After years of steep increases, drug deaths in Michigan are declining again — this time to the lowest number in more than a decade. At the same time, Michigan will receive another $154 million in opioid settlement dollars to fund the drug fight.
Robin Erb
Robin Erb covers a range of health issues in Michigan, including the industry of aging and the issues facing older residents in Michigan, a state that is aging faster than most others. She joined Bridge in 2019 and has led investigations that tracked millions of dollars in opioid settlement money and explored severe worker shortages in health care that threaten lives and the state's economy. She chronicled the shock and grief of Michigan families in COVID’s wake, as well as state policy decisions and the triumphs of medical breakthroughs. Robin previously spent six years covering health at the Detroit Free Press, documenting the battle over, and the eventual passage of, the Affordable Care Act and Michigan's Medicaid expansion. She studied communications and political science at Miami University and has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lourdes University (Toledo, Ohio). She and her husband raised two wonderful children — but have failed miserably at training their Beagle-Bassets — in southeast Michigan. Reach her at rerb@bridgemi.com.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s aging fast, but many seniors unaware of services, poll finds
A new poll finds that 2-in-5 older Michiganders don’t know about the programs and services available to them. Despite that, older residents rate the state ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ as a place to age.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan may force hospitals to disclose savings from drug cost program
The federal 340B program was meant to reduce drug costs for providers, allowing them, in turn, to reduce the cost of care for patients. That can include lower prescription prices. But, according to some critics, it’s lining the budgets of big hospital systems. Others argue it’s keeping the little guys afloat.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan medical debts, anger soar as hospitals spend billions on expansions
In a single generation, Michigan’s health care has gotten more consolidated, complicated and costly for nearly everyone, even the well-insured.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan lawmakers target medical debt, drug costs and a surprising fee
Health care costs remain among the biggest concerns for Michigan voters. Lawmakers are responding.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Psychedelics move into the spotlight. What to know in Michigan
Efforts in Michigan to decriminalize psychedelic drugs may have gotten a boost last month when the Trump administration ordered fast-tracked research into their potential for treatment for mental health issues, including veterans’ PTSD.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Nursing home critics demand Michigan lawmakers protect residents
The calls for change follow a Bridge Michigan investigation that documented nearly 6,000 cases of abuse and three dozen deaths in the past four years.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
State lowers vaccine age recommendation in SE Michigan amid measles outbreak
Children as young as 6 months should get vaccinated against measles, state health experts advise, as measles cases spill into a second Michigan county.
Posted inMichigan Government, Michigan Health Watch
Sparing 8,000 doctors, Michigan lawmakers reach medical compact deal
After months of gridlock, Michigan lawmakers say they finally have a deal to renew an interstate medical compact. Without it, 8,000 doctors could lose their ability to practice across state lines.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan can ease doctor shortage by raising pay for primary care, group says
The Michigan State Medical Society has weighed in with a 14-point plan to address health care provider shortages that are leading to long waits and higher costs.