April 26, 2023
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dave Coulter speaks at Medicaid press conference at Trinity Health Oakland Campus on April 19, 2023.
Dear Friends,
It was a great day in 2014 when Medicaid eligibility was expanded in Michigan as a part of the historic Affordable Care Act and hundreds of thousands of residents got the opportunity – some for the very first time - for affordable access to quality health care.
Now, nine years later, 90,000 Oakland County residents have qualified for Medicaid coverage and are getting all sorts of care that are helping them get and stay healthy.
We want to make sure that all those residents can count on seamless healthcare coverage now that the federal government, which paused state eligibility reviews and renewals during the COVID pandemic, is reinstating those annual audits to determine if residents are still eligible for these vital healthcare benefits.
We are working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to get the word out and providing links to community organizations that can help Oakland County residents who are receiving Medicaid benefits navigate the review and renewal process.
Having access to healthcare through Medicaid has been a huge game changer for our residents, helping boost preventative care and lessen the need for expensive emergency room visits.
An article last year in the Journal of American Medical Association Network newsletter showed that hospital emergency room visits declined in states where Medicaid expansion was accepted while emergency room visits increased in states that didn’t expand their Medicaid enrollment.
Staying enrolled in Medicaid keeps families healthy and protects them from financial devastation if there are major health events or emergencies in their lives.
One of the county’s strategic goals is to ensure access to quality affordable healthcare for all of our residents and Medicaid coverage is key to achieving that goal.
So for all those in Oakland County who depend on Medicaid, go to Oakgov.com/health to find out how to make sure you and your family maintain that coverage.
In good health,
Dave Coulter
Oakland County Executive
Oakland County Helping Residents Keep Healthcare Coverage During Medicaid Renewal Process
Oakland County and its community partners are urging the county’s 90,000 residents who are enrolled in Medicaid to participate in Michigan’s Medicaid renewal process to avoid any potential gaps in healthcare coverage. During a news conference at Trinity Health Oakland hospital, County Executive Dave Coulter joined healthcare leaders to announce the availability of navigators and other resources to help residents with the renewal process.
Medicaid renewal determines whether those enrolled are still eligible for coverage. This is Michigan’s first Medicaid renewal in three years because of COVID-19 federal emergency public health orders expiring in May. At least 15,000 Oakland County residents enrolled in Medicaid during that period. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges.
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Health Division Celebrated Black Maternal Health Week
Oakland County Health Division celebrated Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) from April 11-17. Oakland County Health Division is spotlighting testimonials from local Black mothers on the Oakland County Blog g, who share their experiences with Health Division services and give advice on motherhood.
“Black women experience higher rates of pregnancy-related mortality than other races,” said Calandra Green, Health Officer. “Every maternal death is tragic, especially since the majority of deaths are preventable. Our services help support a healthy, thriving pregnancy by providing care and resources to improve our client’s health outcomes.”
Learn more information about Health Division services and programs at www.oakgov.com/health or by contacting Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. Nurse on Call is available 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.
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