Governor Rick Snyder says his budget will not call for cuts in payments to doctors, clinics, and nursing homes that take Medicaid patients.
Snyder administration officials say it is important to maintain those payments at their current levels to make sure providers continue to see patients.
The governor’s communications director, Geralyn Lasher, says that is a less costly alternative to people showing up at emergency rooms when they get sick:
"We want people having a medical home, having a physician’s office, having that physician really guiding as far as quitting smoking, leading a healthier life, we're going to see much lower healthcare costs down the road if people take those steps right now."
Lasher says there will be other changes in Medicaid.
There are almost two million people in Michigan in the health coverage program for low-income people.
Medicaid makes up about 20% of the state budget.
