Skip to main content

Regions Announced for Michigan's Integrated Care Proposal CMS Negotiations Towards a Final Plan are Progressing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 17, 2013

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is developing a demonstration to strengthen services and supports for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. MDCH has been in negotiations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which has led to the decision to move forward with a regionalized approach.

"While the project is still in negotiations with CMS, this is a significant step in the process," said James K Haveman, Director of the MDCH. "Our overall goal with the integrated care project is to improve quality and access to care for the populations in Michigan currently having to use two very different systems to receive the care they need."

There will be four regions in the proposed plan. They are: the entire Upper Peninsula; a region in the Southwest part of the state consisting of the following counties: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren; Macomb as a single county region; and Wayne as a single county region. The demonstration will initially operate for three years and will be implemented for this select set of regions as opposed to statewide.

The integrated care project seeks to improve quality and access to care by more effectively aligning Medicare and Medicaid services and bridging the divide between the physical health, long term care, and behavioral health systems. The demonstration will promote the use of a person-centered approach in all aspects of the new care system. Additionally, the demonstration will focus on increasing access to home and community-based services, ensuring continuity of care during the transition to the new system, and supporting self-determination and choice for individuals.

MDCH is currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CMS to outline state and federal responsibilities for the demonstration. Pending approval from CMS, MDCH aims to implement the program in January 2014 with outreach, education, and enrollment starting in October 2013.

# # #