Medicaid and rural healthcare funding maintained in Michigan state budget

LANSING — Northern Michigan medical providers say that the recently passed state budget maintains billions of dollars in critical healthcare funding.

The plan avoids millions in proposed reductions that they say would have added to the pressure experienced by rural health systems.

“Sometimes fighting for sort of the status quo, rather than cuts that are facing others, is a considerable win,” said Deidra Wilson, vice president of government relations with McLaren Health Care.

The state budget maintains all existing healthcare spending, including full funding for state and federal Medicaid plans.

“I think this budget was one where preservation was key,” Wilson said.

Both the Munson and McLaren hospital systems previously warned that millions of dollars in proposed cuts would jeopard