May 25. 2017
Where to start? The Michigan legislature is considering a radical change in how services for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse disorders will be delivered and who will be in control of the Medicaid dollars that pay for those services. The intent of proposed legislation is the eventual privatization of mental health services by “integrating” mental health and medical Medicaid services under the control of Michigan’s private Medicaid Health Plans.
This intent of the Governor was spelled out clearly more than a year ago by the governor’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017:
“…the FY17 executive budget recommendation includes section 298 of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Budget - a proposed change without any initial research or analysis that would transfer management responsibilities of all Medicaid behavioral health dollars ($3 billion) from the current publicly managed PIHP system to the privately managed Medicaid health plans by the end of FY17. This change would significantly harm an already underfunded system of care for Michigan's most vulnerable citizens.”
The plan that was proposed in 2016 was met with almost universal opposition from people receiving services through the Community Mental Health system, advocates, providers, and CMH agencies throughout the state. This was enough to halt the plan in its tracks, form various committees and workgroups to study the problem and submit reports to the legislature for consideration of this year’s budget negotiations.
The plans set forth by the Governor and the legislature for future fiscal years have changed in the details, but not in their intent. Privatization is the goal and the way to reach this goal has been laid out in proposed legislation. Many, many words, letters, emails, and phone calls have been exchanged trying to make sense of these proposals and assure that the people affected by them are heard and that their views are taken into consideration. Whether that will be the case remains to be seen.
The budget negotiations and the news about them from Lansing are overwhelming and confusing. Part of the problem for me and for many families of people living with severe disabilities is that real life keeps intervening. In my case, it mostly has to do with my older son’s struggle with seizures. I have decided to start with the present and work backwards to find ways to explain what is going on with the state and how it is affecting people at the local level.
In an article in the Ann Arbor News, “Lawmakers say mental health cuts put Michigan counties in a bad spot” by Ryan Stanton, 5/23/17, local legislators discuss the harmful effects of past actions by the state legislature and current proposals that make it increasingly difficult for local agencies to meet the needs of people with DD, mental illness, and other vulnerable populations:
"...Cuts at the state level in recent years already have created a crisis for community mental health service providers across Michigan, putting counties in a bad spot, [legislators] argued Monday night, May 22, during a legislative forum hosted by Washtenaw County's Office of Community and Economic Development.
"GOP lawmakers in Lansing are now considering further changes to how mental health services are provided in Michigan, and Democrats fear it could essentially lead to privatization of community mental health by 2020.
"GOP lawmakers in Lansing are now considering further changes to how mental health services are provided in Michigan, and Democrats fear it could essentially lead to privatization of community mental health by 2020.
"Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, said a lack of state general fund support for mental health is having devastating consequences, and counties are asking local taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets to fund vital services.”
In past years, while Medicaid was the main source of funding for mental health services, dollars from the state’s General Fund could be used to pick up the slack for people who were not eligible for Medicaid but were nonetheless in need of services for medical care, job support, psychiatric care, and programs to prevent homelessness and incarceration. Recently, available General Fund resources have been shrinking drastically:
“Washtenaw County Community Mental Health's state general fund allocation has dropped from $6.5 million in 2014 to $2.7 million as of 2017.
In past years, while Medicaid was the main source of funding for mental health services, dollars from the state’s General Fund could be used to pick up the slack for people who were not eligible for Medicaid but were nonetheless in need of services for medical care, job support, psychiatric care, and programs to prevent homelessness and incarceration. Recently, available General Fund resources have been shrinking drastically:
“Washtenaw County Community Mental Health's state general fund allocation has dropped from $6.5 million in 2014 to $2.7 million as of 2017.
“As a result, county officials say, critical treatment and services for highly vulnerable citizens have been reduced or eliminated, and WCCMH is currently wait-listing people who are uninsured or underinsured.”
State Senator Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, voted against the Senate budget plan that calls for privatization of community mental health programs by 2020:
"'We were being sort of sold a promise that they will be able to deliver more care for more people with less money and I'm not exactly sure how they think they can do that, but that's kind of the promise.'"
Washtenaw and other Michigan counties are considering ballot measures for increasing local property taxes to pay for the lack of state general fund dollars and potential decreases in federal Medicaid funding for crucial services. This seems to be a stopgap measure to fund services, but is not a longterm solution. Legislators continue to seek tax cuts even as the demand for services for vulnerable populations increases along with the public’s demand for infrastructure improvements that have been neglected for years.
State Senator Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, voted against the Senate budget plan that calls for privatization of community mental health programs by 2020:
"'We were being sort of sold a promise that they will be able to deliver more care for more people with less money and I'm not exactly sure how they think they can do that, but that's kind of the promise.'"
Washtenaw and other Michigan counties are considering ballot measures for increasing local property taxes to pay for the lack of state general fund dollars and potential decreases in federal Medicaid funding for crucial services. This seems to be a stopgap measure to fund services, but is not a longterm solution. Legislators continue to seek tax cuts even as the demand for services for vulnerable populations increases along with the public’s demand for infrastructure improvements that have been neglected for years.
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