North Michigan News

State Rep. Curt VanderWall, who chairs the House Health Policy Committee, has expressed support for changes to Michigan’s Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the recently passed Republican Value for MI Dollars Budget.

VanderWall said the budget aims to make health care and food assistance more sustainable and targeted toward those most in need. “I’m committed to making Michigan a healthy place for every resident – especially our most vulnerable – and our budget plan is a step in the right direction. The commonsense steps included in our proposal will ensure Medicaid and food assistance programs like SNAP are available to and sustainable for the people who truly need them,” he stated.

Addressing concerns about improper use of benefits, VanderWall pointed out that Michigan’s SNAP error rate remains high. He explained, “Michigan’s SNAP error rate is far too high. But by leveraging a real plan from the department and requiring more secure EBT cards we can ensure public dollars are being funneled toward the vulnerable families and seniors who truly do not have the means to purchase groceries.”

The budget also proposes reinstating work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid. According to VanderWall, this move would help direct resources to those unable to afford care while encouraging self-sufficiency among recipients who are able to work. “We’re also ensuring able-bodied adults do not take away taxpayer-funded health care dollars from people who are truly unable to afford care by reinstating Medicaid work requirements. Medicaid recipients who are able-bodied should be on a path toward self-sufficiency. We should want that for them and take steps to encourage it,” he said.

Other measures include limiting spending on brand-name prescriptions and food delivery services within Medicaid, with an emphasis on using generic drugs where possible. VanderWall noted that these changes could result in significant savings: “We’re also reining in excessive spending on things like unlimited brand-name prescriptions and food delivery services, bringing Medicaid benefits more in line with what is typically offered by private health plans. Simply switching to identical generic prescriptions would save Medicaid more than $125 million per year.”

VanderWall criticized Senate Democrats’ alternative budget proposal, arguing it would underfund key programs: “Senate Democrats were so focused on being first with their plan that they underfunded Medicaid by $500 million. If passed, their plan would take health care away from nearly 60,000 people. It also underfunds childcare by $30 million, hurting working parents that need a safe place for their children while they work to support their families.”