January 12, 2005

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is developing a plan to eventually extend access to affordable health care insurance to thousands of citizens, thanks to a $900,000 federal award. The Michigan State Planning Project for the Uninsured will allow the state of Michigan to better identify the factors contributing to the rise in the number of uninsured citizens and to develop a plan to ensure that access to health care insurance is available to all.

“The overarching goal of Michigan’s Project is to develop realistic strategies and viable options that will lead to health insurance coverage for all Michigan residents,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “This grant will allow MDCH to further identify the problems that lead to a lack of health insurance, so that we may provide better solutions for all of our citizens.”

The year-long Michigan State Planning Project for the Uninsured will include an advisory council, a steering committee, and several workgroups made up of key stakeholders, policymakers, and professionals who work with the uninsured.

The project intends to broaden and strengthen the current knowledge base regarding uninsured citizens by utilizing extensive research methods, including household surveys, Michigan employee surveys, focus groups, interviews with policymakers and town hall meetings. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2006.

“The ongoing battle for the uninsured to afford the health care coverage they require affects every single citizen, not just those without insurance,” Olszewski said. “It is important that we receive input from citizens throughout the state in order to accurately identify the depth of the problem and create concrete solutions.”

Based upon this comprehensive study of health care coverage issues, MDCH will make recommendations for a future plan of action to provide all of Michigan’s citizens with access to affordable health insurance. The recommendations will be based on a thorough assessment of existing state insurance coverage options and an analysis of a comprehensive series of insurance models.

The project will provide state decision-makers with options that recognize the diversity of Michigan’s population and reflect the flexible nature of state and federal policy. The project’s final report will be presented to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and will be distributed to the health policy committees of the State Legislature.