Healthcare

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed three new representatives to serve on Michigan’s Public Health Advisory Council. One of them is Gregory Zimmerman from Central Michigan University, who said he's committed to representing voices in rural healthcare.

Beginning on July 14, Traverse City Street Medicine will offer its services to residents of Cadillac. Then, after Labor Day, the program will expand into Kalkaska.

Over 100 people received free medical, dental and vision care services in Big Rapids on the first morning of Remote Area Medical's drop in clinic. It is a nonprofit that travels across the country and offers healthcare where it is needed the most.

Families can get $1,500 cash in pregnancy and $500 a month for the baby's first six months, no strings attached. Nearly 800 Pontiac moms are expected to enroll in the first few years.

Protesters gathered in Mount Pleasant to voice their concerns about a budget resolution passed by House Republicans in February. The resolution instructs the Energy and Commerce committee, which oversees Medicaid, to slash $880 billion over the next decade, which could affect millions of Michiganders.

More than 79 million people receive services from Medicaid or the closely related Children’s Health Insurance Program. That represents about 20% of the total population of the United States. Most enrollees qualify because of low incomes.

According to new research, the “Point in Time Count” method used by the federal government to track the unhoused population numbers can be far from accurate when applied in rural areas.

The new clinic will be available in Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties in order to address the lack of dental care across the region.

Dentists say community water fluoridation is a way to improve overall health.

The Rx Kids program, which began last year in Flint, will give pregnant moms $1,500 and $500 a month for the baby's first six months, with no strings attached.