JACKSON, Mich. (WILX) – Community mental health organization LifeWays is warning patients about incoming changes to the way that behavioral health care is delivered in Michigan.<\/p>\n
In a townhall style forum on Friday, LifeWays leadership shared their concerns about a new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plan to adjust the system of care for patients using Medicaid.<\/p>\n
For decades, mental and behavioral health care has been handled by organizations working at the community level, like LifeWays, which serves people in Jackson and Hillsdale counties.<\/p>\n
LifeWays CEO Maribeth Leonard is afraid that\u2019s going to change once the state health department opens up a bidding pool for behavioral health providers to compete for contract to treat Medicaid patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current structure allows for governance, where the individuals that are served are a part of that board and a part of that decision making about what the needs are at a local level,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cI think losing their voice in that, and they\u2019re the ones impacted by the decisions being made, is very concerning to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Right now, Michigan offers 10 programs for people on Medicaid to get behavioral health services at little or no cost. The state\u2019s program would reduce that number, leaving only three open contracts to cover the entire state.<\/p>\n
Jackson resident Henry Banks said it on Leonard\u2019s townhall to get more information about what this change might mean for his loved ones who use behavioral health services in the area. He\u2019s concerned it\u2019s going to make their care less local.<\/p>\n
\u201cLifeWays has been here for a quite a while and they\u2019ve built a reputation, a relationship with the community,\u201d he told News 10. \u201cIt\u2019s going to affect a lot of people, especially those with severe mental handicaps.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it\u2019s \u201cchanging to a competitive procurement process for the state\u2019s Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) contracts to help ensure Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries have access to behavioral health care services when and where they need them.\u201d<\/p>\n
A department official tells News 10 the decision was made after receiving extensive feedback collected from Medicaid patients across the state.<\/p>\n
Community Mental Health Association Associate Director Alan Bolter said there are gaps in the current behavioral health care system that need to be filled, but he thinks a better solution to the problem is out there; more importantly, he said, one that does not potentially lead to privatization of care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere needs to be more crisis-based services, what people will do in crisis. They want to look at making sure that individual\u2019s rights are protected,\u201d Bolter told News 10. \u201cI don\u2019t necessarily believe they\u2019re being addressed by the proposal the state is pushing for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The state health department is expected to release more information about what the new contract procurement process will look like for providers in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
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