Updates About Press Releases

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) works to ensure health equity and eliminate health disparities among Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations. Racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos disproportionately face negative health outcomes.

OEMH is working to eliminate health disparities and increase access to quality affordable health care for Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations. With April being Minority Health Month, the office will be launching a series of conversations as well as sponsoring social media and community events in an effort to gather statewide feedback on Race and Ethnicity Data Collection Standards and learn how to best represent racial and ethnic populations in MDHHS’ data collection, analysis, and dissemination efforts.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that it plans to transition providers to an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system in 2024. The implementation of Michigan’s EVV system is in accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act, requiring all states to implement an EVV system for Medicaid-funded personal care and home health care services.

The EVV system would validate in-home visits for Medicaid recipients on the location, date, time, and type of care they are receiving. This information would improve the management and oversight of services and ensure that beneficiaries are receiving proper care. Personal care and home health providers can use this free and multilingual state-run EVV system or an alternate EVV system of their choosing if it directly integrates with the state system.

On April 1, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the start of dental benefit enhancements for adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These enhancements serve to improve access to dental services and improve health outcomes as many additional services will now be covered for adults 21 and over. The services covered include:

• X-rays
• Teeth cleanings
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Dentures
• Deep teeth cleanings
• Sealants
• Root canals
• Crowns
• Care to keep your gums healthy

Not only is MDHHS expanding access to services for Medicaid beneficiaries, but MDHHS is also increasing reimbursement rates for dental providers. The new rates allow providers to be paid at 100% of the Average Commercial Rate, which aims to increase the number of treated Medicaid beneficiaries.