The recent mandatory rollout of MichiCANS and LOCUS assessments for Medicaid recipients is posing significant challenges to healthcare providers across Michigan, particularly those in private practice. This change, intended to standardize care assessments, is inadvertently creating barriers to healthcare access for vulnerable populations.

As a healthcare provider deeply committed to serving my community, I have personally witnessed the administrative burden these mandates impose. The requirement to conduct these assessments on such a large scale has saturated our once manageable workflows, causing us to spend more time on paperwork and less time with patients. The strain is making it increasingly difficult for several of my colleagues and myself to continue offering Medicaid services without reconsidering our participation in the program altogether.

The primary concern here is that this additional administrative workload threatens to reduce healthcare providers' willingness and ability to serve Medicaid recipients. It could lead to even fewer healthcare options for those who need it most, as more providers might opt-out of Medicaid rather than risk burnout—a situation we cannot afford in midst of a national healthcare professional shortage.

Statistics reveal that behavioral health practitioners are already stretched thin, with a recent report indicating a 20% increase in burnout rates among healthcare providers over the past year (source: American Medical Association). This rollout exacerbates the existing problems, hindering providers' ability to deliver timely and effective care.

I urge the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to pause this rollout and reevaluate its strategy. Implementing these changes without actionable support and resources for providers is counterproductive. Introducing phased rollout plans, coupled with comprehensive support and feedback mechanisms, will ensure providers can prepare adequately for these changes without compromising patient care.

Please sign this petition to encourage MDHHS to reconsider its rollout strategy, allowing healthcare providers to continue serving Michigan's Medicaid population effectively and sustainably. Your signature can help ensure that those most in need continue to receive the care they deserve.