After years of steep increases, drug deaths in Michigan are declining again — this time to the lowest number in more than a decade. At the same time, Michigan will receive another $154 million in opioid settlement dollars to fund the drug fight.
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
Rural Michigan may need more medical helicopters. Can it afford them?
Pending federal cuts will lead to reduced services at rural hospitals, moving patients to bigger facilities by helicopter. But federal policy limits how much money those choppers can collect.
Posted inMichigan Government, Michigan Health Watch
Watch: Bridge reporters talk medical debt, health care costs on WJR
An estimated 700,000 Michiganders are saddled with medical debt. Bridge reporters joined WJR in Detroit to discuss.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan’s aging fast, but many seniors unaware of services, poll finds
A new poll finds that 2-in-5 older Michiganders don’t know about the programs and services available to them. Despite that, older residents rate the state ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ as a place to age.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan may force hospitals to disclose savings from drug cost program
The federal 340B program was meant to reduce drug costs for providers, allowing them, in turn, to reduce the cost of care for patients. That can include lower prescription prices. But, according to some critics, it’s lining the budgets of big hospital systems. Others argue it’s keeping the little guys afloat.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan medical debts, anger soar as hospitals spend billions on expansions
In a single generation, Michigan’s health care has gotten more consolidated, complicated and costly for nearly everyone, even the well-insured.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan lawmakers target medical debt, drug costs and a surprising fee
Health care costs remain among the biggest concerns for Michigan voters. Lawmakers are responding.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Psychedelics move into the spotlight. What to know in Michigan
Efforts in Michigan to decriminalize psychedelic drugs may have gotten a boost last month when the Trump administration ordered fast-tracked research into their potential for treatment for mental health issues, including veterans’ PTSD.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Federal grant revives Michigan farmer suicide prevention program — for now
Economic stress and pressure to keep generational family farms running make farming one of the jobs most prone to suicide.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Nursing home critics demand Michigan lawmakers protect residents
The calls for change follow a Bridge Michigan investigation that documented nearly 6,000 cases of abuse and three dozen deaths in the past four years.