As Michigan moves to redesign its behavioral health system, one-sided narratives are filling the silence, shaping perception before policy can take root. Lawmakers are now turning their focus to longstanding gaps, from psychiatric bed shortages to federal funding threats, while communities brace for what’s next. With a pivotal election season ahead, the question isn’t just who wins office, it’s who controls the story. Pull Up Your Chair & Let’s Start the Conversation.

MDHHS Rebid

How Misinformation Can Shape the Future of Behavioral Health, When One Side Speaks Louder

Misinformation isn’t always a lie. Sometimes it’s the incomplete truth. In public policy debates, especially ones as complex as Michigan’s behavioral health system redesign, misinformation can take root not through falsehoods, but through omission, selective framing, and one-sided storytelling. When terms like “privatization” dominate headlines without clear definitions or context, the public is left with narratives that may obscure more than they reveal.

In the case of Michigan’s efforts to rebid behavioral health contracts, much of the public messaging is being driven by stakeholders who oppose change and have the resources, networks, and motivation to amplify their concerns. Counties, PIHPs, and local boards have passed resolutions, published FAQs, and engaged in media outreach, voicing opposition rooted in fear of losing control, funding, or influence. Yet their version of events is rarely balanced by alternative voices, including families waiting for care, providers navigating inefficiencies, or the Department itself. Without a coordinated response, early and incomplete narratives can quickly harden into perceived fact. In talking with legislators and elected officials, we know many fail to seek out opposing voices or conduct their own due diligence before voting or supporting a resolution.

This is how misinformation spreads: not always through malice, but through a vacuum of context. When no one fills in the gaps or clarifies what’s being proposed, and why, assumptions become reality. Over time, repeated headlines and unchecked claims begin to crowd out nuance, making it harder for lawmakers and the public to discern the full picture. In an age where perception can drive policy, silence isn’t neutral, it’s permission for one-sided narratives to define the debate.

Here is just a sample of who is controlling the narrative:

Perspectives from other states

For rebid updates watch the MDHHS website.

Lawmakers to Propose Solutions for Michigan’s Psychiatric Bed Shortage

According to MIRS, the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security will soon issue a report on the state’s psychiatric bed shortage following months of testimony and hearings. Committee Chair Rep. Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar) said the report will include legislative recommendations, including investment in additional inpatient psychiatric beds to ease the burden on jails, emergency rooms, and law enforcement, particularly in northern Michigan, where only 32 adult beds exist north of Grand Rapids. Testimony from advocates like Antonietta Petrella-Stanfield, whose son died by suicide after repeated incarcerations and failed mental health interventions, highlighted the urgency. “Jails are not hospitals,” she told lawmakers, citing that 40% of the Grand Traverse jail population is prescribed psychotropic medication. Petrella-Stanfield urged lawmakers to explore stabilization units near jails and collaborative models with mental health agencies to divert individuals from incarceration to appropriate care.

Certified Community Behavioral Health

CCBHCs Are Reshaping Rural Behavioral Health—But Awareness Still Lags

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are redefining access to mental health and substance use care across the country, particularly in underserved rural communities. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, these clinics offer comprehensive, community-based services while improving coordination, accountability, and funding stability. A recent webinar hosted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing highlighted how CCBHCs are building trust and meeting rising demand in areas that have historically lacked adequate behavioral health infrastructure—yet despite their promise, many stakeholders remain unfamiliar with the model’s scope and potential.

As policymakers and providers look for scalable solutions to meet growing mental health needs, understanding the CCBHC model is critical. Its impact goes beyond service delivery—it creates a framework that prioritizes access, continuity of care, and community engagement. Watch the full discussion: How CCBHCs Are Transforming Rural Care[National Council for Mental Wellbeing].

Watch the webinar from The National Council for Mental Wellbeing on CCBHCs and the Future of Rural Behavioral Health

Medicaid

Policy Shifts, Legal Battles, and the Future of Medicaid in Michigan

As Medicaid faces sweeping changes, the implications for Michigan are far-reaching. New work and reporting requirements introduced in H.R. 1 could significantly limit access to care for individuals struggling with mental health or substance use disorders, while community health workers, who form the backbone of Michigan’s public health response, remain under-supported and at risk (Planet Detroit, Metro Times). The erosion of Medicaid’s role as a stabilizing force in vulnerable communities is raising alarm, particularly as many fear it will undermine access to treatment when demand is growing.

At the same time, the Trump administration’s new policy restricting undocumented individuals from accessing services through federally funded programs, including Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), SAMHSA programs, and Head Start, is facing a legal challenge. Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and D.C. have filed suit, arguing the change unlawfully reinterprets long-standing law and threatens public health infrastructure for entire populations. If an injunction is granted, its protection may only apply to the suing states, leaving access uneven across the country (National Council for Mental Wellbeing).

Addiction  

Despite a recent decline in drug overdose deaths in Michigan, significant disparities persist, especially among vulnerable populations (Detroit News). In response, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updated regulations to improve substance use screenings and treatment access. But as more individuals seek help, the Federal Trade Commission is warning about scams impersonating opioid treatment centers and has released guidance to help families and providers identify safe, evidence-based care. See the companion video.

A growing body of research points to innovative, cost-effective strategies that could strengthen the continuum of care. Recovery coaching after residential treatment can improve long-term outcomes and reduce relapse-related expenses. Stable housing for people with opioid use disorder also proves cost-effective, even without requiring treatment, by saving lives and reducing preventable costs. Public understanding is key: a new study by the Recovery Research Institute shows that addiction education must be tailored to the specific substances and concerns people face to close persistent knowledge gaps. (Detroit News)

Expansion

Oversight

Disaster Relief

Other News

Tracking Progress, Revealing Gaps: New Tools Highlight the State of Behavioral Health Access

A wave of new tools and reports is shedding light on where mental health access is advancing—and where gaps persist. The Mental Health Parity Index, launched by The Kennedy Forum, Third Horizon, and the American Medical Association, offers a first-of-its-kind look at how many in-network behavioral health providers are available compared to physical health providers. Piloted in Illinois, the Index promises a new level of transparency and accountability for commercial health plans nationwide.

At the same time, SAMHSA’s new Behavioral Health Career Navigator helps job seekers explore mental health and substance use careers by offering licensing and credentialing requirements in every state—an effort to build a stronger, more informed behavioral health workforce. Yet while these tools aim to improve the system, real-world pain points remain: families in Michigan mourn the end of programs that once supported disabled loved ones (See Families lament end of a 'lifeline’ for disabled Michigan children, adults, Bridge Magazine), and new community health needs assessments, like the one launched in Dearborn, underscore the local urgency for comprehensive behavioral care. Together, these efforts reveal a system still in transition—one that requires data, workforce growth, and sustained investment to fully meet rising demand.

Politics

Key Races Emerge Across Michigan as 2026 Senate Cycle Begins to Take Shape


According to MIRS, a mix of incumbents, newcomers, and rumored candidates are beginning to shape the electoral landscape in key Senate districts

According to MIRS, the 2026 Michigan Senate elections will bring significant turnover, with at least 19 current Senators not returning. A recent MIRS report explores emerging dynamics across Senate Districts 8 through 14, covering parts of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Washtenaw Counties.

In Senate District 8, Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) has filed for re-election but may face a challenge from rising Livonia City Council member Rob Gjonaj Donovic. In neighboring District 9, Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) is expected to seek re-election and could face challengers like Oakland County Commissioner Brendan Johnson and Troy attorney Ren Nushaj. Senate District 10 is poised for a contested Democratic primary, with Amanda Treppa, Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley), and possibly Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) considered early contenders to replace Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), who is pursuing a U.S. Senate seat.

In Macomb County’s Senate District 11, Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) is expected to benefit from redistricting that makes her district more favorable. Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) in District 12 may face a challenge from Shelley Wright, although Republicans are still coalescing around a candidate. In District 13, Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) is rumored to retire, opening the door for possible bids from former Rep. Ryan Berman (R-Commerce Township), Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi), or Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield). District 14’s Sen. Sue Shink (D-Dexter) could also face a Republican challenger, though no candidate has been identified. Despite Jackson County’s strong Republican lean, the absence of a declared opponent leaves the race fluid. MIRS notes that the landscape is still forming, and more candidates are expected to emerge as fundraising, retirements, and strategic decisions become public in the months ahead. 

Unrelated to the State Senate, last week, U.S. Senator Slotkin delivered her Maiden Speech, a Senate tradition dating back to the early 1800s, in which newly elected senators give their first major address on the Senate floor. This speech was her love letter to Michigan, highlight her priorities.

Trump endorses Rogers for Senate in Michigan, Detroit News - 07/25/2025