Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to combat racial disparities as the pandemic tore through Michigan last year. A member of her COVID task force calls the state’s failure to collect racial data “almost criminal.” State officials say they’re working on it.
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 can’t fill mental health jobs amid COVID. These ideas could help.
From psychiatrists to counselors to direct care workers, health agencies are unable to fill jobs as depression and substance abuse cases increase. Some state and federal programs could help nudge more doctors and therapists to underserved regions of the state.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Game on. Michigan contact sports may resume Monday as COVID cases wane.
As the state’s Republican-run Legislature tries again to rein in the Whitmer administration’s pandemic authority, the governor said that encouraging trends in efforts to contain COVID-19 will allow even indoor sports to resume — with some cautions.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan isn’t sure who’s getting the COVID vaccine. That’s a big problem
An absence of data has hindered efforts to vaccinate the state, as officials have no idea about the racial breakdown of recipients, making it harder to address equity gaps and fix problems with distribution.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Why a stockpile of a promising COVID-19 treatment sits unused in Lansing
With shortages of the COVID-19 vaccine expected for the foreseeable future, people’s lives depend on having effective treatments for the virus.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As Michigan scrambles for COVID vaccines, what to do about line cutters
With many older residents still unable to get appointments, health officials are wrestling with the ethical gray areas of vaccine distribution.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Facts are stubborn things for Whitmer, Michigan GOP when it comes to COVID
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the state is No. 6 in vaccines. Republicans say Michigan is locked down. Neither is quite true, but both sides are finding the best data to suit their arguments.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan Dominican Sisters find ‘grace to carry forth’ as 9 die of COVID
The vaccine was too late for the Adrian Dominican Sisters who died this month. Yet Sister Patricia Siemen, an attorney, activist and now Prioress of the order, said COVID can teach us about tenderness and love.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan getting better at vaccine distribution. It’s still not good enough.
After a rocky launch, Michigan now ranks 20th among states in vaccine distribution. But frustration remains because some counties appear to do better than others and demand far outpaces supply.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Amid the isolation of COVID, Michigan Alzheimer’s deaths soar
For more than 10 months, the families of nursing home residents have coalesced around a two-word phrase: “Isolation kills.” The death counts in 2020 suggest they may be right.