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Full Senate Passes Bill to Allow Medicaid payments for Community Violence Intervention, Headed to Governor’s Desk

Lansing – Today, the full Michigan Senate voted to pass HB 6046, sponsored by Rep. Morse (D-Texas Township). The bill would begin the process of providing Medicaid funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs.

CVI services utilize de-escalation programs, peer mentorship, and social service referrals to stop cycles of interpersonal violence. The City of Detroit, for instance, credits community violence intervention programs with the lowest number of homicides in the city since the 1960’s.

Hospital-based CVI is a particularly effective variant of the program which deploys interventionists to the bedsides of those who have been admitted to the emergency room for gun violence.

HB 6046 would begin a process by which the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services would apply to the federal Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services for a waiver allowing federal Medicaid dollars to be spent on CVI.

Hospital-based CVI can save significant health care dollars by preventing gun violence and subsequent uncompensated care.

“This is just the beginning,” said Beth Berglin Director of Policy & Strategy at the Michigan Transformation Collective, which helped lead the fight for the bill, “With federal approval, Michigan will amplify our commitment to violence intervention efforts, ensuring that all communities will have a clear path to sustainable funding for CVI services that save lives.”

The bill, having previously passed the House, now heads to Governor Whitmer for her signature.

 “I am thrilled about the opportunity to ensure sustainable funding for our local communities’ violence intervention efforts,” said Rep. Morse, who represents Kalamazoo and held CVI listening sessions across the state in 2023/24. “Whether you’re in Kalamazoo, Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, or Saint Ignace, this legislation ensures that resources to address gun violence as a public health crisis are accessible statewide.”

Gun violence prevention advocates today heaped praise on the Democratic-led Senate, who has been in session for more than 24 hours. During this time, they have passed a small mountain of legislation, including priority items for the gun violence prevention movement.

“Democratic Senators have kept session going to do the people’s business for more than 24 hours. This is the last chance to pass bills that community organizations have clamored for. This is a truly heroic effort, and the Senators deserve our heartfelt thanks. They are quite literally saving lives.” said Ryan Bates, Director of End Gun Violence Michigan.

During the marathon session, the Senate has passed two key priorities for the gun violence prevention movement:

-HB 5450 & 5451 require schools to educate parents every year about the state’s new safe firearm storage law.

-HB 6046 begins the process of allowing Medicaid funds to be spent on community violence intervention services.

Both pieces of legislation are now headed to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

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