State health officials brief lawmakers on psychiatric hospitals, Northville build and staffing needs

State health officials told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Medicaid and Behavioral Health that Michigan operates four state psychiatric hospitals, is building a new 264‑bed facility on the former Hawthorne Center site in Northville Township, and is seeking a $15.2 million increase in the fiscal‑year 2026 budget to support that facility and additional staffing.

The update to committee members focused on patient throughput, existing facility repairs, and workforce and funding challenges that the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says it is addressing as it consolidates care into the new Northville hospital. The presentation covered renovation needs at older hospitals, wait‑list counts, the mix of forensic and probate patients, and the timeline for the Northville project.

Amy Eppke, senior deputy director for financial operations at MDHHS, told the committee the department proposes a total state hospitals budget of $396,500,000 for FY2026, with general fund accounting for roughly 77 percent of that total. Eppke said the department is requesting a $15.2 million increase in FY2026 tied to the new Southeast Michigan psychiatric hospital and associated staffing increases.

Dr. George Mellows, deputy director for State Hospitals Administration (who also described his position as the statewide superintendent of state hospitals), outlined facility capacity and wait‑list data. He said the four state hospitals are: Caro Psychiatric Hospital (a new facility opened about two years ago,…