On February 11, the Michigan Society of Addiction Medicine (MISAM) submitted comments on a proposed policy, 2067-AUD/OUD, released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) which would expand Medicaid reimbursement options for clinicians in Michigan who treat addiction outside of the state’s separate Medicaid behavioral health system. MISAM’s comments were generally supportive, but did recommend changes to certain sections. 

The comments applauded MDHHS’ decision to expand the list of services for which clinicians treating addiction outside of the separate Medicaid behavioral health system could receive reimbursement. Previously, those clinicians could only receive reimbursement for evaluation and management services, as well as some consultation services. The new policy would allow those clinicians to receive reimbursement for counseling services, Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management services, behavioral health management, drug testing and other laboratory services, and providing medications for addiction treatment. The comments also applauded the new policy’s transition away from non-evidence-based requirements regarding counseling, prior authorization, and dose tapering contained in a previous policy.

MISAM also requested some modifications to the policy. Specifically, it asked that clinicians providing addiction treatment outside of the Medicaid behavioral health system be reimbursed for employing peer recovery specialists in their practices. Additionally, MISAM urged MDHHS to encourage the use of the ASAM Criteria for patient placement determinations, noting that use of the ASAM Criteria is associated with less morbidity, better client functioning, and more efficient service utilization than mismatched treatment. 

Read MISAM’s letter here.

Read 2067-AUD/OUD here.