A House bill aimed at increasing access to mental health care in Michigan could come to the House floor for a vote at any time.
Rep. Felicia Brabec, D-Pittsfield, a clinical psychologist, introduced the bill in 2023 to make treatment recommendations for mental health and substance use patients, rather than allowing insurance companies alone to make decisions about an individual’s care. He said it would be a priority.
Brabec noted that this measure would allow insurers to find out-of-network options when in-network options are not available, without imposing additional costs on patients.
“Insurance companies have their own criteria when deciding whether people can receive services or not,” Brabec noted. “I think they should use the same important criteria that we do. Just like if a doctor says, ‘This is what a patient needs,’ we should follow that.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has spent more than $75 million on lobbying over the past 20 years. The company said in an emailed statement that it opposes the bill but that it would “promote innovative solutions that address the hurdles Michiganders face to access the behavioral health care they need and improve their overall health.” We remain committed to working with policymakers to find out.” The company also said it is working to expand crisis response services and hire providers in multiple regions across the state.
Alison Haupt, whose son is on the autism spectrum, said she had a hard time getting her son’s care approved by the insurance company. She added that after her crisis and hospitalization, she received a bill for $147,000.
“They (medical workers) felt he needed to stay there longer,” Haupt said. “The hospital got a call from his insurance company and said, ‘No, we don’t think he needs inpatient treatment,’ even though the insurance company doesn’t know everything about his actions. I asked for his release.”
Haupt said she eventually took out insurance to cover the cost. Supporters of the measure said it would reduce costly emergency room and hospital visits, thereby lowering overall costs of care and allowing people to receive care more efficiently. Other states with similar laws have not seen significant increases in premiums and have seen fewer denials of coverage for mental health care.
