Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian will serve as chief medical executive for the state of Michigan beginning on Friday, October 1. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, who currently serves as chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, has accepted a new position to pursue an opportunity outside of state government, which will … Read more
Earlier this month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared September as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Currently in Michigan, experts are working on reducing barriers to care based on race, slowing down rising rates of overdoses and cases, and continuing to invest in prevention and integrated care. Whitmer’s announcement aimed to raise awareness of … Read more
The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) received confirmation from staff at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) that the date by which Michigan prescribers will be required to electronically transmit all prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances will be delayed. The new date is January 1, 2022. LARA sent a formal statement to prescribers … Read more
A recently released study funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute found telepsychiatry in rural, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) was a “resounding success” for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. The five-year trial, called The Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry (SPIRIT) was designed to “identify the … Read more
All of Beaumont Health’s 10 emergency departments are experiencing extreme numbers of patients seeking medical attention and the health system is encouraging patients to consider all options for treatment and evaluation, such as urgent care, when appropriate. While some of the patients are seeking care for COVID-19, the overwhelming majority of the patients currently coming to … Read more
Mike Slubowski, president and CEO of Trinity Health, wrote a letter last week to congressional committee leaders with recommendations for health infrastructure legislation. Slubowski calls on lawmakers to provide more funding and assistance to health systems, expand access to behavioral health and community-based services, and provide COVID-19 response infrastructure. Trinity Health is a … Read more
The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) recently released a study that surveyed the usage and effectiveness of telehealth statewide. The survey found around two-thirds of behavioral health providers were providing more than half their services via telehealth. It also found that 86% of those surveyed want to continue using telehealth in the future. … Read more
Phillip Bergquist is the chief operating officer at the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) and leads MPCA’s engagement with state and federal legislation. In this Q&A, Bergquist highlights MPCA’s priorities in the upcoming FY 2022 health and human services budget and their support of a new payment approach and behavioral health integration. Patrick … Read more
Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health System, two of Michigan’s largest health systems, have signed a formal integration agreement on Thursday marking the beginning of the integration process. The new health system’s vision is to “provide more accessible, affordable, equitable and exceptional health care and coverage for people across the state.” In June 2021, … Read more
As the Michigan Legislature comes back from summer break this week, important pieces of health care legislation are ready to be discussed and worked through. According to capitol insiders from the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) and the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP), the most important pieces of legislation for the … Read more