Fiscal Year 2002 State Appropriations Update
The FY 2002 State budget is moving forward. The Michigan Dept. of Community Health
(MDCH) budget was introduced in the state House of Representatives where it is
in final negotiations. Declining tax revenue and projections for a slowing economy
have resulted in minimal increases and a reluctance to fund new programs. The
budget is now beginning its review in the Senate DCH Appropriations Subcommittee.
MCH advocates have been providing testimony at hearings and meeting with their legislators. We will continue to monitor the budget and provide you with information as it is available. For regular updates please sign up for the MCMCH email listserv at mpstrasz@mcmch.com
What can you do?
Call or write your legislator to encourage them to support specific recommendations. (See this update and the MCMCH policy agenda for suggestions.)
Invite your legislator and staff to visit your program and talk about the needs of families.
Testify at policy and appropriations hearings. (Please contact us for assistance.)
Meet with key legislators on the Appropriations Committees.
Complete the attached feedback form so that MCMCH can monitor legislative contacts.
Other Helpful Websites
http://www.gongwer.com (For legislative directory and information on committees)
http://www.michiganlegislature.org (For bills, committee schedules)
http://www.mdch.state.mi.us (For Michigan Dept. of Community Health)
http://www.michiganschildren.org (For
Budget Watch Project information)
Maternal and Child Health State Budget Update
As of March 29, 2001
I. EPSDT- Early Periodic Screening Detection and Treatment Services
Update: The Michigan Association
for Local Public Health is working on boilerplate to create pilot programs
for increasing community capacity for schools and local organizations
to conduct EPSDT screens. Specific reporting requirements of health plans
is also included.
What can you do?
Discuss EPSDT outreach and accountability with legislators.
Educate legislators on the full scope of the 17 EPSDT components.
II. School Health
Update: MCMCH is facilitating
a state level coalition to encourage legislative and department support
for school linked health services in both DCH and the Department of Education.
$850,000 is included in the FY 2002 budget for continuation of the 19
existing centers.
What can you do?
Encourage the legislature to provide $5 million in expansion funds for 40 new centers, which are ready to be implemented.
Encourage the state to seek Medicaid federal match for cash/in-kind from local sources.
Encourage the Dept. of Ed to include funding for 100 school linked services planning grants as adopted by the State Board of Education.
III. Specialty Health (Mental Health, Substance
Abuse, and Developmental Disabilities)
Update: MCMCH is collaborating with a network of advocates to
ensure that children's mental health needs are supported as Michigan
moves to a managed care system. A legislative briefing will be held
in April.
What can you do?
Encourage the legislature to provide $5 million to expand infant mental health services to 0 -5 year olds, and services to child care providers for expulsion prevention.
Require in legislation that state contracts for specialty health services specify maintenance and expansion of community benefit services.
Require that Family Courts and agencies designated to deliver juvenile justice services identify and report to the legislature, the number of children and families in need of specialty services and the number that receive services.
Encourage the legislature to fund the prevention line item in the DCH budget for mental health services, which was removed in the Governor's budget proposal.
IV. Healthy Michigan Fund Projects
Update: Due to declines in tobacco tax revenue the MDCH has proposed $10 million in reductions in Healthy Michigan Fund projects including: $1 million reduction in the Early Childhood Collaborative Secondary Education funds, $1 million in Lead Abatement funds, $850,000 in pregnancy prevention funds, $200,000 in SIDS prevention funds.
What can you do?
Ask legislators to restore cuts in Healthy Michigan Fund by designating unused revenue from the tobacco tax settlement to the Fund.
V. Children's Special Health Care Services
Update: The DCH budget includes a 2% increase for CHSCS to cover
increased utilization and inflation costs.
What can you do?
Ask legislators to support the increase and boilerplate reinstating the voluntary enrollment in managed care for CHSCS children, which was proposed in the administration's budget proposal.
VI. Healthy Kids Dental
Update: Last year, DCH established Healthy Kids Dental program as
an outgrowth of Healthy Kids Health Insurance program. Consumers and dental
providers have been very happy with the program, and access and utilization
have increased.
What can you do?
Advocate for statewide application of Healthy Kids Dental pilot projects.
VII. Infant Mortality
Update: Recently MCMCH hosted a dialogue with MDCH on infant
mortality. Out of that discussion came a recommendation that MDCH,
in collaboration with provider, community, and advocacy networks, convene
a statewide summit on Infant Mortality, emphasizing the reduction of
minority infant mortality rates. MCMCH has developed boilerplate to
the MDCH budget for this summit.
What can you do?
Encourage legislators to adopt the boilerplate calling for MDCH to convene the Infant Mortality Summit and report back to the legislature.
Encourage MDCH to appoint a leader in the field and a representative from the administration to joint leadership on the Infant Mortality Task Force.
Encourage MDCH to integrate infant mortality programs and resources, which are currently administered through Medical Services Administration, Community Living Children and Families, the Family Independence Agency, and the Department of Education.
Encourage increased funding for Fetal/Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) programs to expand statewide.
VIII. Newborn Screening
Update: In 2000, Medicaid required all newborn to receive screening
for seven disorders. The March of Dimes and MCMCH have encouraged Michigan
to adopt all 8 newborn screenings as recommended by federal agencies,
in addition to a hearing screening. Recently the legislature introduced
a bill requiring newborn hearing screening. Money needs to be appropriated
to adequately support the hospitals and local health departments to
implement this policy.
What can you do?
Advocate for Newborn Hearing Screenings
and funding.
NOTE: If you are interested in
the federal budget and it's impact on children and families see the Center
on Budget and Policy Priorities or the Children's
Defense Fund websites.
Also available:
Actions Alerts
