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.