Once the No. 3 cause of death in Michigan, COVID-19 is attributed to 1,400 deaths so far in 2024. That’s half of the number who died in 2023 and a small percentage of those who died in 2020-22.
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
'Wind phones' give those in grief a connection to lost loved ones in Michigan
Rituals can help us ride out acute grief and connect us to the deceased. For those in mourning, 10 locations in Michigan offer one of the most familiar rituals of all — a phone call.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan-based group reframes dementia: There's life after diagnosis
Words such as ‘dementia’ or ‘Alzheimer’s’ can conjure images of confusion and solitude. A growing group of people with dementia say there’s still a lot of living and laughter.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
New Medicaid benefit for some Michigan patients: Better food
Healthier meals for some low-income Michiganders are part of a “food as medicine” effort and theoretically cut overall health care costs, according to some experts.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Whooping cough cases skyrocket in Michigan, as vaccinations decline
A potentially deadly disease in infants, whooping cough — pertussis — has exploded in Michigan this year, in part because of decreased vaccination rates.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
New for 2025: A cap on drug prices for nearly 2 million older Michiganders
Portions of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which called for a reduction in drug prices, continue to click into place, including a $2,000 cap in 2025 for some Medicare beneficiaries. But there are limits.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As holiday hugs and coughs await, only 1 in 4 Michiganders has taken flu shot
Michigan lags the national average for flu shots, with rates falling for the fourth year in a row this flu season
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan outlines plan to reduce new HIV infections 90% by 2030
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services releases a plan to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
How older Michiganders landed in Medicaid plan aimed at family planning
A limited benefit plan that launched just more than a year ago covers Michiganders who are no longer eligible for Medicaid and would have otherwise lost coverage altogether
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Equine therapy: Horses help Michigan youth cope with mental health crises
Connecting with a horse creates a ‘more welcoming’ atmosphere for adolescents than traditional therapy, one expert says. It can help young people learn how to overcome fears and communicate more effectively.