Elizabeth L. Weihl
Partner
Email [email protected]
Direct 517-374-2736
Cell 517-719-5398
Executive
Governor
State Departments/Agencies
•MI Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
(LARA) – all health professional, program and
facility licensure
•MI Department of Health & Human Services
(DHHS) – population health, public sector
policy and financing (physical, behavioral)
and Medicaid
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Executive
State Departments/Agencies
•MI Department of Insurance & Financial Services
(DIFS) – regulates individuals and businesses
in financial and insurance industries, including
Michigan’s health insurance exchange
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Legislative
Year- round (full time) Legislature
99th Legislature (2017-2018) began on January 1 and
will end on December 31, 2018
148 Elected members
110 House
38 Senate
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Legislative
27 – 11 Republican super-majority in Senate
63 – 47 Republican majority in House (2 vacancies) *
** vacancies to be filled by special election
©2017 RWC Advocacy
• Legislative
• In 2013-2014 session, 3271 bills introduced
• 854 signed into law
• In 2015-2016 session, 3305 bills introduced
• 832 signed into law
©2017 RWC Advocacy
www.michigan.gov
www.michigan.gov/lara
www.michigan.gov/dhhs
www.michigan.gov/difs
www.michiganlegislature.org
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues
State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018*
Integration of physical/behavioral health (sec. 298)
• DHHS hiring of independent facilitator for all pilots
• Pilot in Kent County with a willing CMHSP and all
willing health plans to pilot full integration model
• 4 PIHPs (Wayne; Oakland; Macomb; rest of state)
• Up to 3 pilots on fully integrated pilots
* Preliminary as of June 9, 2017
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues
State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018*
Integration of physical/behavioral health (sec. 298)
• Pilots to last at least 2 years
• Benefits and cost savings reinvested in services and
supports
• No language establishing goal of statewide
integration by 2020
• Pilot evaluation done by state research university
* Preliminary as of June 9, 2017
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues
State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018*
• Increased funding for Healthy Michigan Plan and
traditional Medicaid for state match, caseload and
utilization adjustments
• 25-cent/hour wage increase for direct care workers,
additional 25-cent increase on 6/1/18 for those
earning less than $10.90/hour
• Medicaid common drug formulary – Open meeting
requirements, 45 day public comment period
* Preliminary as of June 9, 2017
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues
State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018*
• 36 new staff positions at state psychiatric hospital
• 35 new adult services caseworkers
• 5% increase in Medicaid autism services fee
schedule
• New funding for psychiatric transition unit at
Hawthorn center, reduced funding for Mental Health
and Wellness Commission
* Preliminary as of June 9, 2017
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues
State Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 and beyond
• What will happen in Washington?
• When and how will it affect Michigan?
• Medicaid Expansion/Healthy Michigan Plan?
• Waivers?
• Other state changes to Healthy Michigan Plan?
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Michigan Elections
Michigan’s legislative term limits are among the
strictest in the nation.
State House – 3 terms of 2 years each (6 years)
State Senate – 2 terms of 4 years each (8 years)
= 14 year lifetime limit
Approved in 1992 by constitutional amendment,
affecting lawmakers sworn in after January 1, 1993
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Michigan Elections
110 State House seats up for election in 2016
•42 true freshman legislators seated in January 2017
14 US Congressional seats up for election in 2016
•2 true freshman congressmen seated in January 2017
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Michigan Elections
In 2018:
• All constitutional officers
• 110 State House seats (23 term limited)
•
38 State Senate seats (26 term limited)
•
14 US Congressional seats
•
1 U.S. Senator
In a mid-term election
Other Issues – Part Time Legislature? Term Limits?
Legalization of Marijuana?
©2017 RWC Advocacy
Successful advocacy must
•Include both branches of government
•Include both statutory and regulatory engagement
•Be both pro-active and reactive
•Be both strategic and properly timed
The good news: Advocacy done right, Works!
©2017 RWC Advocacy
General Advocacy Tips #2 - 8
•Engage your lawmakers in district when possible
•Communicate via call or email, personal meetings,
testimony
•Arrange site visits
•Be courteous
•Be timely
•Be confident
•Be coordinated
•Be persistent
©2017 RWC Advocacy
General Advocacy Tips
TIP #1
PARTICIPATE!
©2017 RWC Advocacy
THANK YOU!
©2017 RWC Advocacy