The new state budget for Michigan will include deep cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services, totaling $7.62 billion and the elimination of 827 unfilled positions.

A majority of the cuts reflect changes to Medicare at the federal level, including $6 billion less from hospital rate adjustments and $3.3 billion less from Insurance Provider Assessment payments.

However, state lawmakers were able to make up some of that and secured most of the funding needed to run essential services like substance use disorder services, access to behavioral health services and food assistance programs.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel released a statement on Thursday, saying: “I am pleased that the legislature has reached an agreement to pass a balanced, bipartisan state budget that will allow th

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