Come July 1, hundreds of thousands of subscribers to Michigan’s leading health insurance may not be able to access the Ann Arbor-based hospital system because of a payment dispute.
Eli Newman
Eli Newman joined Bridge Michigan as a health reporter in May 2025. A lifelong Michigander with a decade of public radio experience, he brings a steadfast commitment to community-focused journalism and deep, impactful reporting.
Prior to joining Bridge, Eli served as assistant news director and editor at WKAR in East Lansing, where he managed the creation of meaningful and thought-provoking multimedia news content for the capital region. Before that, he spent nearly nine years as a reporter at WDET in Detroit, covering breaking news, politics and community affairs — including extensive reporting on the COVID-19 response and other quality-of-life issues that impact public health.
His award-winning work has been recognized by the Public Media Journalists Association, the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit Chapter.
Originally from West Bloomfield, Eli earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He now lives in Detroit.
As a member of the Health Watch team, Eli reports on public health policy, access to care and health equity issues across the state. You can reach him at enewman@bridgemi.com and on social media at @other_eli.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan paid consultants $2.9M for failed mental health redesign
Michigan paid McKinsey & Co. about $2.9 million to design a Medicaid behavioral health overhaul that a judge later struck down — hiring a firm the state had previously sued for its role in the opioid crisis.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Report: Michigan lags in preparing students for mental health careers
Michigan is tied for the fewest behavioral health vocational training programs in the nation, contributing to a school mental health workforce shortage.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan county’s argument against solar farms? They’re a health hazard
St. Clair County plans to appeal a judge’s decision striking down the county’s attempt to use health policies as a way to regulate large-scale renewable and battery storage projects.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Oakland County diverts mental health patients to ERs amid crisis center takeover
Critics fear service disruptions as Oakland County’s community mental health agency asks law enforcement to divert crisis cases to local emergency departments.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan wants schools ready for cardiac emergencies, fails to provide funds
A recent Michigan law requires schools to better prepare for cardiac emergencies. But without money from the state, some schools lack resources to put those measures in place.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
St. Clair County makes it easier for parents to opt out of vaccines
The health department announced a streamlined approach Monday to expedite vaccine waivers and reminded families they can opt out of the state’s data reporting system.
Posted inMichigan Government
Where Michigan gubernatorial candidates stand on data centers
Bridge Michigan asked gubernatorial candidates for their stance on the hot-button issue of data centers, amid concerns surrounding Benson’s familial and professional connections to a data center developer. Here’s what they said.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan quietly kills effort to restructure mental health care system
The decision follows a judge’s order to block the state’s request for proposal. The state says its aim in seeking bidders was to introduce ‘consumer choice’ to the Medicaid-backed system.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Desperate for doctors: Michigan looks to expand who can provide care
Lawmakers are trying to ease dangerous short-staffing in health care by tweaking laws — expanding the ability of some mid-level practitioners and, in some cases, creating new types of workers.