Settlement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit to Improve Children's Mental Health Services in Michigan

A significant settlement has been approved in a class action lawsuit in Michigan, ensuring access to intensive home and community-based behavioral health services for children across the state. The agreement resolves a lawsuit alleging that Michigan violated Medicaid Act requirements, resulting in children experiencing psychiatric hospitalizations and institutional residential treatment due to a lack of accessible services. The settlement requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to implement comprehensive reforms, including ensuring access to intensive home and community-based services statewide.

Key Takeaways:

• The settlement agreement resolves a class action lawsuit alleging that Michigan violated Medicaid Act requirements, resulting in children experiencing psychiatric hospitalizations and institutional residential treatment.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services must ensure access to intensive home and community-based services statewide for children with significant behavioral health needs.
• A standardized eligibility and assessment process will be established to identify and connect children with services consistently and equitably.
• Improvements will be made to data collection and oversight to track services and outcomes.
• Continuous quality improvement measures will be implemented to sustain progress.

Statistics:

• The settlement requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to make comprehensive systemic reforms, including implementing intensive home and community-based services statewide.
• The agreement comes after the lawsuit was filed in 2018, alleging that Michigan violated Medicaid Act requirements.
• According to the National Health Law Program, the settlement will have a direct and meaningful impact on children and their families.

Sources:

• National Health Law Program (Aug. 29) - Settlement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit to Improve Children's Mental Health Services in Michigan
• Mantese Honigman, P.C. - NHeLP Secures Groundbreaking Settlement Agreement in Michigan Class Action Lawsuit
• Disability Rights Michigan - Press Release - Settlement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit to Improve Children's Mental Health Services in Michigan
• John J. Conway P.C. - Settlement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit to Improve Children's Mental Health Services in Michigan