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Policy and Planning

Policy and Planning Bureau

Ninah Sasy, Policy and Planning Bureau Director
SasyN@michigan.gov

The Policy and Planning Bureau supports the Department’s strategic priorities by overseeing the development and implementation of inter- and intra-departmental policies. The Bureau works with state agencies, the Governor’s office, and other key partners to ensure strategic alignment. The Bureau is comprised of the Healthcare Workforce Division, the SDOH Policy Division, CON Evaluation Section, Commission and Special Projects Section, Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section and the Office of Nursing Programs. 

Healthcare Workforce Division

Amber Myers, Healthcare Workforce Division Director
MyersA1@michigan.gov

The Healthcare Workforce Division oversees the development, implementation and coordination of crosscutting and innovative policies and programs that further the Department’s mission specifically related to recruiting and retaining a strong, diverse healthcare workforce. The Division administers established federal and state healthcare recruitment and retention workforce programs as well as the development and administration of new, emerging programs. The Division develops and implements new approaches to Michigan’s healthcare workforce retention and recruitment strategy and works with other partners internally and externally to raise awareness and promote the use of the programs. The Division is comprised of the Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section and the Office of Nursing Programs.

Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section

Miguelina Carela-Garcia, Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section Manager
CarelaGarciaM@michigan.gov

 The Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section conducts planning activities to identify communities with unmet healthcare provider workforce needs and administers programs targeting the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers. This section houses the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program, the Michigan Primary Care Office, the State Office of Rural Health and the Michigan International Medical Graduate programs. This Section supports safety net providers and sites to improve accessibility of primary care, dental, and mental health resources in underserved areas.

Office of Nursing Programs

Casey Klein, Office of Nursing Programs Section Manager
KleinC7@michigan.gov

The Office of Nursing Programs (ONP) serves Michigan citizens by providing professional nursing leadership, expertise, and coordination in health policy development to promote safe care in all nursing environments, advance the safe practice of the nursing profession through health equity principles, and promote a continuous supply of high-quality direct care nurses, nursing faculty, and nursing educational programs. The ONP works closely with education and practice partners throughout the state on strategic initiatives to ensure priority alignment and support new and existing efforts related to the education, training, and workforce development of Michigan nurses.

Certificate of Need (CON) Evaluation Section

Tulika Bhattacharya, Section Manager
BhattacharyaT@michigan.gov

The CON Evaluation Section is responsible for evaluating CON applications in accordance with Part 222 of the Public Health Code, Administrative Rules, and CON Review Standards. The Section is responsible for monitoring CON recipients’ compliance with the terms of CON approval, investigating allegations of noncompliance with CON and recommending appropriate compliance actions to the Director.

Commission and Special Projects Section

Marcus Connolly, Commissions and Special Projects Manager
ConnollyM2@michigan.gov

The Commission and Special Projects (CaSP) section is tasked with facilitating meetings and assisting in implementing policies for various State of Michigan factions under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).  The CaSP section works directly under the umbrella of Policy and Planning. One of the areas CASP is assigned to assist is the Certificate of Need (CON) commission and evaluation section to assess the need for health services. Also, CaSP is charged with facilitating meetings for the Health Information Technology Commission (HIT) as well as  implementing various other special projects.

 SDOH Policy Division

Vacant, Associate SDOH Policy Director

The section is focused on policy and partnerships to the statewide SDOH Strategy and the Department’s portfolio of SDOH efforts. It also supports the gubernatorial-appointed Health Information Technology (HIT) Commission, whose mission is to facilitate and promote the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of an interoperable health care information infrastructure in Michigan.