Crain's Detroit Archives

In Crain’s Detroit: CHRT’s examination of Michigan’s nursing home hub strategy in response to the COVID-19 crisis

In a September 8 article Report: Smaller percentage of nursing home residents died of COVID-19 in Michigan than national average, Crain’s healthcare writer Jay Greene talks with CHRT Founding Executive Director Marianne Udow-Phillips about CHRT’s examination of the state of Michigan’s nursing home hub strategy in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“We collectively believe that the state’s strategy was appropriate when taken during the peak of the surge to establish nursing home hubs and transfer patients from hospitals (when patients) were no longer in need of hospital-level care,” Udow-Phillips tells Crains.

Greene also notes that the CHRT report — funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund – was the product of data analysis and numerous interviews with national policy experts, state administrators, and nursing home leaders, along with hospital and clinical leaders to identify best practices.

The article goes on to point out that the CHRT report also focuses on improvements going forward.

“Overall, CHRT issued 50 recommendations for improvement, covering structural, process, access, and operational improvements, to help Michigan and other states prepare long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, for a potential resurgence.”

The report emphasizes the significance of communication and cooperation between nursing facilities, state agencies, and public health officials as well as the necessity of proper staffing, testing, and personal protective equipment. The report also emphasizes the need to prioritize the mental health and social needs of nursing home residents during the pandemic.

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CHRT and DHLS in Crain’s: The public trusts health care providers, but they aren’t getting enough information from them

“People trust health care providers, public health officials, and Governor (Gretchen) Whitmer more than many other sources when it comes to communicating important messages about COVID-19,” says Melissa Riba, CHRT’s director of research and evaluation, in a new Crain’s Detroit Business article by senior health care journalist Jay Greene. “But an overwhelming majority (74 percent) of respondents to the survey also said they are worried that Michiganders are less safe because of misinformation being spread about COVID-19,” reports Greene, sharing findings from CHRT’s most recent Cover Michigan Survey.

Some 80 percent of survey respondents reported that the COVID-19 information source they trust in their own healthcare provider, but less than half of the respondents reported receiving COVID-19 information from their healthcare provider.

“The public trusts health care providers, but they aren’t getting enough information from them,” Marianne Udow-Phillips told Crain’s. “That is an opportunity for health care providers to become a leading source of trusted information.”

The problem reports Greene, is that doctors and other healthcare providers don’t often provide direct information to their patients, a practice that Udow-Phillips says should change. Doctors could speak authoritatively of the benefits of wearing masks in public, a practice that all experts now agree can contribute to reducing community spread, Udow-Phillips told Crain’s. “My own health care provider hasn’t contacted me, saying, ‘You should be wearing a mask,'” she said. ‘It could help if they heard from their own doctor.”

Researchers concluded that to combat COVID-19 it is critical for the public to trust the information they receive. “But the disconnect between high trust and simultaneous low use of information sources will challenge public policymakers and health practitioners, requiring diligence in selecting the messengers, channels, and platforms that resonate best with Michigan residents as the state moves into the next phase of pandemic response,” researchers said.

READ THE FULL CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS STORY HERE

CHRT and DHLS in Crain’s Detroit: Two-thirds of Michiganders support contact tracing, cite privacy concerns

“More than two-thirds of Michiganders in a new survey said they would be willing to participate in COVID-19 contact tracing activities that include sharing personal information, people they came into contact with, or reporting symptoms to state or local health departments,” writes Jay Greene for Crain’s Detroit. “But about half of respondents expressed concerns about the privacy of their personal health information, with 37 percent saying they would not participate in a contact tracing effort because of it.”

Greene is referring to the recently published Cover Michigan Survey reports on trust in COVID-19 information sources and willingness to participate in contact tracing. Both reports are a collaboration between staff at CHRT and faculty and graduate students at the University of Michigan Department of Learning Health Sciences.

This survey emphasizes the significance of combining individual privacy concerns with public health requirements for developing efficient contact tracing programs. The report also discusses the importance of contact tracing in controlling the pandemic and the value of open communication regarding contact tracing to boost participation and foster trust.

Overall, the survey results provide useful information for public health experts and politicians to create contact tracing programs that are efficient and respect privacy.

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Reduce administrative burden of work rules to prevent mass health coverage losses, by Udow-Phillips & Shaefer

Udow-Phillips Healthcare is an essential human right, and the ability to access it without undue hardship is critical for individuals and society as a whole. Unfortunately, administrative burdens and complex work rules often make it difficult for many to maintain health coverage. However, according to a recent proposal by Udow-Phillips and Shaefer, there is a solution to this pressing problem. They propose streamlining processes and reducing complexities in order to prevent widespread loss of health coverage.

“In February 2019, legal and consulting firm Manatt estimated that Michigan work requirements would result in the loss of coverage for between 61,000 and 183,000 people.”

Marianne Udow-Phillips, Luke Shaefer

July 15th, 2019

Medicaid work requirements are scheduled to take effect in Michigan on Jan. 1.

Yet a recent study from Arkansas adds to mounting evidence that such requirements can result in major losses of health coverage without meaningfully increasing work effort.

As the Michigan Legislature continues to deliberate on the 2020 fiscal year budget, this study should spur action to ensure that Michigan doesn’t follow the same path as Arkansas.

During Michigan’s legislative debate on Medicaid work requirements, we raised concerns about the potential for major health coverage losses; concerns based on the record of such requirements on the nation’s cash welfare program, and on some recipients of food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Yet at the time there was no direct evidence about the impact of Medicaid work requirements because no state had ever implemented them.

As Michigan prepares to implement these requirements on January 1st, it is crucial that policymakers take heed of these findings and prioritize the accessibility and affordability of healthcare for all. By reducing work rules and streamlining processes, we can help ensure that individuals can obtain and retain the coverage they need.

READ THE ENTIRE CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS ARTICLE HERE

Dr. Michelle Moniz, CHRT policy fellow, in Freep: Dangers of short term health plans for moms, babies

Dr. Michelle Moniz In recent years, the landscape of health insurance in the United States has witnessed significant transformations. One notable development has been the expansion of short-term health insurance plans, a topic that has sparked extensive discussions and debates among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and citizens alike. Today, we’ll examine the potential implications they hold for individuals and the overall healthcare system.

“Bare bones health insurance plans are about to be more accessible, and this is bad news for Michigan,” writes CHRT Policy Fellow Dr. Michelle Moniz.

“Last week, the Trump administration released a final set of rules on what are known as “short-term health plans.” Set to go into effect on Aug. 10, these rules could create a disaster for many Michigan families, and it is essential that the state take action now to promote health and financial security in our state.”

Short-term health insurance policies were originally designed to address brief lapses in health insurance coverage. They provided limited benefits until health insurance coverage could be secured for the long term. Under the Obama administration, these plans were limited to a maximum of three months and were not renewable. However, recent regulatory changes have expanded the scope of these plans. Now, insurance companies can sell short-term plans that cover an initial period of up to 364 days, and individuals can renew them for up to 36 months in total. In light of these changes, short-term health insurance plans are could last for a much longer period of time.

Concerns have been raised regarding the impact short-term health insurance plans may have on Michigan families. Low premiums may seem appealing at first, but it is essential to consider the consequences. It is important to keep in mind that these plans provide reduced coverage for specific services.

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Learn more about CHRT’s four-month health policy fellowship program, which brings together Republican and Democratic policymakers with health services researchers to learn about policy-making, health services research, and the intersection between the two from seasoned experts—and from each other.

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