Updates About Public Health

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, over 150,000 Michiganders have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the past year. The large decline is a result of federal policy changes stemming from H.R.1, which rolled back federal funding for both SNAP and Medicaid and implemented new eligibility requirements for the programs.

The new law limits eligibility for work requirement waivers to specific areas with unemployment rates of at least 10%. Previously, the waivers had covered 80 Michigan counties and several cities. Under the new threshold, coverage has been reduced to 15 counties and the cities of Bay City, Detroit, Eastpointe, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw.

Eligibility requirements for certain immigrant statuses went into effect on October 1, 2026, causing approximately 5,000 immigrants in Michigan to have their coverage reduced to Medicaid Emergency Services Only (ESO).

The number of Michigan residents who will lose access to SNAP is expected to increase to over 200,000 in the new year when work requirements and eligibility determination changes take place. Under the changes, individuals will have to prove they completed 80 hours of approved activity or earned a minimum of $580 per month. Eligibility verification to ensure these requirements are being met will now take place every 6 months, replacing the current policy of once per year.

MDHHS has developed an educational toolkit and screening tool to help beneficiaries and providers understand work requirements and exemptions. The department is also providing updates on the changes and offering grants to nonprofits assisting residents with Medicaid and SNAP applications and renewals. Link to the toolkit and screening tool.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the annual Michigan Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary stakeholder meeting will be held virtually over Zoom from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm on Tuesday, October 27.

The meeting offers an opportunity for community partners, the public, and any interested parties to comment on the list of prescription drugs that Michigan’s Medicaid health plans cover.

To receive the Zoom link and RSVP, please email KrepsD@michigan.gov. Alternatively, you can join the meeting via phone by dialing 408-961-3929 and entering access code 257756. More information is available here.

State leaders and local officials recently commemorated the completion of a new 264-bed Southeast Michigan Psychiatric Hospital. The $383.4 million facility will provide inpatient behavioral health care for up to 192 adults and 72 youth, increasing Michigan’s capacity by 54 beds. The hospital is set to open and start treating patients sometime this fall.

The more than 400,000-square-foot facility includes separate treatment and living areas for adults and youth, 198 single-bed suites, recreational and sensory spaces, and 12 secure outdoor courtyards. The hospital is expected to add 150 health care jobs while also replacing both the Hawthorn Center and Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital. Patients currently being treated at Walter Reuther will be relocated to the new facility once it opens.

The project was overseen by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB), with funding from budget investments approved by Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature.