Category: State and National News

Photo by David Limbaugh

Two Democratic U.S. lawmakers, Rep. Hillary Scholten from Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District and Rep. Haley Stevens from Michigan’s 11th Congressional District held a press conference at Catherine’s Health Center last week to warn of the “catastrophic” consequences of the proposed cuts to Medicaid. MPCA staff was in attendance and the event was widely covered by the media.

“If these cuts go through, Michigan would be forced to make impossible choices: cutting coverage for postpartum moms, people with disabilities, seniors in nursing homes and even children with special healthcare needs,” U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, told reporters Wednesday. “The consequences would be catastrophic.”

“We are ringing the alarm bell because Republicans have proposed a budget which includes huge cuts to Medicaid and we are not going to stand by and let that happen,” Stevens said. “We must expand these services, not cut them. Seeing the work Catherine’s Health Center does here in West Michigan to ensure everyone in our community gets care, no matter their income, was profound.”

Read the full articles here:

Democratic representative from Grand Rapids warns against Medicaid cuts

Dems warn of ‘catastrophic’ consequences in Michigan if Medicaid funding is cut

Michigan Congresswomen Scholten and Stevens speak out against proposed Medicaid cuts

‘Medicaid is a lifeline’: U.S. lawmakers voice concerns over possible Medicaid cuts

The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) will join the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) on Capitol Hill this Wednesday, December 4th for a National Fly-In Event. MPCA and Michigan health center staff will be part of a delegation of hundreds of Community Health Center leaders traveling from around the country, in addition to thousands of health center supporters participating in a National Day of Action from their communities, to meet with policymakers from both sides of the aisle.

Read the full press release here.

MPCA is thrilled to announce that early this morning the legislature passed a state budget that includes the most robust appropriation for improvements in Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Medicaid reimbursement since Michigan’s FQHC Prospective Payment System (PPS) was enacted over 20 years ago.

Health Centers are set to see an increase in Medicaid reimbursement of $40 million in FY 2024-25.  The $40 million appropriation is unprecedented in Michigan health center reimbursement history and is one of the largest new, ongoing provider investments in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services budget.

Many health center staff, board members, patients, and other supporters engaged in persistent work to affect this funding increase, and they were successful in partnering with legislators to prioritize the care health centers provide across the state and ensure an understanding of the financial challenges health centers are facing, which if unaddressed would have led to significant negative consequences for patients.

“This is a huge step forward for Michigan Health Centers, and meaningful progress toward addressing challenges with underfunded Medicaid reimbursement rates health centers have been experiencing for years,” said Phillip Bergquist, CEO of the Michigan Primary Care Association. “Countless numbers of individuals contributed to this effort, whether they told the story of health centers and the people they serve with legislators in Lansing or sent an email from their community about the importance of access to care at a health center. This is truly a collective win, and we share in celebrating it with all of our members, patients, and supporters.”

For more on the state budget, access a summary of major budget investments from Governor Gretchen Whitmer or summaries from the legislature’s fiscal agencies.