Recipient Rights & Customer Services

Voting is a Civil Right and a Recipient Right. Want to Register?
Here’s how in the State of Michigan- https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter/

Want to know about the various candidates and what they believe in and stand for? Then click on this link for a virtual news site that focuses on the state of Michigan. There are also articles that discuss the proposals on the ballot. www.bridgemi.com

Want to know what your ballot looks like before you vote? Then click on this link and you can enter in your address and obtain the sample ballot with the candidates and proposals for which you will be voting. www.ballotpedia.org

Recipient Rights/Customer Services– 1-888-482-8269 or 989-895-2317– We are ready to help, and just a phone call away…

Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health Authority’s (BABHA) Recipient Rights/Customer Services department helps people receiving mental health services in Bay, Arenac, Huron and Tuscola Counties. We want you to be satisfied with the services you receive. The goal of Customer Services is to help you understand the services we offer, services that you receive, and to help you solve problems. You may reach us at 1-888-482-8269.

The staff at Customer Services can:

  • Help you understand and use the mental health system, including Recipient Rights.
  • Give you information about Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, Independent Facilitation, Recovery and more.
  • Help you with questions, problems, and paperwork.
  • Help you with appeals and grievances (complaints).
  • Help with State Medicaid Fair Hearings or State Alternative Dispute Resolutions.
  • Give you information about resources and supports in the community.
  • Help you set up free oral interpretive services for people with limited English ability or hearing losses.
  • Give up-to-date information on the benefits available to you through, and insurances accepted by, your local community mental health agency and any possible cost to you. To apply for benefits or see what your current benefits are click on the link: https://www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access/
  • Give you information on advance directives in Michigan. Or, you can click on the link to look for the information yourself: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-2941_4868_41752—,00.html
  • Give you a Guide to Services and a Local Choice Provider Directory with information on local and national advocacy groups.

How to locate your State Representative within the Michigan House of Representatives:

https://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/frmFindARep.aspx

How to locate your State Senator within the Michigan Senate:

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html

You can also get assistance navigating the Health benefit system by contacting Bay Health Plan at 989-895-4008

HHS Notice and Guidance on Gender Affirming Care, Civil Rights, and Patient Privacy and Discrimination

 

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) stands with transgender and gender nonconforming youth and their families—and the significant majority of expert medical associations—in unequivocally stating that gender affirming care for minors, when medically appropriate and necessary, improves their physical and mental health. Attempts to restrict, challenge, or falsely characterize this potentially lifesaving care as abuse is dangerous. Such attempts block parents from making critical health care decisions for their children, create a chilling effect on health care providers who are necessary to provide care for these youth, and ultimately negatively impact the health and well-being of transgender and gender nonconforming youth. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will continue working to ensure that transgender and gender nonconforming youth are able to access healthcare free from the burden of discrimination. HHS understands that many families and health care providers are facing fear and concerns about attempts to portray gender affirming care as abuse. To help these families and providers navigate those concerns, HHS is providing additional information on federal civil rights protections and federal health privacy laws that apply to gender affirming care.

 

As a law enforcement agency, OCR is investigating and, where appropriate, enforcing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act1 cases involving discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in accordance with all applicable law. This means that if people believe they have been discriminated against in a health program or activity that receives financial assistance from HHS, they can file a complaint.

 

View OCR’s guidance on Gender Affirming Care, Civil Rights, and Patient Privacy: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-ocr-notice-and-guidance-gender-affirming-care.pdf