Your Voice Matters
As you may know, persons served and others have voiced deep concerns regarding the changes that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is proposing to meet federal Conflict Free Access and Planning requirements.
On behalf of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, LifeWays wants to provide you with background on this issue and invite you to register for and voice your views about the MDHHS proposed system restructuring.
SUMMARY OF SYSTEM CHANGES PROPOSED BY MDHHS
The federal government requires that the mental health system that serves persons on Medicaid be free to develop their person-centered plan without being pressured by organizations that would provide the services contained in that plan. This is a sound goal and one supported by many persons served, their families, the Community Mental Health system, and its provider network.
However, to meet this federal requirement, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is proposing that persons wishing to receive services from their local Community Mental Health system be required to go to an organization, for assessment and their person-centered plan developed, that is a separate organization from the one that provides the services described in that plan.
INVITING AND URGING YOU TO REGISTER FOR AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN UPCOMING LISTENING SESSIONS
Session 1: Tuesday, August 1, 2023
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkcO-tqTwpHNN8Xq6xNp8X21HctP-7na4L
Session 2: Wednesday, August 9, 2023
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtde2hqTMvG9GLXO3SBJLxoV7_LWuzyhe9
Automated captioning will be available during the listening sessions.
NOTE: The deadline to register and to request an accommodation is: July 24, 2023. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with additional information.
CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY PERSONS SERVED
During earlier listening sessions, persons served expressed concerns regarding this MDHHS proposal. These comments include:
“I think [Separating access/planning from direct service] could be problematic due to a person having to repeat providing their info…”
“Having to go from here, to here, to here to do it when being in a place where I need help would be a lot. It’s a lot to ask one person to go through.”
“Between the point of access and referral, things get dropped and lost.”
“It feels like the game it goes through several people and it is not the same in the end after it has moved through all the steps.”
As you can see, the comments reflect the view of persons served that the MDHHS proposal will:
Make an already complicated system more complicated
Lead to important information not being passed from the access and planning organization to the provider organizations
Require persons served to have to tell their story several times in order to obtain the services and supports that they need
As a result of the hearing these concerns, MDHHS is holding two listening sessions to obtain the views of persons served regarding these proposals.