MDHHS Director Visits Behavioral Health Facilities

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Published March 10th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel visited Hegira Health and Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network facilities to discuss expanding access to behavioral health care. The visit highlighted investments in psychiatric residential treatment facilities and crisis care campuses, including a $60 million appropriation for DWIHN's Integrated Crisis Care Campus.

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What changed

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel visited Hegira Health and Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) facilities to underscore the state's commitment to expanding behavioral health care access. The visit highlighted the opening of Hegira Health's new psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) and DWIHN's Integrated Crisis Care Campus, funded by a $60 million appropriation. The state is investing in PRTFs, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) to provide a continuum of care and relieve pressure on hospital emergency departments.

This notice serves to inform stakeholders about ongoing state initiatives and investments in behavioral health infrastructure. While no immediate compliance actions are required for regulated entities based on this notice, it signals continued state focus and potential future policy developments in behavioral health care access and funding. Regulated entities, particularly those providing behavioral health services in Michigan, should remain aware of these state priorities and investments.

Source document (simplified)

MDHHS director visits Hegira Health’s newly opened psychiatric residential treatment facility and DWIHN’s Integrated Crisis Care Campus in southeast Michigan

March 10, 2026

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel visited with officials at Hegira Health, Inc., and Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) today to discuss the state’s continuing commitment to expand access to behavioral health care.

“Everyone deserves access to health care when and where they need it and at the level of care they need,” said Hertel. “The department has been working with community partners to ensure Michigan families have access to a variety of types and levels of behavioral health care, from community clinics to crisis stabilization units to residential treatment. By expanding care in communities, residents can get help sooner, allowing them to live safe and healthy lives.”

Psychiatric residential treatment facilities

Hegira offers a variety of services including The Treehouse, the state’s newest psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) opened earlier this year; residential substance use disorder treatment; and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). CCBHCs are federally required to provide nine comprehensive behavioral health services, including 24/7 mobile crisis response and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders.

Michigan has 35 CCBHCS in its Medicaid demonstration project, as well as several additional provider organizations currently receiving federal grant funding to establish clinics and provide CCBHC services. In FY 2024, 30 Medicaid-funded CCBHCs provided services to approximately 133,300 unique individuals across Michigan. Approximately 30% of individuals served were children and young adults ages 0 to 21, and 70% were adults.

“We believe that prioritizing wellness is essential for individuals to reach their full potential. It is a source of pride and a significant responsibility for us to play an essential role in our community's health care landscape," said Carol Zuniga, president and CEO, Hegira Health Inc.

Recent investments to create step-up and step-down facilities like CCBHCs, Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) and PRTFs relieve pressure on hospital emergency departments by expanding the number of beds for youth who need short-term crisis stabilization or residential treatment. Hegira’s PRTF is the fourth to open in the state and offers four beds for youth ages 9 to 17. PRTFs provide an environment that allows Medicaid-eligible youth to transition or step down from inpatient care services to community placement.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s FY 27 budget includes an $8.3 million investment for additional PRTFs in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Livonia that are expected to bring 50 new transitional beds online.

Pine Rest and Hope Network DART offer two additional PRTFs in Grand Rapids. Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties recently opened a PRTF in Lansing that offers 36 beds serving youth ages 9 to17.

For more information about PRTFs, visit Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities.

DWIHN Integrated Crisis Care Campus

As part of an effort to expand crisis care capacity and modernize behavioral health care in Wayne County, a $60 million budget appropriation was included in the FY 2023 budget for DWIHN to build a new Integrated Crisis Care Campus in Detroit.

The facility is designed to meet a broad range of community behavioral health needs, including a trauma-informed, home-like environment for individuals in crisis. The campus will also bring physical health, dental and vision services together under one roof to better serve the community’s full range of health care needs.

“The progress we’re seeing on this long-awaited, state-of-the-art health care facility reflects our commitment to expanding access to care,” said James E. White, DWIHN president and CEO. “Once completed, it will bring critical, integrated health services directly into the neighborhood. I couldn’t be more proud or excited to provide these much-needed resources.”

The facility will offer walk-in crisis services designed to reduce reliance on emergency departments and a dedicated youth CSU to support children and adolescents in crisis.

Michigan Public Act 402 of 2020 created CSUs to provide immediate support to anyone in a behavioral health crisis and are an alternative to emergency department and psychiatric inpatient admission for people who can be stabilized through treatment and recovery coaching within 72 hours.

For more information about behavioral health services in Michigan, visit the MDHHS website.