Host: Stephan Currie
Guests: Deena Bosworth, Jimmy Johnson and Samantha Gibson
Topics: MAC’s participation in a press conference last week to draw attention to a state plan that threatens local public control of mental health services was one of several topics discussed in this week’s episode of Podcast 83.
The event was designed to showcase opposition to the PIHP RFP process, started by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, to alter oversight of community mental health services. MAC First Vice President Antoinette Wallace was among local leaders to speak.
“We’re hoping this press conference is going to get a little bit more traction here in the press,” said Jimmy Johnson, governmental affairs specialist. “And we'll be able to start putting some pen to paper and getting some changes.”
Of course, the news in Lansing continues to revolve around the Legislature’s inability to adopt a fiscal 2026 budget.
“We thought they were really getting close,” said Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth. “And then we heard today (Sept. 22), it all fell apart. The devil is in the details. … They (have to) decide they can't live with one thing or another and they have to dig in their heels. So here we sit a week out. We don't have a budget. We're not in great shape. We're not in terrible shape, but we're not in great shape. And everybody's preparing for a government shutdown.”
See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606
Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org
