Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter!

Included in this issue are important updates, along with a few resources I hope you find helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0844 or email at NataliePrice@house.mi.gov for questions about this or any other state-level issue. Feel free to also follow me on Facebook to get regular updates as well.

In Service,

Natalie Price
State Representative
5th House District

In this issue:

  • Upcoming Events
    • Community Conversation — July 17
  • Legislative Update
    • House Passes Historic State Budget
    • Budget Investments in the 5th District
  • State Updates & Resources
    • MDHHS Medicaid Redeterminations
    • Treasury and UIA Ask Michigan Residents to Be Alert for Fake Letters in Collections Scam
    • Students, Families Encouraged to Apply for Michigan Achievement Scholarship
    • Treasury: Applicants Wanted for Home Heating Credit
  • Other News
  • Important Dates

Upcoming Events

July 17 — Community Conversation

Please mark your calendars for Monday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. My office will be hosting a community conversation at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham — 300 W. Merrill St., Birmingham, MI 48009. I will be joined by special guests state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and state Rep. Sharon MacDonell. We will be giving a legislative update, as well as answering questions from the community. Feel free to attend and talk to us about any issues or concerns you may have.

Price Convo

Legislative Updates


House Passes Historic Budget that Reinvests in Michigan

The Michigan House of Representatives passed the state’s fiscal 2023-24 budget, marking a significant reinvestment in the people of Michigan. The state budget puts unspent dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act to work. Here are some of the highlights of the budget:

  • The School Aid budget — the largest in Michigan’s history — expands access to free preschool and provides free breakfast and lunch to every public school student. It also includes robust support for at-risk youth, mental health services, before- and after-school programs and so much more. There is no better investment than our kids, and this budget puts our state on a path to a bright future.
  • The budget allocates funds to repairing roads, bridges and water infrastructure throughout the entire state. Including hundreds of millions that will go toward lead water line remediation and local road repairs.
  • This budget also prioritizes the health of Michiganders through increasing wages for direct care workers, providing incentives to expand our behavioral health care workforce, funding sickle cell disease treatment and so much more.
  • We also included substantial support for public safety, helping us graduate dozens of Michigan State Police troopers, upgrading their resources, providing specific mental health support for first responders, and addressing gun case backlogs in Detroit and Wayne County.
  • Plus, we funded efforts that will help clean up contaminated sites, address PFAS and emerging contaminants, and protect the precious ecosystem of the Great Lakes.

These are just a few highlights of this incredibly exciting budget. These reinvestments mark a new chapter for our state. I can’t wait to see how these investments pay off in the months, years, and decades to come.

Budget Investments in the 5th District

Through the state budget, I was able to secure significant investments in school and community infrastructure projects, including the following in our district:

  • $6.5 million for Coleman Young Elementary School in Detroit.
  • $5 million for FLICS School in Detroit.
  • $2 million for Oak Park Outdoor Recreation Space.
  • $380,000 for Berkley Community Center Improvements.

Price Budget

State Updates & Resources


MDHHS Medicaid Redeterminations

Recent federal changes could affect health care coverage for those on Medicaid.

During the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), many changes were made to the Medicaid program’s eligibility, administration, and policies to ease rules for providers and prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from losing health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals in June and amend certain waived policies that were in place during the pandemic.

To find out more information and to check your eligibility, please visit: Medicaid Benefit Changes (michigan.gov)

Treasury and UIA Ask Michigan Residents to Be Alert for Fake Letters in Collections Scam

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and Unemployment Insurance Agency Director Julia Dale are urging Michigan residents and businesses with past-due state debts to be on alert for scam letters making the rounds through the U.S. Postal Service.

“It is disheartening to see the lengths scammers will go to make a quick buck from Michigan residents,” Eubanks said. “The State of Michigan works collaboratively with individuals to find solutions to their outstanding state debts. If you receive an aggressive and threatening letter, please contact us through a verified phone number so we can log the scam and talk about options.”

In the scam, residents or employers receive a letter about an overdue state debt that requests immediate contact through a toll-free number to resolve the outstanding balance. The letter aggressively threatens to seize property — including bank accounts, wages, business assets, cars, real estate, refunds and cash — if the debt is not settled.

The correspondence appears credible to the recipient because it uses personal facts and information pulled directly from the internet and public records. The scammer’s letter attempts to lure a person or business into a situation where they could make a payment to a criminal.

Dale, who has made fighting fraud a cornerstone of her efforts to transform the UIA into a national leader in fast, fair and fraud-free service, cautioned businesses to be on alert for bad actors who try to scam money using questionable documents.

“It’s important for businesses to recognize when they are receiving legitimate correspondence from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency and when to be suspicious,” Dale said. “Employers face many obstacles every day. Falling victim to an attempt to steal hard-earned income should not be one of them. The UIA urges employers or third-party administrators to contact the agency if they have any suspicions about letters they receive asking for payment.”

The Michigan Department of Treasury — which functions as the state’s collections agency — and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency correspond with residents and businesses through official letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service that use State of Michigan letterhead.

Treasury’s letters embody both the names of the governor and state treasurer, provide several options to resolve an outstanding debt, and outline taxpayer rights. UIA’s letters embody both the names of the governor and the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). UIA is a part of LEO. Letters from the unemployment agency will include information about how to protest and appeal payment determinations.

The UIA posts correspondence to an employer’s Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account. If an employer has questions about their account, a payment or their balance, they should contact UIA by calling (855) 484-2636.

Any business that is unsure about official-looking correspondence requesting direct unemployment insurance payments should call the UIA’s Office of Employer Ombudsman at (855) 484-2636.

Attempts at fraud or identity theft can also be reported through an employer’s MiWAM account.

Individuals who receive a letter from a scammer or have questions about their state debts should call Treasury’s Collections Service Center at (517) 636-5265. A customer service representative can log the scam, verify outstanding state debts, and provide flexible payment options.

To learn more about Michigan’s collections process, go to www.michigan.gov/treasury or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.

Students, Families Encouraged to Apply for Michigan Achievement Scholarship

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks is encouraging Michigan students and their families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so they have the opportunity for assistance available from the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or who have achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after will be eligible for more financial aid from the state of Michigan:

  • Up to $2,000 if they attend an eligible training provider in Michigan, per year, up to two years.
  • Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years.
  • Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years.
  • Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university, per year, up to five years.

Completion of the FAFSA is required to be considered for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. To get started with the FAFSA, go to FAFSA.gov.

Additional information about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is available at Michigan.gov/MIStudentAid.

Treasury: Applicants Wanted for Home Heating Credit

Michiganders who need help with their energy bills can now apply for the Home Heating Credit, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Low-income, deaf, disabled or blind persons, disabled veterans, and senior citizens may qualify for the Home Heating Credit. Applicants are not required to file a Michigan individual income tax return to receive the credit.

Individuals can apply for the Home Heating Credit electronically through the e-File system.

Forms and instructional materials are available on the internet at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax or by calling (517) 636-4486. Forms are also available at many libraries, Northern Michigan post offices, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offices across the state.

All applications for the credit must be received by Sept. 30.

Over the last five years, around 257,500 claimants each year have received the Home Heating Credit, with an average credit of $209.

Additional information can be found on the Home Heating Credit website. For more information about resources available for heating assistance, go to Michigan.gov/HeatingAssistance.

Important Dates

July:

  • July 17 — Community Conversation with Rep. Price