That is why Michigan’s community mental health (CMH) system has long served as a single point of contact for people seeking behavioral health crisis services. Local CMH organizations provide screening, coordination, and connections to care without requiring individuals and families to navigate multiple organizations during an emergency.

What Makes Good Public Policy?

Any policy designed to improve behavioral health services should accomplish three important goals:

• Improve care and make things easier for patients
• Lower the cost of care
• Reduce unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy

According to concerns raised about HB 6022, the bill falls short on all three measures.

A System That Is Already Working

Michigan’s CMH network has a strong track record of providing timely crisis response services.

Current performance includes:

• Approximately 16,000 annual screenings
• Screening within three hours for urgent cases
• 98.5% of urgent screenings completed on time

These outcomes demonstrate a system that is already serving thousands of Michigan residents effectively.

How HB 6022 Could Create New Barriers

Today, individuals can contact their local CMH and receive screening and support through one coordinated system. Under HB 6022, individuals may first need to determine their insurance coverage, identify the correct health plan, and contact that specific company before accessing services. In some parts of Michigan, residents may have eight or more possible health plans to navigate.

For people and families facing a mental health emergency, additional steps can create confusion, delays, and frustration during moments when immediate support is critical.

Opponents of the legislation also argue the bill could increase administrative requirements and redirect provider time toward paperwork rather than patient care.

The Real Problem: Michigan Lacks Enough Psychiatric Beds

The most pressing challenge facing Michigan’s behavioral health system is not who conducts screenings. It is the shortage of inpatient psychiatric capacity.

The infographic highlights that Michigan averages only 19 psychiatric beds per 100,000 residents, compared with the national average of 30 beds per 100,000 residents. It also identifies shortages across several specialized categories of psychiatric care, including geriatric, medical, and developmental disability psychiatric beds.

Without adequate inpatient capacity, people can experience delays in receiving the treatment they need even after being appropriately screened and referred.

Focus on Real Solutions

Michigan families deserve policies that strengthen access to care, improve coordination, and expand treatment capacity.

Rather than creating additional complexity in an existing crisis response system, policymakers should focus on addressing the state’s shortage of inpatient psychiatric resources and ensuring timely access to treatment for everyone who needs it.