Kelsey Warshefski, 41, said she’s suffered years of seizures, mini-strokes and fatigue. She can no longer run, work or romp with her son. She’s among a growing number of patients suing after disability claims were denied.
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.
Michigan disbands racial equity group as tension mounts over opioid money
The state spent $148,000 on a racial equity group to offer advice on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds. But after issuing recommendations, the group said it was ‘silenced.’
Michigan’s $55M experiment with guaranteed income begins with Flint moms
Michigan will experiment with guaranteed income in Flint, one of its poorest cities, giving expectant and new moms $7,500 — no strings attached — to lift the stress of poverty from their newborns.
Blood donations at 20-year low. Red Cross urges Michiganders to give
The Red Cross has seen a 40 percent decline in blood donations over the last 20 years. They’re calling it an emergency and hope to entice donors with a chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl.
Flu, respiratory illnesses, other crud make this misery season in Michigan
Expect long wait times at doctor offices, clinics and emergency rooms, as influenza season is in full winter flower.
Michigan Medicaid expanded to cover health workers you may not have heard of
Community health workers focus on people who, due to low incomes or other inequities, tend to have poorer health outcomes. The state is now expanding Medicaid to cover more of this work.
Detroit agency launches mobile mental health unit. Can it slow a revolving door?
Too many people in a mental health crisis end up in a hospital ER, where they rarely get the one-on-one or follow-up care they need. New mobile vans are designed to bring better care to people in distress before they spiral further.
450,000 Michigan residents have now lost Medicaid coverage
Michigan is six months into a one-year Medicaid eligibility review. Roughly 1-in-3 cases reviewed have resulted in residents being dropped from the medical insurance program for low-income people.
More than 350,000 Michiganders have lost Medicaid so far this year
Michigan is in the middle of a one year review of Medicaid cases after enrollment grew to 3.2 million people during pandemic. About a third of the 992,000 people reviewed so far have lost coverage.
For Michigan kindergarteners next fall, open your mouth and say 'ahh'
An estimated 67,000 Michigan children start school without seeing a dentist, including thousands with mouths filled with rot and pain from neglect. A new law ensures new students receive dental screenings.