Democrats, Republicans accuse the other of playing politics after President Joe Biden’s administration declines to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s rules.
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
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan teens' anxiety increased during COVID. Resources to help did not.
Experts already recognize that treating severe mental illness among young people is a problem in the state. But kids showing signs of pandemic-related isolation, depression and other conditions also struggle to find help.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan auditor general vows ‘comprehensive’ review of nursing home deaths
The review, revealed Wednesday, follows months of scrutiny by GOP legislators, who have questioned whether seniors were put in harm’s way under an early pandemic policy from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that created regional “hubs” for infected patients.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Is the Michigan vaccine lottery working? Depends how you define success.
Since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a $5 million lottery pool for those getting the COVID-19 vaccine, she’s touted that 1 million have signed up for the lottery — but the state cannot say if it’s luring more people to the shots. Several local health officials say it hasn’t.