An advocacy group will soon begin collecting signatures to limit health emergencies to 28 days, then require lawmakers to sign off on orders. Health officials say that’s reckless.
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.
Some caution over rising Michigan COVID cases and positive tests
More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past couple days, raising some worry that the Delta variant may be finding its footing in Michigan. Positive test results are also up, but hospitalizations remain low.
Michigan doctors found a huge spike in eating disorders during COVID
At Michigan Medicine, hospitalizations of young people, nearly all female, more than doubled. Possible links to the pandemic were also noted at Beaumont Health in metro Detroit and at a children’s hospital in Grand Rapids.
Feds won’t probe Michigan nursing home COVID policy, despite initial query
Democrats, Republicans accuse the other of playing politics after President Joe Biden’s administration declines to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s rules.
Up to 400K COVID vaccines set to expire in Michigan. Few want them.
Just months ago, Michiganders clamored for vaccines, frustrated at waiting lists and line-cutters in a bid to secure precious shots. Now, health officials worry they will go to waste.
Michigan flood waters, heat may have spiked Legionnaires’ disease
Health officials note an uptick in cases over two weeks, and are searching for a common source.
Latest effort to reform Michigan’s mental-health system finds critics
Two GOP lawmakers say their plans cut bureaucracy and save millions of dollars. Some worry, though, that any reform that shifts care to the private sector or distant agencies will compromise vulnerable patients.
Did COVID fuel drug overdoses? Michigan deaths surged last year.
Michigan’s increase in drug overdose deaths in 2020 wasn’t as high as the national average, but 2,743 people died across the state — a 16 percent rise over 2019.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine and Guillain Barré syndrome: what to know
The FDA warned this week of a “very low” incidence of the rare neurological illness among people taking the J and J vaccine. Experts say the risk is far outweighed by the danger of remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19.
190K in Michigan live with Alzheimer’s. FDA taps brake on new drug.
One month after its controversial approval by the FDA, the drug Aduhelm will be limited to just some of the 6.2M Americans — 190K in Michigan — who live with Alzheimer’s disease.