Updates About COVID-19

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced last week that the state’s Director of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Elizabeth Hertel, will be stepping down at the end of June.

Elizabeth Hertel has served as the top MDHHS official since 2021. She oversaw the department’s transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the development of two state psychiatric hospitals, expansion of substance use disorder programs, and the state’s response to recent federal Medicaid and SNAP changes. One of her major priorities has been restructuring Michigan’s behavioral health system, including efforts to rebid the state’s prepaid inpatient health plans, though implementation of those changes has been delayed following court rulings.

Her successor, Amy Epkey, will begin the role on July 1. Epkey is currently the senior deputy director of the financial operation administration within MDHHS. Hertel said that she plans on relaxing post-budget and spending time with family during the summer months before figuring out what comes next in her career.

As we prepare for the upcoming cold and flu season, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has taken steps to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine through instructions in a recently-signed executive directive. Within the directive, Whitmer advised departments to give clear public and provider guidance on COVID-19 vaccine safety, ensure providers promote and administer the vaccines, remove barriers to access, and require coverage by all health plans under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), including Medicaid and private insurers.

Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, also stressed the importance of vaccine accessibility in her Standing Recommendation issued shortly after the executive directive. According to the FDA’s vaccine administration guidelines, the vaccine is approved for individuals over the age of 65 and for those between age 5 and 64 with conditions that place them in a high risk category. Dr. Bagdasarian noted, however, that the FDA did not define which pre-existing conditions qualify an individual as high risk. As such, Dr. Bagdasarian’s recommendation designates that any individual age 6 months or older without contraindications may be eligible to receive the vaccine since any pre-existing or latent condition, including not previously being vaccinated against COVID-19, may qualify someone as high-risk.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recommending that Michigan residents get three respiratory virus vaccinations: flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Because of the high rates of spreading during this time of year, MDHHS is encouraging residents to protect themselves, especially for children, older adults, and immunocompromised people. Getting the vaccines helps protect those from influenza in one’s communities and helps prevent spread. The three vaccines can be taken at the same time and is often covered by insurance.