Retired psych employees returning to work will keep pensions

State Rep. Mike Mueller has voted in support of a House plan to combat the ongoing shortage of behavioral health workers in Michigan.

The issue was brought to the Legislature’s attention last term during the House C.A.R.E.S. Task Force statewide tour, which aimed to find ways to improve Michigan’s mental health system by listening to mental health experts, families of patients and law enforcement officials.

The plan 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.

“As a former sheriff’s deputy, I’ve seen the effects of untreated mental health crisis in law enforcement professionals and first responders, who witness extreme trauma regularly,” said Mueller, of Linden. “Each and every member of our community deserves access to quality psychiatric care, and we must do all we can to ensure that. This is the right move to encourage experienced professionals to come out of retirement and assist during this critical shortage of psych workers.”

The state already allows retired psychiatrists to continue to keep their pensions during reemployment with the state. Mueller contends the state should extend that same 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 was approved with unanimous, bipartisan support and now moves to be considered by the state Senate.

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