Following a year of unrelenting grief in rural Cedar Springs, the district resolved to find ways to identify stress before students fall into crisis. There are signs the effort is beginning to make a difference.
Michigan Health Watch
In-depth reporting on the intersection between public policy and important health topics ‒ such as insurance coverage, hospital admissions, opioid abuse, access to care, medical research and the business of health care ‒ that impact nearly every Michigan resident.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
A Michigan mother finds solace in schools’ response after son’s suicide
“This could happen to any family,” the west Michigan mom said, nearly four years after her son took his life just before his senior year of high school.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Rural Michigan needs doctors. Paying their debts may be an answer
Lawmakers eye expansion of program that pays student debt of medical professionals who practice in underserved areas, as the Michigan doctor shortage intensifies.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan doctors not trained to treat opioid abuse ‒ and don't want to be
A statewide survey found most primary care physicians don’t want training to administer the “gold standard” treatment of opioid abuse, even as overdose deaths tripled in Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
A woman, a tick, and the fight in Michigan over Lyme disease
Exhaustion, depression and pain are made worse when doctors don’t listen, patients say. Lansing bills aim to help, but the campaign faces skepticism from the medical establishment and one surprising group.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Lyme disease is spreading across Michigan. But why?
Officials are increasingly finding disease-carrying ticks in new places across the state. Experts aren’t exactly sure why, but they have some ideas.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
State ends ties to West Michigan mental-health agency for poor and disabled
Michigan is ending its contract with Lakeshore Regional Entity, which coordinates behavioral health care for 30,000 Medicaid patients, citing “fiscal mismanagement” and debt. Agency blames a widespread lack of funding.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Delays, confusion as Michigan preps for new Medicaid work rules
Thousands of Michiganders could lose health coverage after Jan. 1 if they can’t prove work efforts. State says it will have a call center open on Day 1, but advocates worry some people will be left behind.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Oversight board flags ‘deterioration of care’ at Detroit Medical Center
Nearly 10 years after Detroit hospital system is sold to for-profit company, a volunteer group of overseers is raising concerns about its patient care and transparency.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
How toxic is PFAS? Exposed residents slow to aid research in Michigan
In Kent County, the state hopes blood tests of PFAS contaminated households could inform health decisions. But only half of eligible residents seem willing, casting into doubt Michigan’s role in a larger, federal study.