
The grant program will issue funds to entities across the state of Michigan for either the expansion of existing programs or development of new ones. Every effort will be made to award grant dollars to organizations in a geographically diverse manner to ensure equitable access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services.
The following materials and templates are available for members interested in applying for grant funding:
- Request for Proposal.
- Appendix A: Grant Scoring Criteria.
- Appendix B: Project Proposal & Workplan Template.
- Appendix C: Project Budget Template.
The MHA will accept online applications on a rolling, quarterly basis until funds are exhausted. The first round of applications is due to the MHA by 11:59 p.m. on June 1. All applications will be blindly reviewed and scored to determine funding allocations. Each organization is eligible to apply for up to $25 million. No emailed or hard copy applications will be accepted.
The MHA hosted a webinar April 11 to discuss the grant application in further detail and answer questions about the process. A recording of the webinar and the presentation slides are available.
Do facilities need to submit matching funds documentation with the application or is this just required post-award?
Matching funds documentation will only be required for organizations awarded funds. Following program award, facilities are required to identify 20% matching funds, based on the final dollar amount awarded.
Since indirect costs are not an allowable program expense, could facilities use these expenses as part of the matching funds?
Yes, organizations may include indirect costs as part of their matching funds, but not in the grant funding portion. Indirect costs should adhere to the 10% de minimus standard rate.
Can a single institution submit multiple distinct “projects?”
Please be sure each project includes all required application documents (Cover Page, Appendix B and Appendix C) and is submitted individually through the Qualtrics online survey.
When should Year 1 on the budget start? 3/1/23 or is there another official grant start date?
The period of performance for the grant started 3/1/23 and can be used as the start date for the budget. Alternatively, since the MHA will not make funding decisions until mid-June, 7/1/23 may also be used as the start date for the program. Either is acceptable. Regardless of start date chosen, all programs must conclude on or before Sept. 30, 2027.
Does enhanced child psychiatric consultation services to patients in the emergency room or inpatient hospital qualify for this RFP?
Any program that will “expand access” to pediatric psychiatric services or “increase capacity” for these services is an allowable program under the RFP. Please clearly articulate in the grant application how the program will accomplish one of those two objectives – whether that is through increased staffing, hiring new practitioners, increasing the number of patients that can be seen per day or other tactics.
Is an application needed for each EIN applying for funds or should applications be submitted on a consolidated system level?
The contract language states each facility is eligible to receive up to $25 million. Thus, it is in the organization’s best interest to apply for each EIN separately.
Should executive salary caps be considered when developing the program budget (thinking about physician salaries)?
Yes, the state instituted a cap on salaries of Executive Level II. The current rates of pay for the Executive Schedule are located on the United States Office of Personnel Management website. The salary rate limits the portion of that salary that may be paid with grant funds.
Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.
Michigan Psychiatric Care Improvement Project (MPCIP)
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the MHA and staff from the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) convened a development and implementation Medical Clearance workgroup, which created the MI-SMART Form. This framework will help providers from behavioral health, including community mental health, emergency medicine and inpatient psychiatry, work together to best serve patients’ needs. The MI-SMART form intends to reduce barriers to the preadmission process for psychiatric hospitalization, a challenge in the behavioral health system.
Members interested in learning more about how their facility can implement the MI-SMART Form may contact MPCIP.
Behavioral Health Legislation
The MHA is currently involved in advocacy efforts around a variety of bills specific to behavioral health.
- SB 597 – Human services: medical services; specialty integrated plan; provide for in behavioral health services. Amends secs. 105d & 109f of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.105d & 400.109f).
- SB 598 – Mental health: code; updates regarding the transition from specialty prepaid inpatient health plans to specialty integration plans; provide for.
- SB 191 – Mental health: code; definition of mental health professional; expand to include physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists-certified, and allow them to perform certain examinations.
- SB 714 – Appropriations: supplemental; multidepartment supplemental for behavioral health changes; provide for. Creates appropriation act.