Michigan has reinstated funding to support adult dental benefits for Medicaid recipients in the 2011 fiscal year.
On September 28, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed additional legislation to implement the fiscal year 2011 budget, including appropriations bills for the Departments of Community Health (DCH) -- which oversees the state's Medicaid program -- Corrections, Human Services, Natural Resources and the Environment, Transportation, and Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth.
Under the new budget, the DCH's fiscal year 2011 appropriation totals $14.1 billion, including $2.4 billion from the state's general fund and nearly $9.5 billion in federal funding. Highlights of the bill include the following:
- $12 billion to support the state's Medicaid system, which provides healthcare and mental health services to more than 1.7 million Michiganians, including nearly 1 million children
- Restoration of adult dental, podiatric and limited optical services, which were eliminated in the current fiscal year
- Full funding of the Adult Benefit Waiver program which provides healthcare to more than 60,000 childless adults
