The Week That Was on Deadline Detroit

Big Proposed Changes to the Mental Health System in Michigan - Is It Necessary, or a Cash Grab for Insurance Companies?

May 11, 2021 Craig Fahle / Deadline Detroit Season 3 Episode 47
The Week That Was on Deadline Detroit
Big Proposed Changes to the Mental Health System in Michigan - Is It Necessary, or a Cash Grab for Insurance Companies?
Show Notes

Craig's guest is Tom Watkins, former Director of the Michigan Department of Mental Healh under former Governor Jim Blanchard.  He also served as the director of the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Authority.   The two discuss bills being considered by the Republican leadership in the Michigan Senate that would shift responsibility for mental health services away from non-profit providers to health insurance companies in Michigan.  Critics argue its a way to siphon 3 billion dollars in annual mental health spending to private, for profit insurance companies.