“The Michigan House of Representatives has
supported this but the Senate, at this time, is worried about the federal
government going to the extreme as far as its authority to cover costs of
Medicaid reform,” said Paul Tarr, the former director of legislative affairs
for the Michigan Department of Mental Health.
The group, Expand Medicaid, recently was formed
to support expansion of Medicaid that provides medical care for those living
below the federal poverty line. Expand Medicaid is a coalition of Michigan
hospitals, mental health care providers and physicians.
Another coalition, the Michigan Universal Health
Care Access Network, is circulating a petition aimed at changing attitudes of
GOP lawmakers.
“Governor (Rick) Snyder supports it,” said Tarr,
also a legislative liaison for the Department of Community Health. “People (but
not enough) on both sides of the aisle support this (Medicaid reform).”
Cuts to general fund support for mental health
and substance use disorder services during the past decade have resulted in a
lack of access, reduction of services and creation of waiting lists for a person
without private insurance or Medicaid.
“Snyder says expanding Medicaid is the best thing
to do because it will provide prevention services,” said Tarr.
Some have been against expansion of Medicaid to
cover those with mental disabilities because Medicaid reimbursement rates are
too low, he added. “(But) the federal government has not reneged on its portion
of Medicaid reimbursement but the state has, saying it doesn’t have sufficient
funds.”
Tarr said: “In all fairness, the Legislature is
looking at this. Lawmakers are waiting to see how this is going to unfold. If
the reimbursement rate is below Medicare, then there will be a shortage of
doctors.
“It is my belief it will definitely help people
with mental and physical disabilities,” said Tarr who helped establish
Michigan’s Medicaid system. “In time, I think Michigan will reform Medicaid. I
support Medicaid reform and the Senate needs time to let it seep like a good
cup of tea.”
Last month, a House subcommittee removed Snyder’s
proposed Medicaid expansion from its budget and in mid-April a Senate
subcommittee did the same. The bills are SB198 and HB4213.
Lawmakers in the state House and Senate are
facing a June 1 self-imposed deadline to finish the state budget.
Some studies have shown, according to Crain’s
Detroit Business, that Michigan could save nearly $1 billion in healthcare
expenditures if it expands Medicaid to people with incomes up to 138 percent of
the federal poverty level.
If lawmakers approve Medicaid expansion, Michigan
could receive $2 billion in federal funds during the next decade to finance
those, including the mentally ill, who become eligible for Medicaid.
“Expansion represents the best single opportunity
to improve access to behavioral health-care services for Michigan’s citizens
most in need,” Vizena said.
Jerry
Wolffe is the Disability Rights Advocate/writer in residence at MORC Inc., a
nonprofit that provides services to 5,100 people with disabilities in Oakland, Macomb,
and Wayne counties.
