Rural emergency medical services in Michigan are burdened by the high cost of keeping crews ready and insurance payouts that fail to cover calls. Hospital closures and mergers and a lack of local dollars aren’t helping matters, leaving local residents in a bind to keep services afloat.
Eli Newman
Eli Newman covers public health, access to care and policy for Bridge Michigan's Health Watch team. A lifelong Michigander with a decade of public radio experience, he previously served as assistant news director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent nearly nine years at WDET in Detroit covering breaking news, politics and community affairs. His 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. Eli earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. He lives in Detroit.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan measles outbreak: Confirmed cases grow to seven, including child under 5
The Washtenaw County outbreak has seven confirmed cases and one hospitalization. Officials are asking that anyone unvaccinated or not already immune to measles stay away from others for a full 21 days after exposure.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
ICE presence rising at Michigan health care facilities, rights groups say
The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the ACLU of Michigan have sent guidance to more than 400 hospitals and providers in the state to outline law enforcement changes to ‘sensitive locations’ policy.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan confirms measles outbreak in Washtenaw County: What to know
An initial case was identified in an unvaccinated adult who visited sites in Ypsilanti and Canton earlier this month. Since then, two more related cases have been reported.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan boosts bed capacity in ‘horribly underserved’ mental health system
Michigan mental health care providers, patients and their families and law enforcement have said the state does not have enough resources to care for people in psychiatric crisis.
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
Opinion | I’m a Jewish journalist. At Temple Israel, the news came to my community
A Bridge Michigan reporter reflects on the Temple Israel attack and what it means to confront your own worst fears.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan confirms third pediatric flu death, first measles case of year
Michigan health officials confirm a third pediatric flu death, and the state reports its first measles case of 2026.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
St. Clair County public health gets ‘MAGA’ makeover, from fluoride to vaccines
The medical director of a health department on Michigan’s Thumb is bucking a decades-long trend in public health leadership. Not all are thrilled.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s ‘RFK Jr.’: Who is Dr. Remington Nevin?
Why is St. Clair County’s medical director making recommendations that subvert the public health consensus? The doctor speaks for himself.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Blue Cross, Michigan Medicine dispute leaves 300,000 patients in lurch
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.
