On February 4, members of the WHI Steering Committee met with Governor Snyder’s chief of staff to share evidence and findings pertaining to Michigan proposed Medicaid’s expansion, the Healthy Michigan Plan. On February 7, Governor Snyder submitted his FY 2014 budget proposal to the state legislature, which included expanding Michigan’s Medicaid program.
The Washtenaw Health Initiative was one of several Michigan organizations that communicated the importance of the expansion for Michigan residents, ultimately leading to the bill being signed into law by Governor Snyder on August 28. This enabled Michigan to expand eligibility rules for Medicaid enrollment, allowing anyone under 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Line to qualify for support. The bill would go into effect in the spring of 2014.