ANN ARBOR, MI (MPRN)— Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has announced the start of a new health initiative. The goal is to increase access to mental health and addiction services in Michigan.
Beginning this month, 13 behavioral health clinics across Michigan are eligible to be paid through Medicaid for the full cost of their services.
Stabenow says it’s an important step toward paying for mental health and addiction services the same way people pay for physical health care at community health centers.
What is very significant about this is that it includes 24-hour psychiatric crisis services so that people aren't sitting in the emergency room, they're not sitting in jail just because there's no help available to them.
Stabenow says she expects the number of eligible clinics to grow.