Tag: mental health

House Judiciary Hears Testimony on Violence Against Healthcare Workers Legislation

Member News

Legislation addressing violence against healthcare workers heard testimony in the House Judiciary Committee during the week of June 1, while other MHA-backed bills saw action in the legislature.

House Bills (HB) 4532–4534, which aim to reduce violence against healthcare workers, were up for testimony in the House Judiciary Committee. The bills, sponsored by Reps. Natalie Price (D-Berkley), Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar) and Phil Green (R-Watertown Township), strengthen penalties for individuals who engage in violent behavior toward staff and volunteers working in healthcare settings.

Carrie Mull, administrative director, inpatient clinical operations, Trinity Health, Grand Rapids, providing testimony for HB 4534.

Carrie Mull, administrative director, inpatient clinical operations, Trinity Health, Grand Rapids, testified on behalf of hospitals and healthcare providers, highlighting real-life examples of workplace violence and emphasizing that, if enacted, this legislation would improve the safety and well-being of healthcare workers and volunteers. In addition to strengthening penalties for violence against healthcare workers, the bills create an assisted outpatient treatment pathway for those who have engaged in violent behavior in a healthcare setting, but are also experiencing mental and behavioral health issues. By creating this alternative pathway, individuals experiencing behavioral health-related conditions can receive adequate care and support through a court-mediated process.

The Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony on Senate Bills (SBs) 973–978, led by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), which create a state-based health insurance exchange in Michigan. The bills would allow the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to apply to the federal government for a waiver to establish a state-based exchange and to maintain contracts with health plans for the exchange. The MHA currently supports SBs 973-978.

In addition, the House Health Policy Committee took testimony on HB 6022, sponsored by Rep. Curtis VanderWall (R-Ludington). This legislation amends the Mental Health Code to allow contracted Medicaid Health Plans (MHPs) to operate pre-admission screening units to evaluate individuals needing mental or behavioral health services. Currently, pre-admission screening units may only be operated by Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs). The bill requires CMHSPs to complete a pre-admission screening assessment for Medicaid beneficiaries seeking mental or behavioral health services within three hours. If the CMHSP or MHP does not complete the assessment within that timeframe, clinically qualified hospital personnel may complete the screening.

This provision was recommended by the MHA Behavioral Health Integration Council. The MHA developed an infographic for lawmakers that illustrates the challenges Medicaid beneficiaries face when presenting to emergency departments (EDs) during a behavioral health crisis. This legislation seeks to improve access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries and decrease ED boarding times.  The MHA supports this legislation and looks forward to further action by the legislature.

The committee also voted in support of HBs 4864–4865, which would change the definition of elevated blood lead levels for lead abatement purposes and require testing baby food for heavy metals before distribution, respectively. These bills are focused on preventing adverse health outcomes in children from lead or other toxic element poisoning. Also, the House Insurance Committee voted in support of HBs 4703–4704, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy). These bills require insurers and Medicaid to cover group prenatal services. The MHA supports HBs 4864-4865 and HBs 4703-4704.

Members with questions may contact the MHA advocacy team.

MDHHS Finalizes Specialty Behavioral Health Services Location Policy

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently finalized Medicaid Policy Bulletin MMP 26-17, effective July 1, 2026, which clarifies reimbursement requirements for specialty behavioral health services provided through Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans in home, community and residential settings. The policy applies to Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan.

The final policy encourages mental health and intellectual and developmental disability services to be provided in integrated community settings, including an individual’s home, when appropriate. The bulletin also clarifies coverage requirements for substance use disorder residential treatment services, nursing facilities, child-caring institutions and children’s therapeutic group homes. For children and youth, services should be provided in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs.

The final policy includes several changes from the proposed policy, including:

  • New requirements related to the coordination of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services for children residing in child-caring institutions.
  • Additional clarification regarding services available to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Removal of a proposed section addressing Medicaid coverage in Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs).

The MHA submitted comments requesting clarification regarding covered services in nursing facilities, IMD coverage policies and reimbursement for services provided to children in child-caring institutions. While the final bulletin provides additional clarification, it does not address all the questions raised by the MHA.

Members impacted by specialty behavioral health service delivery and reimbursement requirements are encouraged to review the bulletin.

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Pine Rest Launches First-of-its-Kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care

Hospitals Help, Member News
Pine Rest’s Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care is located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Hospitals are there in life’s most critical moments, supporting people at all walks of life and expanding access to care beyond the bedside. For children and families experiencing behavioral health crises, timely care can make a lifesaving difference.

To expand access to specialized mental health services for children and adolescents, the teams at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services recently opened a first-of-its-kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center.

The center, which is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., provides same-day assessments and short-term stabilization for children and teens ages 6-17 who are experiencing acute behavioral health crises. The Pine Rest team also connect families with the appropriate resources to avoid emergency room visits.

“Behavioral health challenges among children and teens have increased dramatically in recent years, and families across Michigan are struggling to find timely access to appropriate care,” said Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. “The Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health represents a significant step forward in addressing that need. By bringing together inpatient care, urgent psychiatric services and specialized programming in one location, we are helping ensure that children and families can get the support they need when they need it most.”

Since opening in early 2026, the center has supported an average of 12 children and families each day, providing immediate access to care for those experiencing urgent behavioral health needs. It’s projected that approximately 5,000 kids will be treated per year.

The building was intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents, with specialized programming and spaces for young patients and their families. By bringing together urgent psychiatric services, inpatient care and outpatient support in one location, Pine Rest is helping families navigate behavioral health challenges with faster access to coordinated, age-appropriate care.

Pine Rest is also working to expand specialized care for children experiencing eating disorders, substance use disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions while enhancing access to telepsychiatry services for rural and underserved communities across Michigan.

Visit the Pine Rest website to learn more about how their teams are helping children and families across Michigan access timely, specialized behavioral healthcare services.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

LaPine Discusses the Role of Hospitals in Crisis Care

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News
Lauren LaPine

Lauren LaPineSecond Wave Michigan published a story Jan. 7 on how state officials, healthcare providers and community organizations are focusing on expanding the continuum of care for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Lauren LaPine, senior director of legislative and public policy at the MHA, was interviewed in the story to share the role hospitals place in crisis care. She mentioned the high utilization of hospital emergency departments for people in a behavioral health crisis and the long wait times involved in finding the appropriate placement for the patient. LaPine also mentioned how the MHA is advocating for more resources that can support crisis intervention before hospitalization becomes necessary.

“We are working to build partnerships that can offer more specialized crisis care options,” said LaPine. “Similar to community paramedics initiatives, MDHHS [Michigan Department of Health and Human Services] has been committed to expanding access to mobile crisis units so when an individual is in some type of behavioral health crisis, there are mobile crisis units you can call through local community mental health agencies.”

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

Senate Passes Behavioral Health Bills

Member News

The Michigan Senate unanimously passed several MHA-supported bills aimed at improving mental health treatment for individuals involved in the criminal justice system during the week of Dec. 2. Senate Bills (SB) 915 (Hertel-D), 916 (Santana-D), 917 (Irwin-D) and 918 (Wonjo-D) are designed to divert individuals with mental health issues from jail and into treatment programs.

SB 915 grants law enforcement officers the authority to take someone in for a psychiatric evaluation if they have “reasonable cause” to believe the person needs community mental health treatment. This change allows officers to act based on concerns from family members or treatment providers, rather than waiting for signs of uncontrolled mental illness. Supporters argue this will help individuals get treatment before symptoms escalate.

Similarly, SB 916 establishes a system where prosecuting attorneys, defendants or their counsel can request a mental health evaluation after misdemeanor charges are filed. If treatment is needed, the court can place the individual in an Assisted Outpatient Treatment program. Upon completion, the misdemeanor charges can be dismissed, offering an alternative to the criminal justice system. This bill aims to prioritize treatment over punishment and focuses on recovery without the pressure of legal consequences.

In addition, SB 802 (Wonjo-D) moved out of the Senate Health Policy Committee, following MHA-member testimony. This bill aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of Michigan’s behavioral health system by providing critical information on service availability and capacity.

Currently, there is no requirement for Community Mental Health (CMH) agencies to share data on treatment availability, leaving hospitals and policymakers without a clear understanding of what services are available statewide. This lack of data often leads to delays in care, especially for patients with behavioral health needs.

SB 802 addresses this concern by requiring CMH agencies to report real-time data on service capacity and availability. This will provide hospitals, healthcare providers and policymakers with better insight into service availability, helping patients access the care they need more quickly. The goal of SB 802 is to create a more transparent system, reduce wait times, improve patient outcomes, and inform decisions on expanding behavioral health services.

Kathy Dollard, Psy.D., L.P., director, behavioral health service line, MyMichigan Health, providing testimony via Zoom to the Senate Health Policy Committee in support of SB 802. 

Two MHA members provided testimony to the Senate Health Policy Committee in support of SB 802; Kathy Dollard, Psy.D., L.P., director, behavioral health service line, MyMichigan Health and Bibhas Singla, MD, vice president & medicaid director of hospital & residential services, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.

Dollard highlighted the lack of transparency in Michigan’s behavioral health system, particularly the absence of data-sharing requirements for CMH agencies regarding substance use disorder treatment options. She also addressed the issue of behavioral health boarding, where patients with behavioral health needs are often left waiting in emergency departments for extended periods due to a shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds or community-based services. MHA data shows that more than 150 patients experience this delay daily.

Bibhas Singla, MD, vice president & medicaid director of hospital & residential services, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services providing testimony via Zoom to the Senate Health Policy Committee in support of SB 802.

Dr. Singla highlighted the difficulty in transitioning patients from inpatient care to community-based services, particularly for Medicaid recipients. He shared the experience of a Medicaid patient in the addiction unit who struggled to find appropriate community-based care after discharge. Despite being motivated to seek help, the patient spent days calling programs across the state without success. The lack of available services and clear timelines for increasing capacity left the patient unable to access the care needed.

Dr. Singla explained that SB 802 would improve the system by requiring CMH agencies to report service availability in real-time, making it easier for healthcare providers and patients to access care. The bill was voted out of committee unanimously and will now move to the Senate floor.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Participates in Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health Healthcare Policy Forum

Member News
Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA (middle), is pictured during a panel discussion at the SWBH 9th annual regional healthcare policy forum.

Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health (SWMBH) hosted Oct. 4 the ninth annual regional healthcare policy forum in Kalamazoo. Moderated by Dr. Colleen Allen, CEO, Autism Alliance of Michigan, the forum focused on the theme of “Working Together” to discuss the future landscape of Michigan healthcare.

The event convened association leaders, policymakers and behavioral health professionals to focus on fostering collaboration, addressing the needs of mutually served populations and advancing whole person care.

Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, joined a panel discussion alongside Meghan Groen, senior deputy director, Behavioral and Physical Health Services, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Dominick Pallone, executive director, Michigan Association of Health Plans; Phillip Bergquist, chief executive officer, Michigan Primary Care Association; State Representative Julie Rogers, chair, House Health Policy; and Alan Bolter, associate director, Community Mental Health Association of Michigan to discuss Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, opioid settlement dollars and treatment for substance use disorders.

SWMBH is the Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan for eight Michigan counties and is in partnership with the Community Mental Health (CMH) agencies of these counties. SWMBH, in partnership with the CMH’s and local providers, provides mental health services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, children with severe emotional disturbance, individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and individuals with substance use disorders.

The event also held an awards presentation which honored Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Van Buren County Commissioner Richard Godfrey.

Members with questions about the event or SMBH are encouraged to contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Sept. 23, 2024

Monday Report

Speak up awardMcLaren Port Huron Nurse Receives MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award

The MHA Keystone Center celebrated Melissa Burgess, RN at McLaren Port Huron Hospital as its quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recipient in September. The quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! …

Final Rules Strengthen Access to Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Benefits

The United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury issued a set of final rules Sept. 9 on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The rulings …

Upcoming MDHHS Maternal Health Offerings

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Maternal and Infant Health is partnering with the Michigan Perinatal Quality Collaborative yo offer its Statewide Maternal and Infant Health Data Meeting from 4 to 6 …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Explores AI in Healthcare, Workplace Equity and Community Partnerships

The September edition of Trustee Insights, a monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), outlines how artificial intelligence (AI) will change healthcare operations and how trustees can provide meaningful leadership and guidance. The issue …

Keckley Report

The Four Core Beliefs of Hospital-Employed Physicians

“In my report June 10, I wrote: “The major sources of physician discontent are administrative hassles and unwelcome clinical oversight that create dissonance. They conflict with a false sense of autonomy that the majority of physicians imagined when choosing medicine. Cuts to reimbursement, participation in alternative payment models and medical inflation are manifestations of a system in which ‘suits’ are intruders who make rules, exact handsome salaries, generate corporate profits and distance physicians from patient care purposely… “

This assessment remains true today. Discontent among physicians is palpable and it’s magnified by a growing sense of financial despair among many clinicians. And it poses a unique challenge to hospitals that now employ more than half of America’s physician workforce. …

The core beliefs held by employed physicians about their hospitals may not be fair, objective or accurate, but they’re no less deeply felt and impactful. Hospital boards and C suite leaders would be well-served to refresh plans accordingly.”

Paul Keckley, Sept. 16, 2024

Laura AppelMHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage the week of Sept. 16 regarding Michigan healthcare careers and what’s next for digital health. Second Wave Michigan published a story Sept. 17 on healthcare careers and the existing healthcare …

 

 

 

Final Rules Strengthen Access to Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Benefits

Member News

The United States Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury issued a set of final rules Sept. 9 on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008.

The rulings aim to promote equitable access to mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) benefits and reduce barriers to accessing these services. They also reinforce the requirement that mental health and SUD benefits be on par with medical and surgical benefits (M/S).

If a health plan provides benefits for a mental health condition or SUD, it must provide meaningful benefits for that condition or disorder in every classification for which meaningful M/S benefits are offered. The rulings also restrict self-funded, non-federal governmental plans from opting out of providing mental health/SUD benefits. Additionally, it provides concrete factors used to determine out-of-network reimbursement rates.

The final rules also provide protection from non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) on mental health and substance use disorder benefits. NQTLs are conditions that restrict the scope of benefits, such as prior authorization requirements. The rulings prohibit insurance plans from using biased information when applying NQTLs. Issuers must also collect and assess data on the NQTLs they place and adapt accordingly if the data shows they are negatively impacting access to MH/SUD services compared to M/S benefits.

The final rules apply to:

  • Group health insurance coverage beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2025. The meaningful benefits standard, the prohibition on discriminatory factors and evidentiary standards, the relevant data evaluation requirements and the related requirements in the provisions for comparative analyses will apply beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
  • Health insurance issuers offering individual health insurance coverage for policy years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2026.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.