MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is taking additional steps in its efforts to preserve coverage for Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries by launching regional forums regarding the upcoming work requirements.

The meetings begin Monday and will be held at locations around the state including two in the Upper Peninsula. The goals of the regional forums are increasing awareness about new work requirements for the Healthy Michigan Plan and preparing beneficiaries to meet the new requirements.

The U.P. stops: Marquette: 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, 853 W. Washington St.; and St. Ignace: 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, St. Ignace Public Library, 110 W. Spruce St.

MDHHS is implementing the new work requirements to comply with legislation approved in 2018. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2020, Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries will be required to report 80 hours of work or other activities, such as job searches, to MDHHS each month.

Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries can be excused from the requirements in some circumstances. Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries who are not excused from the requirements and fail to report may lose their health care coverage.

More than 640,000 Michiganders have coverage under the Healthy Michigan Plan, the state’s expanded Medicaid program that began in 2014.

“While Gov. Whitmer has made it clear that this administration does not support the new law, MDHHS needs to do everything we can to make sure that beneficiaries are aware of these new requirements so they can maintain their health care coverage,” Kate Massey, senior deputy director for MDHHS’s Medical Services Administration, said in a press release. “The Healthy Michigan Plan has been a great success — providing health care coverage to many more Michiganders, reducing enrollees’ reliance on the emergency room by 58 percent, cutting uncompensated care by nearly 50 percent, and adding $2.3 billion to the state’s economy.”

MDHHS is encouraging attendees to register for the forums so the department can ensure that sufficient space and printed materials are available for participants. Register and find more information about the Healthy Michigan Plan and work requirements by visiting HealthyMichiganPlan.org and clicking the “Changes Coming in 2020” tab.

In addition to informing beneficiaries, the forums will help MDHHS further collaborate with community partners and navigators to better coordinate efforts to preserve health care coverage for Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees.

Beneficiaries, health care providers, health plans, community organizations and the general public are invited to participate in these forums.

MDHHS also has issued a proposed policy to implement the new work requirements for public comment. As part of this proposed policy, MDHHS is updating its policy and operational processes related to the Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver Amendment for Michigan that was approved by the federal government.

The public can submit comments on the changes until Nov. 6.

To review the policy and more, visit the “Proposed Medicaid Changes” page on the MDHHS website and select the notice for Healthy Michigan Plan Updates 1926-HMP.