MI Reentry Care Pathway- Addressing Barriers and Improving Systems - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is seeking $4,999,441 in funding to address barriers and improve systems within the state to effectively operationalize and implement the requirements of Section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). As part of the MI Reentry Care Pathway, Michigan is proposing two areas of focus in which received funding will be used. The first focus area includes addressing the internal system needs of BPHASA and the CSA. Activities in this area will include the assessment of and updates to the internal systems needed to perform core functions related to information sharing and claiming. The second area of focus is targeted engagements. Activities in this area will include seeking the perspective and input of individuals with lived experience as well as providing additional workforce training to ensure effective implementation of CAA requirements. Internal systems within BPASA and CSA requiring updates include the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS), Bridges, and other CSA systems yet to be identified through further assessment. The goal of focus area one is to improve operational efficiency and compliance with Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) across internal, billing, claiming, and communications systems to ensure that CAA requirements are met and ensure that communication across administrations is effective and timely. Michigan recognizes current systems, process and procedures, within BPHASA and the CSA are not equipped to meet Medicaid standards for service delivery, documentation, and billing related to the CAA. This creates a significant risk of service gaps and disruptions to the care continuum, leaving this population vulnerable and without the continuity of care they desperately need. Funds provided through this opportunity are essential to address this critical problem. Funds received as part of this opportunity will be used to prepare internal BPHASA and CSA systems, processes, and procedures to meet CAA operational and systems requirements and deliver reentry services efficiently. The goal of the second area of focus is to ensure that newly implemented processes, policies, and services are informed by lived insights and provided by knowledgeable and well-equipped staff. Additional activities as part of the second area of focus to be included in the MI Reentry Care Pathway, should funding be awarded, are focused engagements. These activities would allow for discussions and convenings to be held with those with lived experience. These discussions and convenings would allow for improved policy implementation and service delivery. Further, this would also allow for enhanced engagement and effectiveness of transition planning. Enhanced workforce trainings would provide trainings for juvenile facility staff, case managers, and health care professions within the CSA related to the CAA and its requirements. BPHASA would leverage enhanced workforce trainings to ensure that all personnel are efficiently trained and able to properly conduct seamless business as CAA requirements are implemented. It is anticipated that 1-2 external consultants will be secured to assist in the development and implementation of lived experience discussions and convenings and enhanced workforce trainings. These external consultants are not yet determined. Finally, to support local community health partners MDHHS will subgrant a portion of funds received to assist with developing operational capabilities related to juveniles impacted by Section 5121 of the CAA. These subgrants will be used to address gaps and barriers including but not limited to organizational process development, workforce development, telehealth capacity development, etc.
