Public forums on the future of Michigan's behavioral health system (a.k.a. Community Mental Health)

This is a notice from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) inviting anyone interested in the future of the behavioral health system (Community Mental Health), including Medicaid services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to attend a forum to voice your opinion.

Here is the notice followed by links to background information and my personal opinion about the cluelessness of state officials regarding the problems in our system of care and services.

MDHHS PUBLIC FORUMS:

THE FUTURE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN MICHIGAN

Please join the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for a conversation about the future of behavioral health in Michigan.

In December 2019, MDHHS outlined a vision for a stronger behavioral health system that integrates specialty behavioral health and physical health services. If you are served by Michigan’s Medicaid-funded behavioral health system or are the family member of a person served, we want to hear from YOU.

MDHHS is hosting five public forums throughout the state and online in early 2020. Department leadership will be in attendance to further discuss the vision, answer your questions, and listen to your feedback. Please join us!

Detroit: January 8, 2020, from 5:00—6:30 p.m.
Cadillac Place, 3044 W. Grand Blvd
Conference Room L-150

Grand Rapids: January 9, 2020, from 5:00—6:30 p.m.
Grand Valley State University L.V. Eberhard Center, 
301 W. Fulton, Room 201

Marquette: January 22, 2020, from 5:00—6:30 p.m.
Marquette Senior High School
1203 W. Fair Ave
Little Theater

Saginaw: January 30, 2020, from 5:00—6:30 p.m
Saginaw Valley State University, Gilbertson Hall, 
7400 Bay Road
Ott Auditorium

Virtual Forum: February 6, 2020, from 5:00—6:30 p.m.

The link for this event will be shared on www.Michigan.gov/FutureOfBehavioralHealth
in late January.

To learn more about the Department’s vision, please visit www.Michigan.gov/FutureOfBehavioralHealth. 

If you cannot attend an event, we would still love to hear from you. You can email your feedback to FutureOfBH@michigan.gov.

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Speech by Robert Gordon, Director of MDHHS, to the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

The vision MDHHS is proposing

Section 298 Initiative The 298 Initiative has been abandoned, but it looks like current proposals by the state are trying to resurrect it. 

For many years, Medicaid Health Plans, both for profit and nonprofit, have been trying to get their  hands on Medicaid funds for behavioral health services (CMH) with promises that they can do it better and for less money than the public agencies that most people rely on. For some very good reasons, people don't believe them. Medicaid Health Plans do not have experience providing the social service supports people with IDD and other disabilities need to survive (housing, case management, caregiving, family supports, health maintenance, etc.). When medical health systems are faced with limitations on funding through a managed care system, they naturally turn to denying and limiting services to the people they are supposed to serve.

Let's not kid ourselves.The community mental health system leaves much to be desired with its inability to recognize or serve the full continuum of services that are needed by this diverse population. 

The State's proposals for reforming the behavioral health system (again) do not tell us what they are trying to reform other than a system of financial management for Medicaid funds. It seems to me this is starting at the wrong place again with the wrong people.

If you want a say in the future of Behavioral Health, tell the MDHHS what you know and what they need to know to do a better job. Lead with that, and don't let the state's proposals be the only thing you respond to.