Health Equity
Health Insurance in Michigan, 2008 – 2024
Introduction Over the past 16 years, Michigan’s health insurance environment has undergone a significant transformation driven by major policy shifts and demographic changes. This report examines the period from 2008 to 2024, highlighting the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the launch of the Healthy Michigan Plan, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By analyzing data from the …
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Maternal Mortality in Michigan
Michigan faces a significant maternal mortality crisis, reporting 19.1 maternal deaths per 1,000 births in 2022, with nearly three-quarters of these deaths considered preventable. Deaths are categorized as pregnancy-related (e.g., infection or sepsis) or pregnancy-associated (e.g., substance use disorder). The core challenges are widespread provider shortages and a lack of quality, culturally competent care. Racial disparities are severe, as Black …
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Health System Transformation Through EMS Data Integration – for Policy Makers
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data represents a critical, yet underutilized, resource with significant potential to transform public health surveillance, support the delivery of health and social services, and improve health outcomes. Investing in the integration of this near real-time data source will provide visibility into patient needs that remain hidden in traditional clinical settings, driving better care coordination, efficiency, and …
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Incorporating Community Voice into a Statewide Initiative, Experiences from the Field
In 2020, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) a five-year project to enhance data exchange capabilities and reduce health disparities in Michigan. The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) joined as a partner to support 7 regional health collaboratives and facilitate a learning community. The project recognized …
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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Michigan: Early Results
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are non-profit organizations or units of a local government behavioral health authority designed to provide comprehensive, integrated mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to anyone who walks through their door, regardless of their diagnosis, insurance status, ability to pay, or residence. The Michigan Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration launched on …
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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Michigan: Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services
The Michigan Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration is an initiative designed to expand access to community behavioral health services and improve Medicaid reimbursement. Michigan joined the federal Demonstration on October 1, 2021, with 13 initial sites, following authorization by the CARES Act of 2020. The program was later extended to a six-year demonstration, set to end in September …
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Access to health care in Michigan: A brief for legislators
The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) has released an issue brief focused on access to health care. The brief, titled “Access to Health Care in Michigan,” describes barriers that affect health care access in the state. Health insurance coverage is a central element improving access to care, but insurance coverage alone is not sufficient to ensure access. This …
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Reducing maternal mortality: Addressing health-related social needs during prenatal visits
Work must be done to reverse maternal mortality trends in Michigan and other states. In Michigan, maternal mortality rates surpass the national average and recent estimates suggest that 80 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable. Further, there are stark racial disparities in maternal health, with Black individuals experiencing a 2.6 times higher likelihood of dying from …
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Primary care and public health integration: Innovative strategies from a state-level review
In a recent Journal of Public Health Management & Practice report, Strengthening Public Health Through Primary Care and Public Health Collaboration: Innovative State Approaches, CHRT’s Nancy M. Baum and Samantha Iovan, along with Marianne Udow-Phillips, explore the dynamic initiatives undertaken by four states to forge stronger connections between public health and primary care. Seventeen state leaders from North Carolina, Oregon, …
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Pathways to reform in Michigan: Diversion, deflection, and reentry programs
A recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice revealed alarming rates of mental health disorders among jail inmates–on average, 44 percent of inmates had a mental health diagnosis. Despite this prevalence, jails lack adequate resources to meet inmates’ mental health needs, potentially worsened by discriminatory practices, implicit bias, overcrowding, and hostile environments. And these challenges disproportionately affect racial and …
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