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Washtenaw County officials warn federal funding changes could squeeze mental‑health, housing and senior services
Summary
County health and community development staff told commissioners they expect higher psychiatric inpatient costs, loss of Medicaid coverage for some residents and rising demand for safety‑net programs if federal and state funding is reduced. Officials urged planning for volunteer and staffing supports and continued monitoring of appropriations.
Washtenaw County officials told the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 6 that proposed federal budget changes, state funding uncertainty and the end of continuous Medicaid enrollment could sharply increase demand for local safety‑net services and push up mental‑health spending.
Staff from Community Mental Health (CMH), the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) and the county health department described growing psychiatric inpatient costs, the risk that people who lose Medicaid will also lose access to care, and pressure on housing and senior nutrition programs.
Why it matters: the county relies on a mix of federal, state and local dollars and on hospital and provider capacity to treat people with severe behavioral‑health needs. If federal grants are cut or Medicaid redeterminations result in coverage losses, county leaders said they expect higher local costs and rising need for emergency assistance, housing help and community health services.
CMH officials said…
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