Michigan’s health department is reaching out to Medicaid beneficiaries with a warning: You’ll get cut from coverage if you don’t re-enroll. But the outreach won’t be easy; mailing addresses have changed.
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
Two in five Michigan nurses plan to leave their jobs, survey finds.
A University of Michigan researcher and long-time nurse said he’s never seen frustration so high. Covid exacerbated things, he says.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Abortion access expands with online prescriptions in Michigan. Some fear risks
Abortion clinics may soon follow Planned Parenthood’s lead and prescribe and mail medication to terminate pregnancies after online consultations.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
University of Michigan Health finalizes acquisition of Sparrow Health
The agreement expands U-M’s footprint to more than 200 locations in the state, while giving Sparrow a $800 million financial infusion into its hospital system.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Lifesaving Narcan for drug overdoses approved for over the counter sale
Doctors and substance abuse experts said a federal policy shift could make the drug, now available in pharmacies, far more convenient to buy at convenience stores, gas stations or from online retailers. But will it still be affordable?
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
On second look, Michigan’s COVID death rate wasn’t so bad, study finds
If based solely by population, Michigan had the 10th worst COVID death rate of any state in the nation. But when adjusted for the state’s older and less healthy population, the state’s handling of the pandemic fares much better.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan health care reimagined using dirt, worms and fresh veggies
In this Michigan hospital farm, shovels replace scrubs and leather replaces latex in a “food is medicine” effort.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
‘Abortion pill’ under legal scrutiny; what it means in Michigan.
Michiganders now have a constitutional right to abortions, but a Texas court case could complicate access.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
ER or urgent care? As respiratory ailments pound Michigan, who do you call?
Misery is at its worst in the still of the night, when doctor offices are closed. There are sure signs for when to call 911 or hit the ER, and when urgent care of merely a call to your doctor is enough.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Here’s where to get free COVID test, treatment before holidays
The so-called ‘tripledemic’ is prompting a whole host of health concerns as the holidays near. Here’s how to prepare.