Category: State and National News

LANSING–As part of its multifaceted plan to address the opioid epidemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is offering student loan repayment to eligible medical providers if they begin providing or expand opioid addiction treatment programs through the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program.

The goal of the repayment program is to increase availability of opioid use disorder treatment across the state, especially in areas where treatment is difficult to access. The program is being funded through the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, which is receiving payments from the nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors, as well as opioid manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson.

“By supporting our workforce, we are able to expand life-saving services to those suffering from opioid and substance use disorders,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Repaying student loans for providers eases the financial burden of those working in this field and offers an incentive for those considering entering this high-demand caregiving workforce. We encourage all who are eligible to apply by March 13.”

The program is available to medical and osteopathic medicine doctors, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and substance use disorder counselors who begin offering opioid treatment or expand treatment that is already being offered. Providers who work in a variety of health care settings are eligible to apply.

This is the third time MDHHS has accepted applications for the program. During the first two rounds, 64 providers had their student loans partially-repaid reaching a total of $1,158,678.

Applications must be submitted by March 13. Applications and other resources can be found at Michigan.gov/miota. Health care providers are encouraged to review the materials and submit applications when the cycle begins.

–MDHHS Communications

LANSING–A new bilingual hotline makes it easier for Michigan’s migrant workers and their families to get information about the COVID-19 vaccine and other health-related matters.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Migrant Affairs is launching the toll-free number, 1-833-SIAYUDA (1-833-742-9832). Si ayuda means “yes help” or “yes assistance” in Spanish.

More than two-thirds of the approximately 90,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their family members in Michigan have limited English language proficiency, which may prevent them from getting access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. That’s according to the University of Michigan’s 2023 study “Fair Housing Access, Affordability, and Quality for Michigan Farmworkers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.”

“We aim to make health care in Michigan client-centered, which includes providing information in the person’s primary language when available to ensure timely health services,” said Dwayne Haywood, senior deputy director of the MDHHS Economic Stability Administration. “The Farmworker Hotline is a translation tool to help keep farmworkers healthy and reduce health-related work absences that could result in loss of earnings needed to support their families.”

Farmworkers are a vital part of Michigan’s annual $104.7 billion food and agricultural industry. The hotline will expedite COVID-19-related services to Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers, including food processing workers, dairy workers and nursery/greenhouse workers. 

The MDHHS Farmworker Hotline – which is funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – will be answered by MDHHS Migrant Affairs’ staff who are fluent in both Spanish and English. Migrant Affairs staff will answer vaccine questions and connect farmworkers to vaccination clinics and resources, make appropriate referrals to local offices, and provide other MDHHS program information based upon farmworker inquiries.

For farmworker calls in languages other than English and Spanish, a translation service will be available. MDHHS has translation services policy and contracts in place statewide to provide state-of-the-art health care to Michigan residents.

Ultimately, the goal of the MDHHS Farmworker Hotline is to help Michigan provide bilingual residents with tools to prevent disease, improve health outcomes and increase well-being. Hotline information distribution is being provided to all Michigan local offices serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers, partner agencies, and through social media.

Find more details at www.michigan.gov/migrantaffairs or www.michigan.gov/help4migrants

–MDHHS Communications

LANSING–The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recognized World AIDS Day Thursday to bring awareness to the ongoing HIV epidemic and to remember those who have been lost due to HIV and AIDS. Michiganders are encouraged to get tested for HIV to know their status, and any person with HIV who is not in treatment is encouraged to engage in medical care.

“It is essential that we reach people who do not know their HIV status, ensure they are tested and connect those who test positive with quality care so they can lead healthy lives,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “As a state we are committed to taking proactive measures to end the HIV epidemic which is why it is so important for Michigan residents to know their HIV status.”

This year’s theme is “putting ourselves to the test: achieving equity to end HIV.” The theme relates to ongoing efforts by MDHHS to end the HIV epidemic through equitable and culturally competent programs, outreach and resources for HIV testing, treatment and prevention. Over the past year, MDHHS has worked to ensure access to HIV services is available to everyone. Local health departments offer free and confidential HIV services on-site, and many offer at-home HIV test kits that can be mailed directly to residents. Many local organizations also offer HIV services. Michiganders can call 211 or visit this website to locate HIV testing and treatment services near them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone get tested for HIV at least once as an adult. MDHHS recommends that anyone with a new sex or needle-sharing partner or people who are at high risk be tested more often.

As part of Michigan’s Ending the HIV Epidemic plan, MDHHS is working to significantly reduce the rate of new HIV infections by supporting efforts to increase HIV testing, connect people to quality health care and increase the use of prevention strategies such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and “Undetectable equals Untransmittable.”

People who are at high risk of HIV exposure are encouraged to talk to their doctor about PrEP, a medication designed to prevent HIV infection if there is an exposure.

To find testing locations and discover more about Michigan’s resources for HIV, visit Michigan.gov/HIVSTI.

–MDHHS Communications

 World Aids Day.pdf

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel joined other health leaders today at Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center, Inc. in Detroit to discuss how access to health care is improved by the fiscal year 2023 budget signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and through federally qualified health centers.

In addition to the impact of the budget, today’s roundtable discussion focused on issues such as the effect on Michigan families of Whitmer administration efforts to lower prescription drug prices.

CHASS Center is a federally qualified heath center that develops, promotes and provide comprehensive, accessible and affordable quality primary health care and support services to all residents of the community, with special emphasis on the underserved African-American and Latino population.

“Community Health and Social Services Center and not-for-profit organizations like it throughout Michigan epitomize our vision of delivering health and opportunity to all Michiganders, reducing intergenerational poverty and promoting health equity,” Hertel said.

“As Gov. Whitmer’s budget provides the dollars needed to improve access to health care, these local organizations are working every day in their communities to deliver these services to Michigan residents to keep them healthy.”

Improving access to health care is a priority in the budget signed by Gov. Whitmer, who also has focused on lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

The fiscal year 2023 budget includes:

• $132.5 million in new resources to improve Medicaid reimbursement for several critical services, including vaccine administration, primary care, community health workers, neonatal services, and private duty nursing.
• $85.1 million to improve access to dental care for Michiganders enrolled in Medicaid.
• $181.6 million to expand behavioral health community capacity and increase the number of psychiatric beds for children and adults.
• Funding for health equity across the lifespan including:
  • $1.2 million for expansion of Healthy Moms Healthy Babies maternal and infant health and support programs to provide professional doula care services for pregnant women, new mothers and their families and address disparities.
  • $555,700 to place migrant family independence specialists at federally qualified health centers.
• Funding for initiatives to address racial disparities including:
  • Funding for outreach to women disproportionally at risk of or impacted by uterine fibroid disease.
  • $2.5 million for a Sickle Cell Center of Excellence to address sickle cell disease, a medical condition that disproportionately impacts people of color.
• $28.3 million to allow Medicaid reimbursement for community health workers.
• $3.4 million in one-time funding for an alternative payment model pilot program which will include a health care provider working with a health plan and a federally qualified health center to implement a pathway hub in Muskegon to support the social and medical needs of the community.

As the largest network of affordable primary health care providers in the nation, Community Health Centers improve the health and well-being of underserved communities and empower people to actively take part in solving issues unique to them and their communities.

“We understand the impact of social drivers of health and work tirelessly to help mitigate them in effective care delivery,” said Dr. Felix Valbuena Jr., CEO of CHASS Center. “Continued support for the mission and work of health centers significantly impacts our ability to help community members be the best version of themselves.”

In Michigan, 40 community health centers provide affordable, quality behavioral and physical health care to more than 720,000 people, including more than 200,000 children. They work in coordination with MDHHS, local health departments and other partners to implement programs at the community level including health education, vaccination administration and social service referrals.

“MPCA is grateful for the efforts of Gov. Whitmer’s administration to formulate a budget that will positively impact the health of communities across the state,” said Phillip Bergquist, chief executive officer of the Michigan Primary Care Association. “These critical investments will improve service delivery and assist in greater access to health care, especially for vulnerable populations.”

In addition to providing funding to improve access to health care, Gov. Whitmer has acted to make prescription drugs affordable. Earlier this year she signed bipartisan legislation to lower the costs of prescription drugs for Michiganders, ensure that pharmacists can provide honest advice to patients about treatment options, and hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable. The governor’s Prescription Drug Task Force, housed within MDHHS, had recommended those actions.

Also participating in the roundtable discussion were representatives from Community Health and Social Services Center, including Valbuena; patients at the center; Bergquist; and Joslyn Pettway, chief executive officer of Covenant Community Care. Hertel and others toured the center following the discussion. Health Care Access Press Release.pdf

–MDHHS (Photo Courtesy: Latino Press)

LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) program and MPCA member Cherry Health (Grand Rapids) were recipients last month of federal grants earmarked to benefitting local communities. The MPCA with 15 HealthCorps members received $239,759 while Cherry Health’s 20-member AmeriCorps program received $555,170, as both organizations will use the money for healthy futures with their communities in mind.

“I would like to sincerely thank Governor Whitmer for recognizing the impact of the MPCA AmeriCorps HealthCorps members and the work that they do,” stated MPCA AmeriCorps Program Administrative Specialist Karen Goucher. “We have been able to serve over 6,500 Michiganders in just the last six months with healthcare, resources and health education.  With the governor’s investment of additional funds for our program, we will be able to place more members throughout Michigan and have an even larger impact on the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Community Service Commission will receive $13.4 million in federal funds to support over 1,100 Michigan AmeriCorps members who work hand in hand with organizations across the state to help communities tackle their toughest challenges.

“Today’s AmeriCorps investments will help us grow Michigan’s economy and ensure every community can thrive,” said Gov. Whitmer. “These investments – and the over 1,100 dedicated AmeriCorps members who will serve those in need and address critical challenges – will continue to make a tremendous impact in communities in every region of Michigan. Together, let’s help our working families and resilient communities thrive.”

READ THE FULL STORY

Nearly 3 million Michiganders now receiving Medicaid may have to prove they remain eligible starting as early as this summer. And if all doesn’t go well, hundreds of thousands could risk losing health coverage.

To read the full story “Michigan’s Medicaid ballooned during COVID. It’s about to be pared back” by

Bridge Michigan staff writer Robin Erb in her Michigan Health Watch column, please click on the link.

Photo and story courtesy of Robin Erb, Bridgemi.com

BETHESDA, Md.–Community Health Centers recently marked the one year milestone of vaccinating and protecting populations from COVID. With now 21 million vaccines administered, and a documented success of fewer deaths and infections in places where there is a health center, another challenge looms: financial uncertainty. With pandemic federal funding winding down, NACHC is tracking how health centers can continue to serve their mission by providing care to uninsured and underinsured Americans as additional COVID-19 variants emerge.

To continue reading “NACHC Raises Concerns About Funding Uncertainty in Pandemic Fight” by Amy Simmons Farber, please click here.

LANSING–The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would like to inform you that the new Controlled Substance Rules were effective as of January 6, 2022. A list of the notable changes is below. This is not intended to provide a comprehensive listing of all changes or current requirements. Licensees should review the rules and statute for a complete understanding of all applicable requirements.

• Except for a few exceptions, adopt the complete list of drugs and substances that are controlled substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
• Clarify who must obtain a controlled substance license and reorganize the licensing rule.
• Require physician’s assistants to meet the opioid training requirements that apply to controlled substances licensees.
• Expand the individuals who must take the opioid/controlled substances training.
• Exempt an individual who prescribes or dispenses controlled substances only for research on animals from taking the opioid/controlled substances training.
• Eliminate the drug treatment program prescriber license.
• Clarify when inventories and records are required.
• Require that technologies are in place and used, such as bar-coding, when stocking of an automated device is delegated.
• Require information to be submitted to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (MAPS) database.
• Require electronic transmission of prescriptions when the same is required by the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, pursuant to the Public Health Code.
• Provide a state waiver from the electronic transmission of prescriptions at any time a waiver is granted by CMS.
• Provide a process and basis to obtain a waiver from the mandate to electronically transmit prescriptions.
• Provide specific exceptional circumstances to the waiver rule.
• Align the requirements to treat an individual with a substance use disorder for maintenance and detoxification with federal regulations. Use “individual with substance use disorder” instead of “drug dependent person.” Clarify the definition of a “program.”
• Update prescription requirements.
• Update emergency and partial dispensing of controlled substances.
• Update refilling of prescriptions.
• Clarify that a cash discount card is a cash transaction for entry into the MAPS program.

Please click HERE to view the revised Controlled Substance Rules.

The BPL office is diligently working on updating relative information on its website to reflect the revisions of the revised rules. For more information, please visit the website at www.michigan.gov/bpl.

Please send questions about the revised rules to [email protected].