The program called MI Choice is a lifeline for older adults, enabling people to effectively live in the community they call home rather than be in a nursing home. While providing the benefit of keeping people at home, MI Choice is about one-third the cost of a nursing home. MI Choice services include personal care, home delivered meals, transportation, home modification, medical equipment, care coordination, and more. To qualify for MI Choice, a person must require a level of care normally provided in a nursing home and be eligible for Medicaid.
But access to this impactful program has become tougher because Medicaid rates have not kept up with inflation. When the state minimum wage was increased back in February, MI Choice rates were not adjusted to reflect rising costs of in-home care. Because the rates have not been adjusted, our agency, CareWell Services Southwest, that provides MI Choice is challenged to continue offering this valuable and cost-effective service.
The state legislature can help save MI Choice by passing a supplemental appropriation request (2025-4) which would provide funding to meet the new minimum wage costs and release funds for MI Choice providers. We ask our State House and State Senate members – please adopt the supplemental funding requests in 2025-4. These funds are essential to preserving and growing MI Choice.
It is important to note that MI Choice saves money for the state Medicaid program. Nearly three people can participate in MI Choice for every one person Medicaid pays for in a nursing home. MI Choice not only helps older adults stay at home, it also contributes to cost savings and government efficiency.
Without the supplemental appropriation funding in 2025-4, there will be fewer care providers, more care rationing, more service delays, increased compliance challenges, higher staff turnover, and growing wait lists. People will be challenged to age in place, resulting in increases in hospitalizations and nursing home admissions – which will cost much more than MI Choice costs.
In our community, MI Choice serves 484 adults with disabilities and older adults. CareWell Services Southwest manages the MI Choice Waiver program in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties.
We request that our State Senators and State Representatives advocate for supplemental appropriation 2025-4, which is essential to a healthy MI Choice program that supports people living in their own home.