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House approves plan to combat psych worker shortage
RELEASE|April 16, 2019

The Michigan House today approved a plan to combat the ongoing shortage of psychiatry workers in Berrien County and across Michigan.

Representative Wendzel voted in favor of the bill after speaking to representatives of the Berrien County Health Department on their recent trip to Lansing.

“Having a shortage of mental health professionals in our area is a very big deal,” Wendzel said.  “Members of our community are forced to travel great distances to receive the care they need and deserve.  This is a good first step in the right direction, and I was proud to vote for this legislation.”

The bill would allow certain retired mental health professionals to come back to work with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) without forfeiting their pension benefits.

The state already allows retired psychiatrists to continue to keep their pensions during reemployment with the state. This bill will extend this opportunity to other mental health care professionals such as physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, counselors and therapists to combat serious shortages in such roles.

House Bill 4156 now moves to be considered by the state Senate.

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