Healthy Michigan Plan Opens for Enrollment April 1

Reprinted from an email announcement received from MDCH Director James Haveman on March 20, 2014

Read the full press release

As important partners in our health efforts, I am pleased to share with you that starting April 1, Michigan will begin accepting applications for the Healthy Michigan Plan online, by phone, or in in person at local Michigan Department of Human Services offices.

Since Governor Rick Snyder signed the Healthy Michigan Plan into law on Sept. 16, 2013, the Michigan Department of Community Health staff has worked closely with the federal government and Michigan partners to get the necessary information technology, federal approval, and program operations in place. Extensive testing and progress has been made to assure the necessary system requirements are ready for enrollment.

After months of hard work and your support, we have made another significant step toward providing healthcare coverage to nearly half a million Michigan residents. We are in the process of finalizing our enrollment activities as well working with our federal partners regarding the incentives for beneficiaries and providers to promote healthy living.

Throughout the stages of operationalizing the Healthy Michigan Plan, MDCH received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Dec. 30, 2013. This approval allowed MDCH to transition roughly 60,000 individuals from the Medicaid Adult Benefits Waiver (ABW) program into the new Healthy Michigan Plan, with coverage beginning April 1, 2014.

In making the Healthy Michigan Plan a reality, our primary concern has been ensuring our systems are fully prepared for Michigan residents as they apply and once they are enrolled. And as the Healthy Michigan Plan includes a strong personal responsibility focus, we are encouraged by the promising results we’ve seen so far with the ABW population and look forward to improving the health of all residents eligible for the Healthy Michigan Plan.

We are currently working to schedule a stakeholder meeting for next week to discuss how this announcement impacts you and your partners, and to address any questions you may have. Please watch for a calendar appointment before the end of this week. Until then, you can track the progress of the Healthy Michigan Plan by visiting www.michigan.gov/healthymichiganplan, or by contacting our office.

Thank you for your continued support.

Cordially,
James K. Haveman
Director