Michigan Advocacy Update
Lansing Days
On Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22, 2023, twenty-nine Michigan bleeding disorders advocates joined the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan (HFM) for our legislative advocacy event, Lansing Days. Special thank you to our HTC representatives for joining us: Dave Rushlow, Kathi Sheldon, and Alice Cakebread!
Together, our group of bleeding disorders advocates visited with thirty-four state legislator offices to share bleeding disorders education and discuss issues important to the community. Advocates asked legislators to continue funding Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) and shared support for Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of an age eligibility increase for CSHCS in her FY2024 budget recommendation.
Patients also shared information on copay accumulator adjustment programs and the financial impact they have on Michigan patients who rely on copay assistance to access their necessary medications. After stalling in the Senate Health Policy Committee during 2022, we asked legislators to support reintroduction in the 2023-2024 session.
We were also excited to discuss our support for House Bill 4167, legislation to establish a Rare Disease Advisory Council. Serendipitously, the bill was called for a vote during our event on Wednesday! HFM staff and advocates gathered in the House gallery and were introduced to the House floor by HB 4167 sponsor, Jason Morgan. We are thrilled to share that the bill passed by a vote of 88-20. We look forward to continuing our work with Representative Morgan as the legislation moves to the Senate.
Public Health Emergency Unwinding Communications
Michigan started Medicaid eligibility renewals for both fee-for-service Medicaid and Medicaid Health Plan (MHP) beneficiaries on April 1, 2023. At the end of March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services mailed the first notifications letters to Medicaid beneficiaries to notify them of their upcoming renewal.
It is expected that many beneficiaries will lose coverage due to administrative errors. HFM is working to share communications with the Michigan bleeding disorders community to ensure all patients are aware of the upcoming renewal and have updated their contact with MDHHS.
Thank you to the Michigan HTCs for all your direct work with patients to ensure continued coverage through this period!
Ohio Advocacy Update
What you need to know about Medicaid reviews as COVID-19 health emergency policies end during the COVID-19 pandemic
Medicaid eligibility reviews by each state temporarily stopped. Now that the U.S. government has ended the public health emergency related to the pandemic, states will begin reviewing eligibility for those who are on Medicaid.
If you or your child have Medicaid, go to your state’s Medicaid website, and make sure that your address, phone number and email address is current. If you have moved in the past three years, your Medicaid office may not have your new address. Check your mail for any letters about this and be sure to complete a renewal form if you get one. If your family income has changed during the past few years, you may no longer be eligible for Medicaid. If you or your child is no longer eligible and you have insurance questions, contact your Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) social worker. We do not want you or your child to be without insurance, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this.
Ohio residents- https://medicaid.ohio.gov/
Indiana residents- https://www.in.gov/medicaid/
Kentucky residents- https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/pages/default.aspx
