Gov. Rick Snyder Seeks Federal Waiver to Expand Medicaid Services in Flint to People Under Age 21, Pregnant Women

Press Release

Gov. Rick Snyder is seeking to expand Medicaid for those up to age 21 and pregnant women who have been served by the city of Flint's water system, and today submitted a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"Children, teens and young adults exposed to lead need more coverage to get testing and the treatment they need," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "Expanding these services and lead abatement efforts will mitigate the risks of lead exposure and result in better identifying any long-term health challenges, including behavioral issues."

Approval of the waiver request would mean an expansion of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program services to about 15,000 more Flint residents.

In his letter, Gov. Snyder said the state of Michigan would dedicate case managers to help individuals with:

* Coordinating primary care physicians and behavioral health providers, Medicaid health plans and others to ensure access to all necessary health services;

* Providing nutrition support;

* Improving access to educational and social supports and services that may be available in the community to assist them with their individual needs.

The program would meet the needs of Flint's children, in addition to many other forms of aid being provided by the state of Michigan, the city of Flint and others. Medicaid and CHIP now are primarily income-based aid programs.

Those eligible for coverage include anyone up to the age of 21 and are being served, or who were served, by Flint's water system between April 2014 and a future date when the water system is deemed safe. Pregnant women and their future children will also be made eligible. Coverage is available to all incomes. Individuals with income over 400 percent of the federal poverty level - which is $47,520 for one person or $97,200 for a family of four - will have the option to buy into the program for full Medicaid benefits.

The state of Michigan continues to coordinate response efforts in partnership with the all federal, state, and local levels of government and community organizations.

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