Crain’s Detroit Business: Home care agencies lobbying to scrap 55% cap on care for injured drivers

One of the top news outlets in the state, Crain’s Detroit Business, takes Michigan movers and shakers inside the crisis facing the brain rehabilitation industry and Michigan families who will lose essential, life-saving care ahead of the fee schedule taking full effect July 1. Chad Livengood, who has covered no-fault for years, writes a thoughtful piece featuring Bob Mlynarek of 1st Call Home Healthcare, Margaret Kroese of Hope Network Neuro Rehabilitation, and John G. Prosser II of Health Partners Homecare.

The article shares the following devastating details around survivor Kelley Miller’s in-home care:   

[Kelley] Miller's in-home care is about to change drastically if a 2019 law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer takes effect July 1, according to the owner of the home health care agency that staffs her 24/7 caregivers. 

1st Call Home Healthcare in Clinton Township is telling Miller and dozens of other clients that it will shut down June 30 because the new auto insurance reform law caps hourly attendant care at 55 percent of what providers were charging in January 2019. 

"I potentially could end up in a nursing home," Miller said.

The 55 percent cap on rates would lower the home health care agency's charges from $70 per hour for a registered nurse to $38.50, less than the market-rate pay of $40 to $45 per hour for skilled nursing, said Bob Mlynarek, co-owner of 1st Call Home Health Care. 

Read Chad Livengood’s article here in Crain’s, and also, check out this WDET segment, where Chad speaks with Stephen Henderson around his recent article.