Mental health groups are urging state legislators to vote no on a mental health care bill.
They say Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey's bill would take desperately needed mental health care away from people on Medicaid.
Senate Bill 597 would let health insurance companies like Blue Cross and HAP manage mental health care for people on Medicaid, instead of county run Community Mental Health agencies.
Bob Sheehan heads the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. He says other states have done this, with devastating results for patients.
"They have services cut from them, their access to care got worse almost overnight, and the service delivery network was left in shambles," Sheehan said.
Roquesha O'Neil is a mental health advocate in Detroit. She says the agencies are on the ground experts when it comes to mental health care for low-income children and families struggling with issues like gun violence, COVID 19, and PTSD.
“We need that bill not to pass because it's life and death when it comes to our community and our mental health," O'Neil said.
Health insurance companies support the bill. Senator Shirkey did not allow opponents of his bill to testify before it was passed out of his committee. He says it would make mental health care more accessible.
