Wednesday, August 30, 2017

From the Section 298 Team: More opportunities for public input in mental health reform

Total eclipse
August 30, 2017

From the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Section 298 Team:

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Dear stakeholders,

Over the last two years, the Michigan health care community has been engaged in a statewide discussion on improving the coordination of physical health and behavioral health services. This discussion is known as the Section 298 Initiative. This initiative is based upon Section 298 in the Public Act 268 of 2016. Under Section 298, the Michigan Legislature directed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to develop a set of recommendations “regarding the most effective financing model and policies for behavioral health services in order to improve the coordination of behavioral and physical health services for individuals with mental illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.” MDHHS submitted a final report with recommendations for the Michigan Legislature on March 15, 2017.

The Michigan legislature approved a revised version of Section 298 as part of Public Act 107 of 2017. Under the revised Section 298, the Michigan legislature directed the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement up to three pilots and one demonstration model to test the integration of physical health and behavioral health services. The department will be working with stakeholders across the Michigan health care community to develop and implement the pilots and demonstration model over the next few years.

Under the revised Section 298 language, the Michigan legislature also directed the department to recruit a project facilitator to assist with the development and implementation of the pilots and demonstration model. The department has designated the Michigan Public Health Institute as the project facilitator for the Section 298 Initiative. The Michigan Public Health Institute will provide support to the department with supporting stakeholder discussions and managing the development and implementation process. Jo Anna Trierweiler will serve as the main project facilitator, and Jane Pilditch will serve as the co-facilitator.

The department will be working with the project facilitator to announce the next phase of the Section 298 discussion in September 2017. The next phase will focus on (1) the development of the structure of the pilot(s) and demonstration model and (2) the development of the evaluation process. The department will be also be contracting with one of Michigan’s research universities to support the evaluation process. The department will provide additional information about the next phase of the Section 298 Initiative in the near future.

We look forward to continuing to work with you on improving the coordination of physical health and behavioral health services for Michiganders. If you have any questions about this email or the Section 298 Initiative, please send an email to MDHHS-298@michigan.gov.

Sincerely,

The Section 298 Team
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services


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Background on the Section 298 Initiative

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