News

Michigan’s STD belt: It’s not what you think

A new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study shows higher rates of a sexually transmitted disease in a line of Michigan counties stretching along Interstate 94, but CHRT Director Marianne Udow-Phillips cautions against prematurely jumping to conclusions. “This is a reporting issue,” Udow-Phillips said. “This is where teens are going for care, not necessarily where they are having sex.”

Living on right side of county line means more life, better health

A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study found striking health disparities between Wayne and Washtenaw counties, but CHRT Director Marianne Udow-Phillips explains that issues—such as poverty, education, clean water and clean air—have a bigger impact on health status than medical care treatment.

Better access to doctors in Michigan

Newswire service United Press International publishes a story on CHRT’s survey that shows Michigan Medicaid recipients report having an easier time accessing primary and specialty care in 2012 compared to 2010.

Will a Henry Ford-Beaumont megamerger be a benefit to the community?

In this examination of the $6.4-billion merger of the Henry Ford and Beaumont health systems, CHRT Director Marianne Udow-Phillips discusses incentives and cost-containment mechanisms in the Affordable Care Act that may be leading some hospitals to consider potential mergers.

U.S. to administer Web health marketplace

CHRT Director Marianne Udow-Phillips explains what federally-run health insurance exchanges mean for consumers after state lawmakers likely guaranteed Michigan will miss out on a state/federal partnership.

Medicaid impact on primary care physicians

CHRT Director Marianne Udow-Phillips joins Lucy Ann Lance live on-air to discuss results from CHRT’s two most recently published surveys—the first in the Cover Michigan Survey 2013 series that examined access to health care and a survey of Michigan’s primary care providers.

More than 90% of surveyed Michigan Medicaid recipients reported easier access to primary care in 2012

Survey results released today by the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT) show that Michigan Medicaid recipients said that they found it easier to get primary and specialty care appointments in 2012 than they did in 2010. In fact, their level of reported ease was comparable to those with employer‐sponsored coverage.

In the survey of 1,018 Michigan adults, more Michigan residents—both insured and uninsured—responded that they had a primary care provider compared to 2010. Medicaid recipients reported the greatest increase, rising to 88 percent in 2012 from 72 percent in 2010.Continue Reading More than 90% of surveyed Michigan Medicaid recipients reported easier access to primary care in 2012

Coping with health reform: Massachusetts biz leaders offer advice to Michigan execs

Crain’s Detroit Business highlights the key messages from Massachusetts business leaders to their Michigan counterparts during a CHRT-sponsored event, including clarification that the Massachusetts business community is “not crazy” for supporting health care reform and the individual mandate. (Free online subscription required to view full text)