FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2026
Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Response to Governor Whitmer’s Budget Presentation
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association (MHHA) has issued the following statement in response to Governor Whitmer’s fiscal year 2027 budget presentation. The following statement can be attributed to MHHA President and CEO Laura Haynes:
“Michigan’s Medicaid program, which provides health care coverage to more than 2.6 million residents, is facing a structural funding challenge due to federal changes that will reduce federal Medicaid support.
“We appreciate that Governor Whitmer’s budget recommendation acknowledges the pressure created by cuts at the federal level and the need for revenue to close the resulting gap. However, the new revenue currently proposed in the executive budget will not fully offset the looming Medicaid shortfall and without fully addressing this gap, home- and community-based care providers will be unable to sustain services at current levels.
“Medicaid is a central part of Michigan’s health care system and essential to patient-centered care at home. When funding does not keep pace with need, providers are forced to cut services, reduce access, or operate at a financial loss. These outcomes inevitably harm patients, particularly seniors and people with disabilities who rely on home-based care to live safely and with dignity.
“Home-based care providers already face intense workforce shortages and rising costs. If we do not fully fund Medicaid with real, long-term resources, we risk deepening access disparities in rural and underserved communities while shifting costs to hospitals and other parts of the health care system that are already strained.
“As lawmakers continue the budget process, MHHA urges them to ensure that the final FY 2027 budget addresses the full Medicaid funding shortfall, protects reimbursement rates that sustain access to home-based care, and prioritizes services that allow patients to remain in their homes whenever it is medically appropriate. Home-based care is a natural cost savings to Medicaid so investing in Michigan’s patients and the providers who care for them is the best solution for delivering a budget that is stable, sustainable, and adequate to meet the needs of our communities. MHHA looks forward to working alongside the legislature and administration as the budget process continues.”
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About the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association
The Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association (MHHA) represents more than 250 home care, hospice, and home medical equipment providers across Michigan. MHHA works to advance quality, access, and innovation in home-based care through advocacy, education, and collaboration. Learn more at www.mhha.org.