Legislature Considers Redirecting Billions in Mental Health Budget
Plan would put up to $2.6 billion into pilot programs
“What the bill really said was, ‘Let’s take $2.6 billion and hand it over to the private and sometimes profit-making insurance companies, who have no experience in doing this.’”
For the second year, mental health professionals across Michigan are pushing back on a plan introduced by Legislators that would redirect mental health funds to private health care providers. The measure failed last year.
Tom Watkins, executive director of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, tells WDET’s Amy Miller that this session, the proposal includes developing a pilot program.
The picture above is on a billboard near the Mackinac Bridge. Watkins says it’s a message to politicians headed to the Mackinac Policy Conference this week.
Click on the audio link above to hear the entire conversation
