IMPACT AREA
As Director of the Policy team at CHRT, I’m proud to reflect on a year of continued growth, adaptation, and impact. In 2024, we managed a mix of long-standing programs, expansions, and new projects, all aligned with our mission to bring evidence to policy and practice in ways that improve health for communities.
Our flagship fellowship program continued to thrive, helping early- and mid-career professionals build essential connections with legislative staff, community organizations, and researchers. This year, we were especially pleased to welcome our first health services researcher from Wayne State University.
We also advanced our work with the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund on a legislator education initiative. Together, we’ve designed and hosted forums in a variety of settings—virtual, in person, and even within legislative offices—to explore what formats work best for busy policymakers. CHRT is developing evidence-informed primers on topics of interest, while IPPSR facilitates key legislative connections. This collaboration shows how strong relationships and research can support informed decision-making.
Other long-running projects, like our work on long-term services and supports, continue to evolve to meet changing state department needs. We’re proud that agencies return to us year after year, trusting our subject matter expertise to support programs that directly impact older adults and people with disabilities.
Several new projects were also launched this year. Our Medicaid for Moms project is small but promising, aimed at increasing awareness of Michigan’s 12-month postpartum Medicaid expansion among providers and pregnant individuals.
We also began evaluating the Michigan Health Communication Initiative, which stemmed from interviews with public health leaders about challenges they faced after the pandemic. With funding from the Health Endowment Fund and in partnership with the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, we worked with Public Good Projects to develop accessible, evidence-based messaging on key public health issues. Our team helped shape the project and is now evaluating how community organizations are using and adapting the materials.
Another new initiative focuses on collaborative care, a behavioral health model that integrates mental health into primary care. While the model is well-supported by evidence, the billing process is complex. With support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, we’re analyzing claims data to better understand how organizations are using collaborative care codes and where additional support may be needed.
What keeps us motivated is the shared commitment across CHRT to public-spirited, mission-driven work. We often take on challenging projects because we believe they have the potential to create meaningful change. That belief, along with the wide-ranging expertise of our team, makes our work both possible and impactful. I’m grateful for the dedication of our colleagues and the partnerships that make this work successful.
Nancy Baum
Director of Health Policy
“You have put together a high quality and very useful analysis for us – it is exactly what we were looking for. It is rare to find outside consultants with enough knowledge of the CMH system to provide analysis and recommendations that are this relevant and helpful. The consistent feedback from our team has been very positive.”
CHRT facilitates interactive sessions in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Lansing, and Washington D.C. where fellows learn from experts on policy and health.
More than 100 fellows have graduated from the program. Fellows serve in key legislative positions at state and federal levels and impact health policy with their work.
In 2024, CHRT produced five public one-pagers based on feedback from over 4,800 stakeholders in the MI Health Link program. We also analyzed LTSS assessment and care planning tools from four states and Michigan’s Integrated Care Organizations to inform the state’s upcoming “MI Coordinated Health” plan. Additionally, CHRT conducted national and in-state analyses to support Michigan’s Home and Community-Based Services American Rescue Plan Act (HCBS ARPA), including research on caregiver supports, workforce strategies, and public education.
Findings informed Michigan’s next-generation dual-eligible program and contributed three new initiatives to the state’s HCBS ARPA plan. CHRT also published a legislative brief on direct care workforce strategies and presented at the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan’s annual conference.
Services: Stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, strategic planning
After the UNC researchers developed a prototype model on fictional data, the CHRT team helped them identify sources of local data in Washtenaw County to build a real-world model. CHRT also serves as project manager, facilitating data use agreements, helping to create data requests, and convening county stakeholders.
The model can inform strategic decision making about allocation of scarce resources across complex and otherwise fragmented and uncoordinated care systems, which will improve access to care.
Services: Project management
CHRT, in partnership with the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, developed primers and forums on priority topics identified through outreach to legislative leaders.
Legislators and staff gained access to timely, relevant information to support evidence-informed policymaking. CHRT was invited to deliver additional educational sessions, including for newly elected legislators.
Services: Policy education, stakeholder engagement
“The fellowship truly exceeded my expectations in every way. I learned so much during our time together - it was honestly one of the best learning experiences I've had in quite a while! The program challenged me to think differently about my research and opened my eyes to different approaches for evidence-based change that can create real, tangible impact.”
