Injeopardy's Blog

MI Legislature Has 27 Days to Solve Budget Crisis Before Government Shutdown

rksudderth — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:03:51 +0000

Michigan lawmakers have 27 days to solve a $2.8 million budget deficit or risk a government shutdown. As Oct. 1 approaches and our state’s elected officials attempt to balance the budget, it is critical that they hear from their constituents that health care is an essential service that CANNOT afford massive cuts. At a time when Michigan’s unemployment has soared to 15 percent and one of every seven residents relies on Medicaid for their health care, additional cuts to Medicaid would be devastating. Cuts to health care affect access and quality of care for ALL Michigan residents, NOT just those on Medicaid. We urge you to click the “Contact Your Legislators” icon to the right and send a message to your locally elected officials urging them to protect health care funding. We also ask you to visit our “Tell Your Story” page and submit a personal video or written testimony about health care.

Have a health care story to tell?

rksudderth — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:59:22 +0000

We want to hear your health care stories! Are you concerned about health care access in Michigan? Do you know someone that has trouble affording coverage, or has recently lost coverage? Please send us a message or an e-mail at healthcareinjeopardy@gmail.com and we will make sure your voice is heard in Lansing. Contact us today!

Nearly 1 in 5 Visitors to the ER are Uninsured

rksudderth — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:12:04 +0000

On July 15, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced that nearly one in five individuals seeking care in the emergency room is uninsured, according to a study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

As Michigan’s unemployment level tops 15 percent (levels not seen since 1983), more of the state’s residents will be without health insurance and will end up using the emergency room for care. The Detroit News announced that “an estimated 162,100 Michiganians will lose their health insurance between 2008 and 2010, as more employers drop medical coverage due to rising insurance premiums, according to a report released Wednesday by Families USA, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C., health advocacy group.”

As the Michigan Legislature returns from recess and state budget talks continue, lawmakers must be conscious of these startling, yet rising, figures. Cuts to Medicaid at a time when hospitals are already facing an influx of newly uninsured patients will affect our state’s health care providers’ ability to care for all Michigan residents, not just Medicaid recipients.

Contact your locally elected official today and urge them to protect health care funding!

Michigan Voters Don’t Want Medicaid Funding Cut

rksudderth — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:26:13 +0000

In a poll released today by The Detroit News, voters expressed that they do not want to see funding cuts to police, schools or Medicaid. The message that Michigan residents want health care funding protected needs to be heard in Lansing before the Michigan Legislature returns from recess July 13 to continue working on balancing the state budget.

Health Care in Jeopardy has made it quick and easy to contact your locally elected official. Ensuring that lawmakers do not cut Medicaid will help protect access to high-quality health care for all Michigan residents. Please take a moment today to ensure that your voice is heard in Lansing!

MI Legislature in Recess Until July 13

rksudderth — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:21:10 +0000

The Michigan Legislature is in recess until July 13. Now is the time to contact your state lawmaker and urge them to protect health care funding when the Legislature returns and state budget negotiations continue.

With the recent General Motors bankruptcy, an unemployment rate that continues to climb and health care providers already struggling to maintain access to high-quality care for all Michigan residents, our state lawmakers cannot afford to cut critical Medicaid funds and abandon needed federal dollars.

Sending this key message to your elected official only takes a minute through the “Contact Your Legislator” button in the right-hand column and can help protect health care access and quality for all Michiganians.

Health Care FAQs now posted!

rksudderth — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:22:05 +0000

Questions from the June 4 Virtual Tele-Town Hall Meeting are now posted on our new page, Health Care FAQs. This page will be updated with new questions and information as feedback is received. You can sign up to get updated information by going to E-mail Updates and providing your e-mail address.

If you have a question about health care, please post a reply!

Town Hall Meeting a Success!

rksudderth — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:02:54 +0000

Health Care In Jeopardy thanks all 800+ Oakland County voters that joined us by phone last night for the virtual town hall meeting! Your comments, questions and input were fantastic and are critical to the discussion and debate over health care funding and reform in Michigan. Stay tuned to www.healthcareinjeopardy.org for more news and opportunities to get involved and get your voice heard by the decision makers in Lansing.

What’s New

Charlie Johnson — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:46:16 +0000

What’s New provides breaking news regarding health care legislation and frequently updated information on issues affecting health care access in Michigan.

In the News

Charlie Johnson — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:02:27 +0000

Health care news from around Michigan

State caseworkers worry about threats from clients
Source: The Lansing State Journal * Nov. 18, 2009

State pushed to restore dental aid
Source: The Detroit News * Nov. 16, 2009

Study: Michigan crumbles under outdated tax system
Source: The Detroit Free Press * Nov. 12, 2009

Budget anger is boiling over
Source: The Detroit Free Press * Oct. 27, 2009

As they bicker, strife grows
Source: The Detroit Free Press * Oct. 21, 2009

Budget that cuts Medicaid reimbursement rates by 8% nears approval
Source: Crain’s Detroit Business * Sept. 30, 2009

State budget pact leaves essential services at risk
Source: The Detroit Free Press * Sept. 18, 2009

Census: 1.1 million uninsured in state
Source: The Lansing State Journal * Sept. 11, 2009

Next health crisis: Family doc shortage
Source: The Detroit News * Aug. 31, 2009

American Hospital Association chief cites Michigan quality push
Source: Business Review Western Michigan * Aug. 25, 2009

Michigan jobless rate dips to 15% during July
Source: The Detroit Free Press * Aug. 20, 2009

With Michigan’s Medicaid cuts, state faces ‘devastating’ dental crisis
Source: The Michigan Messenger * Aug. 11, 2009

Michigan hospital initiatives provide model for health reform
Source: The Detroit News * Aug. 5, 2009

Doctors fear Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s cuts to Medicaid dental coverage could cost more in emergency care

Source: The Grand Rapids Press * July 31, 2009

Lessons from Michigan

Source: The Detroit Free Press * July 30, 2009

Taylor health clinic helps get care to people

Source: The Detroit Free Press * July 27, 2009

GOP proposes state cuts of $1.38B

Source: The Detroit News * July 23, 2009

Area hospitals join statewide effort to reduce readmissions
Source: Crain’s Detroit Business * July 20, 2009

New Data Say Uninsured Account for Nearly One-Fifth of Emergency Room Visits
Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services * July 15, 2009

Report: 1,040 in state will lose insurance weekly through 2010
Source: The Detroit News * July 15, 2009

Secretary Sebelius Releases Inaugural Health Care “Success Story” Report
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services * July 13, 2009

Slump Spreads to Health Care as Michigan Loses Auto Jobs
Source: The Wall Street Journal * July 13, 2009

In Michigan, Deficits Defy Years of Cutting
Source: The New York Times * July 11, 2009

Voters don’t want cops, schools cut
Source: The Detroit News * July 9, 2009

Michigan Medicaid Cuts Penny-wise, Pound-foolish
Source: Toledo Blade * July 3, 2009

Health Systems Brace for Tough Times
Source: Livingston Daily * June 30, 2009

U.S. Hospitals Feeling the Squeeze
Source: Forbes * June 24, 2009

State Senate Seeks Health Budget Cuts
Source: The Detroit News * June 25, 2009

Lawmakers Propose $125-Million In Medicaid Cuts
Source: WKLA.com * June 22, 2009

Proposed Senate Health Care Cuts Will Reduce Health Care Access for All Michigan Citizens
Source: PR-USA.net * June 18, 2009

Proposed Senate Health Care Cuts Will Reduce Health Care Access for All Michigan Citizens
Source: WOI ABC-5 * June 17, 2009

Medicaid straining MDs
Source: The Detroit News * June 8, 2009

Sacrificing the poor
Source: The Detroit News * June 7, 2009

Hospital executives, physicians decry Medicaid cuts
Source: Crain’s Detroit Business * May 21, 2009

Medicaid cuts will cost state millions of dollars
Source: Oakland Press * May 20, 2009

My View: State cutting Medicaid, Federal dollars
Source: MLive.com * May 20, 2009

Video Testimonials

Charlie Johnson — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:01:32 +0000

New video posted June 17, 2009. Listen to Medicaid recipients and a health care worker tell you why Michigan cannot afford to cut health care funding. Click on Tell Your Story to hear testimonials and to provide your own.