Holland Reporter

The Michigan House Health Policy Committee recently approved a plan by Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township) to properly address the state's shortage of psychiatric beds.

Michigan currently lacks a structure for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and Whiteford’s bill seeks to fix that problem. Her legislation would require the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to establish the facilities for Medicaid patients younger than 21, a release issued by Whiteford’s office said.

“Ensuring that children who live with behavioral health conditions have a dedicated residential treatment facility program when other services prove ineffective is essential,” Whiteford said in the release. The representative is a registered nurse by profession and the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. 

“Under this plan, children who are stabilized, but not ready to go home, can be admitted to this residential setting to continue their care preparing them to go back home,” Whiteford said.