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Michigan's Integrated Care Proposal Launch Date Moved to July 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2013

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) proposal to integrate care for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid has extended its target implementation date to July 2014. Individuals who participate in the demonstration will begin to receive services in July 2014 with education, outreach, and enrollment activities occurring prior to this date. MDCH has been in negotiations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) towards the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CMS to outline state and federal responsibilities for the demonstration.

"Our primary 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," said James K Haveman, Director of the MDCH. "While progressing through the MOU process, we have decided to aim for a July 2014 implementation date to ensure we will be best prepared to provide quality care to Michigan residents."

In Michigan's proposal, there will be four regions: 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 also in the process of developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for organizations interested in being a care provider in Michigan's integrated care plan. MDCH plans to issue the RFP the summer of 2013.

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