Michigan: Project Baby Deer

Expanding Access: Project Baby Deer

Inspired by the success of Project Baby Bear, Project Baby Deer was launched in 2020 to provide rapid Whole Genome Sequencing to infants across the state of Michigan regardless of insurance. The program’s mission was to improve access to rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (rWGS) across the state to enable early diagnosis and intervention for infants, and in doing so study the clinical and economic impact of first line testing with comprehensive, speedy genomic sequencing.

Enrolling a total of 89 patients under the Project Baby Deer Protocols across 7 hospitals in the state through joint funding from RCIGM’s generous donors and the Michigan Health Association, Michigan’s program replicated the outcomes of Project Baby Bear. We demonstrated high clinical utility and economic benefits of rWGS. Thirty-nine percent of patients sequenced received a diagnosis and 27% had a resulting change in medical management due to the rWGS test results. The program resulted in a net savings of $4,155 per patient in the study cohort.

By providing comprehensive, fast genomic sequencing and proving its clinical and economic impact, Project Baby Deer set the groundwork that transformed the standard of care for Michigan’s youngest and most vulnerable patients.

Under the leadership of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Project Baby Deer collaborated with the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to develop a policy for coverage and payment of rWGS for clinically eligible Medicaid-insured infants in Michigan.

In September 2021, Michigan became the first state to make rapid Whole Genome Sequencing a covered benefit for eligible infants enrolled in Medicaid.

Michigan Medicaid provides supplemental payment to reimburse hospitals for the cost of rWGS testing separate from inpatient DRG payments.

See below for resources including the Medicaid policy and Project Baby Deer publications, and visit our Payer and Policy Advocacy webpage for information about Medicaid benefits in other states.

Resources

Download our Michigan Medicaid rWGS® Resource Kit to maximize reimbursement success!

To learn more about how to provide this test to your patients and learn the ins and outs of the Michigan Medicaid rWGS program, download our resource kit.

What’s Inside?
  • Michigan Medicaid rWGS Benefits Guides
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MHS) WGS Testing Bulletin
  • MHS Authorization for Testing Form
  • Project Baby Deer publication from our collaborative project with sites across the State of Michigan

Download

If it was not for Project Baby Deer genome testing, Evelyn may not be here today.

Project Baby Deer in the News

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