From increasing hospital costs, insurance provider consolidation and inflationary pressures, the answer is as complex as the health care system itself.
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
Michigan food stamp payments to resume Saturday – but be cut in half
Michiganders who missed food stamp payments are expected to get reduced payments Saturday. Halved benefits from the federal government will be ‘a disappointment,’ a health official acknowledged.
Posted inMichigan Government, Michigan Health Watch
Food stamp delay hits Michigan: Residents ration, pantries scramble
The Trump administration agreed to resume partial SNAP payments but warned it could take “weeks” for reduced benefits to reach people. Michiganders are already grappling with the delay.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Out of reach: Where do Michigan’s trans youth go for care now?
The University of Michigan and Corewell Health dropped gender-affirming care for their young transgender patients earlier this year. The decision has left families facing a new medical and political reality.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan open enrollment: Here’s how much health insurance rates are rising
Premiums are going up an average 20.2% for individuals who get insured through HealthCare.gov. But prices could surge higher without the tax credits being debated during the government shutdown.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan lawmakers mull regulating kratom and ‘gas station heroin’ byproduct
As it stands now, Michigan children can buy kratom, a substance that some say is dangerous. Lawmakers are considering regulating it.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
U-M study: 1 in 5 young adults using marijuana, alcohol to fall asleep
A University of Michigan study found that about 22% of young adults use cannabis, alcohol or both to help them fall asleep. Experts warn that the habit can lead to dependency and poorer sleep quality, though some advocates argue cannabis may offer benefits when used responsibly.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan health care woes: Insurers leaving, rates rising, subsidies in limbo
Regulators say some providers are leaving the state and dropping coverage in the individual market amid major shifts in health care policy. Meantime, expect to pay more.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan cuts off weight-loss drugs for most Medicaid patients, saving $240M
The $81 billion state budget imposes new restrictions on many GLP-1 drugs, requiring them to be used only for the ‘morbidly obese’
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Smoking, vapes spark fire danger in Michigan
Smoking-related fires remain a leading cause of fire deaths in Michigan, with many linked to indoor smoking and medical oxygen use. Officials are urging residents to adopt smoke-free housing and handle e-cigarettes safely to prevent battery-related fires.