When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for the entire United States. Under the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), multiple changes were enacted for Medicaid policies, Medicaid administration, and to Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Specifically, Michigan Medicaid was required to continue healthcare … Read more
Following suit with multiple other states in recent months, Michigan has recently implemented significant reforms to its Medicaid coverage of dental services. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released their final proposed policy in December to increase Medicaid payment rates for dental services provided in ambulatory surgical centers and outpatient … Read more
After establishing coverage criteria for doula services last September, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officially began covering doulas through Medicaid on Jan. 1st. This move comes after the Michigan Legislature did not advance House Bill 5784 (2022) or Senate Bill 965 (2020), which were introduced by Representative Mary Whitford … Read more
With Michigan’s legislative session ending for the year, and Democrats taking control of both the Senate and House next year, there will likely be a major shift when it comes to healthcare policy making in Michigan. Sources recently told State of Reform that they suspect the next legislative session will focus on the direct care … Read more
CMS reports that almost 5.5 million Americans have signed up for 2023 health insurance coverage through the individual market since the beginning of the open enrollment period. CMS shows that of the 5.5 million, there are about 1,182,794 new customers and 4,278,325 returning consumers. December 15th, 2023, is the last day for open … Read more
In their last committee hearing, the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee met to discuss several bills including House Bills 5713 – 5717, HB 4672, HB 6086, and HBs 5615 – 5616. Taken together, House Bills 5713 – 5717 would address fraud in reproductive assistance procedures and the disclosure of relevant donor … Read more
In Michigan, there is still consensus that Medicaid behavioral health delivery needs to be reformed. This past legislative session, there was a push to create specialty integrated plans (SIPs)—privately run plans that integrate physical and behavioral health—in place of the current publicly run prepaid inpatient health plans (PIHPs). In July, Senate Majority Leader … Read more
Leveraging the transparency of healthcare prices and costs can help consumers make better informed decisions about their healthcare, and policy makers can make this happen by creating an All-Payer Claims Database (APCD). APCDs are state run databases where consumers can compare healthcare related rates. Additionally, APCDs can help stakeholders, policy makers, and businesses make data … Read more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that about 1.3 million people are injured by medication errors annually in the U.S. Additionally, the FDA “receives more than 100,000 U.S. reports each year associated with a suspected medication error.” FDA recognizes medication errors as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication … Read more
Dave Schneider, Managing Principal at Health Management Associates, recently told State of Reform that Michigan lawmakers, policy makers, and beneficiaries need to start watching MI Health Link because—in accordance the recent final rule, CMS-4192-F, issued by CMS—Michigan plans to transition to an Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan beginning 2026. Currently, for dual … Read more