Tag: substance use disorder

MHA Awards Peer Recovery Coach Grants

Member News

The MHA has granted funding to seven institutions to support development or expansion of hospital-based peer recovery coach (PRC) programs. The funding will support the addition of 18 new hospital-based PRCs and expand treatment options for patients with a substance use disorder (SUD).

The MHA recently issued a request for proposals for a competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities aimed at developing or expanding hospital-based peer recovery coach programs. Funding for this effort was made available by the Michigan Legislature as part of the state fiscal year 2025 budget to expand access to hospital-based PRC services.

The MHA received nine applications from organizations in seven distinct regions of the state, encompassing many innovative approaches to provide high-quality care for individuals experiencing substance use disorders.

These seven organizations, which were granted funding, are as follows:

The MHA appreciates the time and effort that went into developing applications and looks forward to partnering to expand access to SUD services across the state.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

MDHHS Offers Loan Repayment to Expand Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Member News

To help close critical gaps in opioid addiction treatment across Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering student loan repayment to eligible healthcare providers who begin or expand opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs.

The Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program provides between $15,000 and $30,000 in student loan repayment to physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and substance use disorder counselors. To qualify, providers must offer new or expanded OUD treatment services in the state.

Michigan continues to face a serious gap in access to substance use treatment. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 1.3 million residents need treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) but aren’t receiving it. A recent needs assessment from MDHHS identified workforce shortages, largely driven by educational barriers and high certification costs as a key factor. Michigan currently ranks 40th in the nation for the number of SUD counselors per adult with the disorder. The loan repayment initiative is supported by the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, which was created using settlement funds from the nation’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. To date, the program has helped 138 providers repay more than $2.5 million in student loan debt.

Applications for the current cycle are due by Monday, May 19. Providers interested in applying or learning more about eligibility may visit the MIOTA webpage for application materials and additional information.

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.

MDHHS SUD Mapping Tool Added to MI Bridges

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently introduced a new substance use disorder (SUD) mapping tool in 2024. The tool is now featured on MI Bridges, a platform that allows Michigan residents to apply for assistance and manage their benefits, to help individuals seeking SUD treatment services.

The mapping tool helps users locate treatment and recovery centers licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs through a geographic search. Users can search ZIP code, city or county and filter providers based on the type of treatment they need – such as inpatient, outpatient or medication-assisted treatment. Additionally, the tool indicates whether a provider accepts Medicaid, making it easier for users to find appropriate care. Since its release, the tool gained significant traction, with over 6,700 views from 3,369 individuals.

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.

Expanding Peer Recovery Coach Services to Improve Patient Outcomes

Member News, MHA Rounds

The fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget includes critical funding to support the work of peer recovery coaches (PRCs) in Michigan hospitals. Kelsey Ostergren, director of health policy initiatives, MHA, and Michelle Norcross, senior director of safety & quality, MHA Keystone Center, share the impact these resources have on patients and communities. 

What is a peer recovery coach, and what role do they play in improving patient outcomes?

Ostergren: Peer recovery coaches (PRCs) are individuals who combine lived experience with technical knowledge to assist individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery. In addition to offering patients lifesaving support and resources, PRCs provide an individualized approach to long-term management of SUD.

Peer recovery coaches play a unique role in the hospital setting, engaging with individuals during a time when peer-support is vital. PRCs not only serve as a mentor and role model in recovery, but remove barriers to care by connecting individuals to resources and community.

There is mounting evidence to support the role of PRCs in the recovery process including increased patient retention in treatment programs, sustained reduction in substance use, increased access to social support, decrease criminal justice involvement and decreased use of emergency department services.

Norcross: The MHA and MHA Keystone Center convened member hospitals using PRCs to better understand how these services have been operationalized and what impact they have on Michigan patients. In these discussions, we learned:

  • Hospitals who offer PRC services indicate 87% – 89% of eligible patients accept PRC support and share strong positive feedback about the experience.
  • Patients who work with PRCs are less likely to be readmitted within 30 days compared to their peers who are eligible but don’t accept PRC services.
  • Hospitals with a fully integrated PRC model engage more than 1,000 patients per year across the ED and inpatient settings.
  • PRCs connect 65% – 75% of patients with outpatient treatment and support services upon discharge. This is in stark contrast to a 2022 study revealing that only 11% of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients presenting to the ED were referred for outpatient treatment.

By expanding the use of PRC-delivered support services, Michigan hospitals can improve health outcomes and sustain recovery for at-risk patients and communities.

What is the biggest barrier when it comes to supporting peer recovery services in hospitals?

Ostergren: Many hospitals participating in the MHA Keystone Center Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (ED MOUD) program have highlighted the importance of peer recovery coaches for connecting SUD patients to treatment. Unfortunately, one of the most significant barriers is that these services cannot be reimbursed. Hospitals who want to offer PRCs are often required to fill these roles using temporary funding (i.e. grant dollars) or by contracting community mental health (CMH) agencies. While CMH resources have been critical, hospitals and health systems offer a unique touchpoint for patients with SUD.

How has collaboration helped secure critical funding to maintain PRC services in hospitals?

Ostergren: Beyond the work of the MHA and MHA Keystone Center teams, there have been numerous partnerships that were instrumental in advocating for funding to support PRCs in our hospitals and health systems. Our members participating in the ED MOUD program and those that employ PRCs were critical when it came to understanding this care model and identifying ways to support it. Additional stakeholders who provided insight, direction, guidance and support, include:

  • The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM)
  • Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS)
  • Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI)
  • Face Addiction Now (FAN, formerly Families Against Narcotics)
  • Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)
  • Opioid Advisory Committee (OAC)
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Where can Michigan hospitals interested in learning more about peer recovery services and reimbursement opportunities go to learn more?

Norcross: The MHA Keystone Center is partnering with CFSEM to offer two virtual learning collaboratives in September for hospitals interested in learning more about peer recovery services and reimbursement. Members will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with peers who have successfully implemented peer recovery services.

Upcoming Peer Recovery Learning Collaboratives:

Register for peer recovery learning collaboratives here. 

Senate Subcommittee Hears Testimony on Opioid Settlement Dollars

Member News
capitol building

capitol buildingThe Senate Appropriations Department of Health and Human Services Subcommittee convened March 28 to hear testimony on the state’s opioid settlement dollars. Testimony began with Amy Dolinky, technical adviser for opioid settlement funds at the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), providing an overview of the MAC’s role in supporting the distribution of settlement dollars through county governments. She stressed the importance of utilizing the evidence-based strategies and principles outlined by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for spending of opioid settlement dollars. Next to provide testimony was Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, and Amy Epkey, senior deputy director of financial operations, both representing the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS used the opportunity to provide an overview of opioid settlement spending, to date.

Last to provide testimony was Dr. Cara Anne Poland, chair of the Opioid Settlement Commission (OAC), Hon. Jamie Stuck, OAC Commissioner representing Tribal Nations and Tara King, coordinator of the OAC. The testimony from the OAC centered around the challenges and barriers the OAC encounters coordinating opioid settlement work with MDHHS. Additionally, the OAC representatives provided an overview of the soon-to-be-released OAC 2024 Annual Report.

The MHA submitted written testimony advocating for the distribution of opioid settlement funds to communities most impacted by opioid and substance use disorder. The testimony also included a list of specific ways the legislators could allocate funds to improve treatment options for patients impacted by opioid and substance use.

Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.