Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan families urged to focus on healthy eating habits
Beyond the Table during National Nutrition Month

LANSING, Mich. – In March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage Michiganders to focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits during National Nutrition Month.

“The 2024 theme, Beyond the Table, encourages healthy eating no matter where we get our nutrition,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Whether you’re eating at home or on the road, it’s important to consider how we get, prepare, store and eat our foods.”

Beyond the Table addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets, and even home food safety and storage practices. It also describes the various ways we eat, not only around a dinner table, but also on the go, in schools and restaurants, at games and events. This theme also includes sustainability, for instance, decreasing food waste from school and work to home and beyond.

During National Nutrition Month, the Michigan WIC Program encourages everyone to eat a variety of foods from the different food groups and buy local to support Michigan’s strong agriculture and farming heritage.

WIC is a federally funded program that serves low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. WIC provides families with access to registered dietitians or registered dietitian nutritionists. These food and nutrition experts specialize in assessing one’s unique needs and providing personalized nutrition education and counseling to meet individual health goals.

To learn more about WIC or find an agency near you, call 211 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2024

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS urges residents to make sure they are up-to-date on measles vaccination as more cases diagnosed in Wayne and Washtenaw Counties

If you suspect you may have measles, call your health care provider facility before visiting so they can take proper precautions to prevent additional exposures

LANSING, Mich. – In response to the growing number of measles cases, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles vaccinations.

“If you are not vaccinated for measles, get vaccinated as quickly as you can,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “We are seeing increased cases of measles abroad and outbreaks of measles across the United States in the setting of declining childhood vaccination rates. Now measles is in Michigan, and it’s important to make sure you protect yourself from this vaccine-preventable disease.”

Michigan residents can contact their health care provider or visit their local health department for additional information on ways to obtain the vaccine and schedule an appointment. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. The three cases in Michigan are not connected, which illustrates there are multiple places where you could be exposed to measles.

The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever (may spike to over 104˚F).
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin.
• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.

If symptoms develop, residents are urged to not visit their doctor or emergency room unless they have called ahead so facilities can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.

With the risk for community spread, parents are encouraged to make sure their children are up to date on all their childhood immunizations, including the measles vaccine. Ninety percent of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. About one in five people who get measles will be hospitalized. In addition to Michigan’s case, 35 measles cases have been reported in 2024 in 15 other states to date.

The measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97% effective. It is also effective if used within 72 hours of a measles exposure to prevent illness. However, some individuals with weakened immune systems may not be eligible to receive this vaccine. Getting vaccinated not only protects the individual receiving the vaccine but can also protect vulnerable individuals in our communities from being exposed to this illness.

To learn more about the MMR vaccine, visit  Vaccine for Measles (MMR Shot) | CDC. 

For more information about Measles cases in the U.S., visit  Measles Cases and Outbreaks | CDC. 

Click here for Dr. Bagdasarian’s message about the measles vaccine.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 29, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Michigan addressing racial disparities in overdose deaths through
harm reduction, other data-driven programs in upcoming year
More than 6,600 overdoses reversed through naloxone distribution 

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Michigan’s efforts to reduce drug-related overdose deaths and decrease overdose racial disparities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is investing $10 million from opioid settlement funds in harm reduction programs in FY2024.

The State of Michigan is expected to receive more than $800 million over 18 years as part of the $26 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest pharmaceutical distributors as well as opioid manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.

“Michigan has been a leader in distributing opioid funds and ensuring the care, health and well-being of residents in need, and we will continue to lead in this area,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and Michigan Opioids Task Force co-chair. We have been recognized as a national leader in harm reduction by the National Governors Association.”

Michigan experienced one of the highest rates of overdoses in the country in 2017, but by 2021 had improved to a rate better than the national average. When comparing 2023 to 2022, Michigan continues to experience promising decreases in overdoses. However, these decreases are not representative of all Michigan residents, with Black residents overdosing at a rate 2.7 times higher than white Michigan residents based on preliminary January to June 2023 data. In 2022, there were 2,998 overdose deaths, 840 (28%) of those deaths among Black residents.

“We are addressing disparities by prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations as we distribute settlement dollars across the state,” said Tommy Stallworth, MDHHS senior advisor and consultant. “As the former director of the Governor’s Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, the opioid epidemic is another tragic example of the need to address racial disparities in health care. As such, we are making sure that equity is at the core of all decisions we make about allocating opioid settlement funds, targeting programs and also ensuring our decisions are made with the supporting data in mind. Everything we do must be designed with the goal of measurably reducing overdose deaths and eliminating racial disparities.”

Naloxone kit distribution, drug test kits helping save lives

Michigan has distributed more than 730,000 naloxone kits and recorded over 6,600 overdose reversals since the 2020 launch of Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which provides the opioid overdose reversal medication at no charge to community groups. In FY23, opioid settlement dollars funded the distribution of nearly 150,000 kits, resulting in the reversal of nearly 2,600 overdoses. Nearly 25,000 naloxone kits were distributed in both Detroit and Flint.

As part of the effort to get naloxone into the hands of communities of color, The Youth Connection in Detroit has provided in-person and virtual trainings on naloxone administration for 6,727 individuals and distributed 7,600 naloxone kits. Training has been provided to numerous community organizations, including law enforcement, block clubs, churches, schools and senior facilities.

“Making sure a variety of community members know how to use and have access to naloxone is key to being able to address overdoses, which can happen in any setting,” said Dr. Grenae Dudley, president and CEO of The Youth Connection. “Naloxone saves lives and we have received reports of 100 overdose reversals by participants of our trainings.”

Additionally, in FY23, 73,352 fentanyl test strips and 5,392 xylazine test strips were distributed. This includes nearly 6,500 test strips in Detroit. Data indicates people using drugs practice safer use when knowing these substances are present.

Additional efforts designed to address disparities slated for the coming year include adding the distribution of naloxone and fentanyl strips to community wellness centers across the state with an emphasis on communities of color. These centers are located in trusted community partners including churches and other community locations.

Additional information regarding proposed programming under Michigan’s Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund is provided on the opioids settlement website.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 22, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Nearly $250 million included in FY25 budget to expand access
to behavioral health services for Michigan families
Over $193 million in funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

LANSING, Mich. – As part of the state’s continued commitment to expanding access to behavioral health services for Michigan families, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s FY2025 budget proposal includes $193.3 million to strengthen Michigan’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) demonstration program.

Funds will be used to expand the number of CCBHC sites and establish more robust support, as well as oversight and monitoring, for Michigan’s Medicaid CCBHC demonstration. CCBHCs are non-profit or local government agencies that are federally required to provide nine comprehensive behavioral health services, including 24/7 mobile crisis response and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders. 

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel visited with Network 180, a Community Mental Health Authority that includes a CCBHC site in Kent County, Thursday, Feb. 22.

The CCBHC model increases access to numerous behavioral health services by serving all individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis, regardless of insurance or ability to pay,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “The CCBHC model has been shown to substantially increase access to care, advance the coordination of physical and behavioral health, strengthen community partnerships, address health inequities and improve the quality of behavioral health services.”

The FY25 budget proposal will support expanded access to behavioral health supports and services for up to 50,000 additional Michigan residents. There are currently 30 CCBHCs in Michigan’s Medicaid demonstration project, as well as several additional provider organizations currently receiving federal grant funding to establish clinics and provide CCBHC services.

In FY23, 13 Medicaid-funded CCBHCs provided services to approximately 75,000 unique individuals across Michigan. Approximately 30% of individuals served were children and young adults ages 0 to 21 and 70% were adults.

Additional budget recommendations include funding to increase access to behavioral health services through direct program capacity enhancements, a managed care rate increase for behavioral health services, incentives to build a pipeline of qualified providers and ongoing resource support for people experiencing behavioral health crises.

• $36.1 million to increase rates for behavioral health services provided through Medicaid health plans.
• $8.3 million to establish Medicaid reimbursement for peer provided substance use disorder services.
• $7.3 million for the Michigan Crisis and Access Line to ensure structural ongoing support for services currently provided to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
• $4 million to enhance gambling prevention and treatment services including residential gambling treatment, recovery support services, youth education and prevention services, research and evaluation, provider training, a media campaign and the problem gambling hotline.

  

Pictured during the MDHHS visit to Network 180 are (l. to r.) Sarah Desmarais, MDHHS senior advisor of economic stability operations and programs; David Knezek, MDHHS chief operating officer; Beverly Ryskamp, Network 180 chief operating officer; MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel; Bill Ward, Network 180 executive director; Amy Rottman, Network 180 chief financial officer; and Kristin Spykerman, Network 180 chief clinical officer.