To: State Senator and State Representative 

I am a [insert type: e.g., primary care physician] in [insert city name]. I learned this week that funding for the Michigan Clinical Consultation & Care (MC3) program has been fully eliminated in the FY 2026 budget proposed by the House of Representatives. I am writing today to ask for your support in advocating for the continued funding of this program.   

MC3 offers psychiatry support at no cost to primary care providers (PCPs) in Michigan who are managing patients with behavioral health problems. This includes children, adolescents, young adults through age 26, and women who are contemplating pregnancy, pregnant, or postpartum (up to one year) in every county in Michigan. MC3 provides a mental health lifeline to this vulnerable patient population, as the majority of Michigan counties have no child or perinatal psychiatrists. 

MC3 provides PCPs serving perinatal women, children, and adolescents statewide with: 

• guidance on diagnostic questions, 
• evidence-based treatment recommendations through on-demand same-day consultation,
• education on suicide prevention and many other behavioral health topics, 
• and referral to highly specialized, regional behavioral health consultants who can provide patients with resources and referrals in their community.  

Key Outcomes and Highlights

• Statewide Reach and Provider Accessibility: MC3 is available for same-day consultation in all 83 Michigan counties and 46 Community Health Services Program regions, supporting primary care providers who serve pediatric patients aged 0-26 and perinatal patients (including those contemplating pregnancy, pregnant, and postpartum).
• Rural and Under-Resourced Regions: The program significantly enhances behavioral health resources and provider capacity in rural and under-resourced regions.
• Patient Impact: In 2024, MC3 supported PCPs in their treatment of thousands of patients/families, facilitating timely and effective behavioral health interventions.
• Provider Impact: MC3 enhances primary care providers’ confidence and skills in diagnosing and managing behavioral health conditions, allowing for more comprehensive in-practice patient care. 
• Outcomes: Patients of MC3-participating providers receive quicker treatment for depression and anxiety, with timely medication, follow-up, and therapy initiation. The service reduces the need for specialist referrals and costly emergency room visits.