The state of Michigan is funding a one-year study at the Children's Healing Center, which is expanding its programs to include play and recreation therapy, social and emotional support programs and caregiver resources, many of which aren't covered by Medicaid.
The state of Michigan is funding a study that will analyze how play and recreation therapy, social and emotional support programs and caregiver services can improve life for children with complex medical conditions and their families.
State officials have budgeted $900,000 for the Children’s Healing Center, which opened in Grand Rapids in 2015. The grant will support a 12-month program launched in October 2021 by the center and Priority Health, a Michigan-based health plan, to offer expanded services for 100 children and their families and study the value of caregiver-focused resources and play therapy, which are not traditionally covered by Medicaid and thus often out of reach for many families.
“This new pilot will make a huge difference to families in our community who have kids with complex medical conditions,” Children’s Healing Center CEO Amanda Barbour said in a press release. “Clinical studies consistently reinforce the healing power of play, yet access to play is not always easy for our families. By providing hospital-grade facilities that focus on cleanliness, we make play safe and fun – and that translates into fewer inpatient hospital stays and other improved outcomes.”
“We are thrilled to work alongside the team at the Children’s Healing Center to help provide critical and transformative emotional and social care to our most vulnerable populations here in West Michigan,” said Priority Health President Praveen Thadani, whose organization is helping to identify and enroll the 100 children and their families and will be responsible for data collection and identifying benchmarks. “Our goal is to help individuals live healthier lives, and that is why we work closely with our provider partners to implement value-based arrangements that result in better patient outcomes and lower overall cost of care. This pilot program is a launch pad for future innovations that rethink the way in which care is delivered.
The center will submit a report in September that will analyze the program’s value, utilization trends and health outcomes associated with isolation and loneliness, mental health concerns, emergency department visits and hospitalizations. That study will help state officials in deciding whether to support similar programs for Medicaid recipients in the future.
The 7,200-square-foot center is designed as a germ-free environment, and id divided into four zones: active fitness, art and learning, exploratory play, and technology. Programming is available for children up to age 26 and their caregivers.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation at HealthLeaders.