The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
MDHHS to seek contract with existing Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan for Section 298 Initiative
September 14, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 14, 2018
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today that it will contract with one of Michigan’s existing Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHP) as part of the Section 298 Initiative. The selected PIHP will be responsible for managing the specialty behavioral health benefits for individuals who are not enrolled in a Medicaid Health Plan within the pilot regions.
The Section 298 Initiative is a statewide effort to improve the coordination of physical health services and behavioral health services in Michigan. This initiative is based upon Section 298 in Public Act 268 of 2016. The Michigan legislature approved a revised version of Section 298 as part of Public Act 207 of 2018.
Under Section 298, the legislature directed MDHHS to implement up to three pilots to test the integration of Medicaid-funded physical health and behavioral health services. As part of the pilots, MDHHS will contract with the Medicaid Health Plans (MHP) within the pilot regions for the management of Medicaid-funded physical health and behavioral health services. The MHPs will contract with the Community Mental Health Service Programs (CMHSP) within the pilot sites for the delivery of specialty behavioral health services and supports. The three pilot sites are:
-
HealthWest and West Michigan Community Mental Health
-
Genesee Health System
-
Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority
Approximately 25 percent of the Medicaid population is not enrolled in an MHP for management of their physical health services; therefore, MDHHS is not able to enroll these individuals in the MHPs for the pilots. Instead, MDHHS will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a single existing PIHP to manage the specialty behavioral health benefit for the unenrolled population. The selected PIHP will also contract with the CMHSPs for the delivery of specialty behavioral health services and supports.
MDHHS expects to issue the RFP no later than January 2019. MDHHS will work with the selected PIHP, CMHSPs and MHPs in the pilot sites to implement the pilots by Oct.1, 2019. For more information about the Section 298 Initiative, visit Michigan.gov/stakeholder298.
# # #