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Ontonagon County Board opposes MDHHS plan to competitively procure PIHP services
Summary
The Ontonagon County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-05 on July 15, 2025, urging state officials to halt plans for a competitive procurement of Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), citing concerns about local accountability, continuity of care and community oversight.
The Ontonagon County Board of Commissioners on July 15 unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-05 urging opposition to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed competitive procurement process for Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs).
The resolution says the current publicly managed PIHP system provides local accountability and community engagement and warns that opening management to competitive bids could allow private managed care organizations to assume control of behavioral health services and “jeopardize the person-centered, recovery-oriented approach” cultivated under the public system.
The board stated in the resolution that stakeholders — including service users, advocates, local officials and providers — have raised concerns about potential effects on care quality, access and transparency. It also said counties have historically played a critical role in governance and oversight of the public behavioral health system, and urged state leaders to work collaboratively with counties and local mental health authorities rather than move to privatization.
Resolution 2025-05 directs that copies be transmitted to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel, the Ontonagon County legislative delegation and the Michigan Association of Counties.
The action was approved by recorded vote; the minutes record the motion as carried 5-0. The board did not record extended debate in the excerpt provided.
