State Rep. Steve Frisbie is partnering on bipartisan legislations with Sen. Mark Huizenga that creates a framework for Behavioral Health Transportation, including providing Medicaid reimbursement for emergency transport for individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis.

Michigan currently doesn’t offer emergency medical transportation for people experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Individuals either wait for an ambulance or are transported by law enforcement.

“I was a paramedic for 40 years, I’ve seen firsthand the cost taxpayers bear every time I was called to a mental health crisis,” said Frisbie, R-Pennfield. “Replacing costly emergency transports with targeted behavioral health transportation prioritizes saving lives and tax dollars.”

Frisbie’s House Bill 5943 along with Rep. Amos O’Neal’s 5944 and Sen. Huizenga’s Senate Bills 927 and 928,  seek to create a better solution by making behavioral health transportation, including interfacility transfers, psychiatric admissions and mental health evaluations, a Medicaid-covered service.

The bills outline who qualifies for this service, how providers must operate and what standards must be met to ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. The legislation would also establish standards for how care is delivered, including measures to keep both workers and patients safe, vehicle safety, and staff training in mental health first aid, CPR, trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and other patient protections.

“These reforms would be a major step toward a system that treats mental health crises with the seriousness, compassion, and accountability they deserve,” Frisbie said. “When we have skilled and supportive transport staff, it builds trust, which is paramount in an emergency situation. This is good for patients, good for taxpayers, and good for Michigan.”

Huizenga said this plan would mark a significant improvement in how we address mental health crises in Michigan.

“People deserve timely and professional mental healthcare,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “These bills provide a safer, more affordable solution to help people in crisis.”

Video of Wednesday’s press conference is available here.