Publications

Publications

A sign hangs on the door of a local business. It reads

Healthcare workforce shortages in Michigan: Recommendations for recruiting and retaining talent

Like the rest of the nation, Michigan is experiencing severe workforce shortages, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One 2023 survey showed that 86 percent of physician practices in the state reported declines in staff since the COVID-19 pandemic and another showed 27,000 hospital job openings in early 2023 – a 13 percent vacancy rate. Nearly all health roles are expected …

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A Black man holds the hands of a direct care worker.

Supporting direct care workers in Michigan: Strategies from other states

Direct care workers (DCWs) provide long-term care services to vulnerable populations—largely older adults and people with disabilities—and often help keep people in their homes. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term care services, many of which are provided by DCWs. According to the 2024 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index, Michigan’s home health aides, personal care aides and nursing assistants have some …

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Group Counseling

Addressing the behavioral health crisis in Michigan: Strategies for enhancing access and coverage

Michigan faces significant challenges in providing adequate behavioral health services, a crisis that has only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. A substantial portion of adults in Michigan suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders are not receiving necessary treatment. This is attributed to a lack of access to services, even for those with insurance coverage. Coverage varies significantly by …

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Insured and uninsured on a form, with uninsured circled in red

Concerns about Medicaid redetermination in Michigan: Insights from physicians

In March 2023, with the end of the Public Health Emergency initiated under the Covid 19 pandemic, Michigan reinstated redeterminations for Medicaid eligibility, resulting in the disenrollment of over 687,000 residents as of February 2024—82% of which were due to missing documentation or missed notifications. The Center for Health & Research Transformation (CHRT) surveyed Michigan physicians to gauge their concerns …

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Ob/Gyn examines expecting mom during prenatal visit to prevent maternal mortality

Reverse maternal mortality trends: 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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Opioids spilled over settlement money

Maximizing Michigan’s opioid settlement funds: A strategic approach for recovery

In response to the opioid epidemic’s devastating impact, the Michigan Opioid Partnership asked the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) to speak with members of the substance use disorder recovery support community to gather suggestions for the investment of Michigan’s state and local opioid settlement funds. As Michigan anticipates receiving over $1.5 billion from opioid settlements, there is an …

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Tobacco cigarettes and opioid pills

Tobacco lessons for opioid settlement fund investments: Maximizing the impact of Michigan’s opioid settlement funds

In the face of an opioid epidemic that claimed the lives of more than 112,000 people nationwide last year, Michigan has the opportunity to make a significant public health impact through the effective use of opioid settlement funds. This publication draws vital lessons from the tobacco litigation settlements of the late 90s, offering a roadmap for leveraging the multi-billion-dollar opioid …

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Identifying and Addressing Key Public Health Needs

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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Bridging Gaps: Strengthening Public Health through Primary Care Innovation and Funding Reforms

Bridge the gaps: Strengthening public health through primary care collaboration and funding innovation

In a January 2024 Milbank Quarterly opinion piece, Connecting Public Health and Primary Care: The Prevention and Public Health Fund Redux, authors Marianne Udow-Phillips, Samantha Iovan and Peter D. Jacobson take a look at the critical role of primary care in bridging the gap between public health and medical care, as emphasized by longstanding funding disparities which were particularly evident …

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Sherriff's Officer reading pamphlet on diversion and deflection

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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