Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced several appointments to various boards and commissions, showcasing our state’s diverse talent pool. Notable appointments are listed below. The complete list of new appointments is available at the Governor’s Press Releases.

¶Appointments Include:

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission:

• Alison Dickson: Reappointed to represent physicians
• Alan G. Vanderberg: Reappointed to represent local government

Michigan Board of Speech Language Pathology:

• Dr. Denise Ludwig: Appointed to represent speech language pathologists (Succeeds Abaries Farhad)

Michigan Board of Licensed Midwifery:

• Angela Wells: Appointed to represent nurse midwives (Succeeds Geradine Simkins)

Michigan Board of Nursing Home Administrators:

• Alethea Nichols-Taylor and LaTosha Agee-Gussman: Appointed to represent the general public
• Dr. Mark DeLano: Appointed to represent licensed physicians
• Daniel Velez: Appointed to represent nursing homes (Succeeds Donald Haney)

Certificate of Need Commission:

• Dr. Amy McKenzie: Reappointed to represent a nonprofit health care corporation operating pursuant to the nonprofit health care corporation reform act and Independents
• Renee Turner-Bailey: Reappointed to represent organized labor unions and Democrats
• Dr. Eric Ferguson: Reappointed to represent physicians and Independents
• Dr. Mark DeLano: Appointed to represent licensed physicians and school of medicine and Democrats (Succeeds Justin Dimmick)
• Daniel Velez: Appointed to represent nursing homes and Independents

Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee:

• Kassem H. Elhelou and Rachael Prusi: Appointed to represent pharmacists

In a recent development, members of the Michigan Republican State Committee opposed to Kristina Karamo continuing as the chair of the Michigan Republican Party have elected former U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra to replace her. The anti-Karamo faction filed a lawsuit seeking her removal in accordance with Michigan Republican Party bylaws. However, Karamo has dismissed the group as illegitimate and has pledged to continue leading the party. The Trump team’s apparent involvement in the vote suggests a lack of support for Karamo. The decision awaits validation from the Republican National Committee, which will likely determine the legitimate chair before the winter meeting at the end of the month. The state committee also appointed former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop as the party’s new general counsel.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued additional notice and guidance for Medicaid renewals that are set to begin on July 1.

Following new guidance from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), beneficiaries who received their renewal packets with a deadline of June 30 are encouraged to complete and return the packets by that date. However, MDHHS will not disqualify anyone from coverage for not returning paperwork until the end of July. This change is only for beneficiaries up for renewal in June.