Updates About Public Health

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a warning that proposed reductions to the Food Assistance Program’s administrative budget could lead to staffing shortages, reduced access to whole foods, and longer wait times for families seeking support. One of the programs most at risk of significant disruptions is the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five by providing nutritious foods through more than 1,400 contracted vendors across Michigan. Under the Senate’s proposed MDHHS budget, administrative funding would be reduced by $15 million compared to the current fiscal year.

According to department officials, the cuts could result in longer processing times for applications and renewals, especially as federal emergency aid phases out. While core program funding for benefits would remain in place, losses in administrative capacity may hinder the timely delivery of services to eligible families.

You may review the MDHHS presentation on the WIC program here.

Michigan is on track to see its third straight year of falling opioid overdose fatalities, with state figures showing a 34% drop from 2023 to 2024. Health officials attribute the trend to a combination of targeted public health efforts, expanded access to naloxone, and increased investments in prevention and treatment. A key player in this effort is $1.6 billion in opioid settlement funds received from major pharmaceutical retailers. Since receiving the funding, the state has supplied over a million naloxone kits and invested in community-based response programs. Since distributing the naloxone kits, more than 34,000 have been used in overdose reversals. Some of the funds are also being directed toward the early identification of harmful substances in the drug supply, preventing overdoses altogether.

While Michigan now ranks among the top five states for reducing overdose deaths, health advocates caution that the fight is far from over. Nonfatal overdoses continue to be alarmingly high, and long-term progress will depend on continued investment in treatment access, education, and stigma reduction.

Michigan parents, health providers, and advocates came together at the Capitol last week urging legislators to safeguard Medicaid in the face of proposed federal funding cuts. During a Senate Health Policy Committee hearing, members of the Protect MI Care — a coalition of 240+ organizations working to preserve access to health care — shared personal stories illustrating how essential Medicaid has been to their families’ survival and stability. Two mothers from Grand Rapids spoke about how Medicaid coverage made it possible to care for their medically complex children, one born with a serious heart defect necessitating open heart surgery, the other living with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Both emphasized that Medicaid was not a “handout,” but a vital safety net that filled gaps private insurance did not cover. Coalition leaders and health experts warned that the proposed cuts would threaten access to care across Michigan, particularly in vulnerable and rural communities.