This document provides information about government structures and current issues in Michigan. It summarizes the executive branch departments related to health, including LARA, DHHS, and DIFS. It also describes the legislative branch with a Republican majority in both the House and Senate. Current issues discussed include the FY2017 state budget, Flint water crisis, seclusion and restraint legislation, and the 2016 elections.

1. Elizabeth L. Weihl
Partner
Cell 517-719-5398
Direct 517-374-2736
Email weihlb@rwca.com

2. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
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

3. ©2016 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
Legislative
148 elected members
110 House
38 Senate

4. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Year- round (full time) Legislature
27 – 10 Republican super-majority in Senate
(1 vacancy)
63 – 46 Republican majority in House (1 vacancy)
Two year session schedule
98th
Legislature (2015-2016) will end on December 31,
2016

5. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Year- round (full time) Legislature
•In 2013-2014 session, 3271 bills introduced
•854 signed into law
•In 2015-2016 session, 2793 bills introduced as of
June 10, 2016
•449 signed into law as of June 13, 2016

6. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
www.michigan.gov
www.michigan.gov/lara
www.michigan.gov/dhhs
www.michigan.gov/difs
www.michiganlegislature.org

7. ©2016 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!

8. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues *
FY 2017 State Budget (HB 5294)
•Full Funding for Healthy Michigan Plan
•Full implementation of Healthy Kids Dental
•New funding for adult dental services
•Reduced funding for Health and Wellness
Commission (20% - $5.5 million)
•Language (“boilerplate”) on integration of physical
and mental health (section 298)
* current June 15, 2016

9. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
FY 2017 State Budget continued
•Funding and language to support spend down ($3
million; sections 941, 1012)
•Language supporting enhanced wages for direct
caregivers (section 920)
•Language requiring workgroup on recruitment and
retention of direct caregivers, including impact of state
minimum wage (section 1008)
•Language requiring 90 days’ notice before rebasing
formula to PIHP or CMHSP (section 1004)

10. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
FY 2017 State Budget continued
•Language requiring minimum 30 days’ notice before
reduction/termination/suspension of CMHSP services
(section 942)
•Language protecting access to certain medications
(section 1875)
•Language encouraging PIHPs to reduce
administrative cost and promote conflict free care
management (section 1008)

11. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
FY 2016-2017 State Budget (Senate Bill 801)
$1.1 million to support Special Education Reform Task
Recommendations
•$625,000 – MI Integrated Behavior and Learning
Support Initiatives
•$500,000 – emergency seclusion and restraints
training

12. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues *
Flint
•$114 million for current year in HB 5295
•$10.1 million for current year in SB 801
•Other supplemental funding appropriated earlier this
year
•Medicaid waiver for eligible Flint children
•Appointments to Child Lead Poisoning Elimination
Board (Executive Order 2016-09)
* current June 15, 2016

13. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues *
•Seclusion and Restraint – Bicameral, bipartisan.
House Bills 5409 – 5418: House Education
Committee
Senate Bills 835 – 838: Senate Education
Committee
•Expulsion/Suspension/Modification of “Zero
Tolerance”
House Bills 5618 – 5621, 5693- 5695: Senate
Judiciary Committee
* current June 15, 2016

14. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
Current Issues *
•Regulation of “millionaire parties”
Senate Bill 187, House Bill 4293: House floor
•Licensure and regulation of ABA practitioners
Senate Bills 1015, 1016: Senate Regulatory
Reform Committee
•Crime of abuse of person with developmental
disability
House Bills 5728, 5729: House Criminal Justice
Committee
* current June 15, 2016

15. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
2016 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

16. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
2016 Elections
110 State House seats to be filled
•69 incumbents seeking reelection
•35% of incumbents face primary challengers
•Democrats must gain 9 seats to achieve majority
14 US Congressional seats to be filled
•9 Republicans, 5 Democrats
•2 incumbents not seeking reelection

17. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
2016 Elections
Potentially impacted by:
National race?
Flint?
Anti-incumbent sentiment?

18. ©2016 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

19. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
General Advocacy Tips
TIP #1
PARTICIPATE!

20. ©2016 RWC Advocacy
THANK YOU!