Monday - May 12

Two virtual briefings, recording offered to provide additional access to information  

LANSING, Mich. – Two virtual Medicaid funding briefings offered to statewide community partners last week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) were maxed out, when more than 5,000 people registered for the events. 

MDHHS provided the briefings to ensure everyone has a chance to learn more about how proposed federal Medicaid cuts could result in a loss of health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders, reduce access to providers for all residents, increase financial burdens on hospitals and small businesses, and significantly strain the state’s budget. Due to the high demand, MDHHS has posted a recording of the briefing online as well as additional supporting materials.  

“We know Michigan families, business owners and health care providers are very concerned about how these proposed federal cuts will affect our state and want to make sure everyone gets a chance to hear this information,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “These cuts will impact health care services for all Michigan families – whether they have Medicaid or commercial insurance – and small town and rural communities are likely to be disproportionally affected through the loss of hospitals and providers. Studies show a lack of access to health care can lead to higher mortality rates, worse health outcomes, increased health disparities and strain the state’s emergency care system.” 

A Congressional plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid so they can deliver a $4 trillion tax cut has been announced. If passed, this would be the largest cut to Medicaid in its 60-year history. Nationwide, millions would lose access to health care and the cost of health care will go up for every single American.  

Earlier this week, MDHHS published a report the department compiled in response to Executive Directive 2025-3 from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which directed MDHHS to identify the potential impact proposed cuts to Medicaid would have on Michiganders’ health. 

Medicaid serves a central role in Michigan’s health care system, providing comprehensive coverage to more than 2.6 million Michigan residents through over 200,000 Medicaid-enrolled providers. Jointly funded by the state and federal government, Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2025 Medicaid budget is approximately $27.8 billion. A majority of this funding – around 70%, or $19 billion – comes from the federal government.  

Medicaid is also one of the most cost-efficient forms of coverage, ensuring those with the greatest need have access to vital services, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas. It has lower total and per capita costs than all other major health programs, including Medicare and private health insurance.  

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LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed the week of May 11, 2025, as Women's Health Week, promoting the work Michigan has done to protect Michiganders from attacks on their reproductive freedom, basic health care, and Medicaid coverage. Governor Whitmer and the state of Michigan invite community members, women’s health stakeholders, and health care professionals to participate in activities relating to improving the health and quality of life of all girls and women.

Governor Whitmer has fought throughout her career to protect and expand reproductive freedom. In 2023, the governor repealed Michigan’s extreme 1931 abortion ban after Michiganders showed up at the ballot box to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state’s constitution. That same year she signed the Reproductive Health Act into law which has protected every Michigander’s constitutional right to make their own decisions about their own body and made it easier to access abortion care by lowering out-of-pocket costs. The governor has also worked to expand access to contraception and improve investments towards maternal and infant health.  

If Medicaid funding were cut, pregnant women would lose access to critical prenatal care and procedures. Medicaid covers 45% of births statewide and the proposed cuts would gut $2.3 billion from Michigan hospitals, limiting their ability to provide care to pregnant women across the state. Specifically, expecting moms would lose out on services like regular checkups, screenings, and counseling, negatively impacting their ability to have a healthy and safe pregnancy, labor, and delivery. 

“Women’s Health Week provides the opportunity to reflect and improve the health of Michigan women and girls,” said Governor Whitmer. “Here in Michigan, we have worked to ensure that protections are in place for women, so we don’t have to worry about access to reproductive care and can instead focus on caring for our loved ones. There is still more work to do to ensure that Michigan women and girls have access to health care, safe spaces, and healthy food. Let’s work together to find ways to uplift and support women and girls so they can lead healthier and empowered lives.” 

““Women’s Health Week is a vital reminder that women’s health – including reproductive health – must be prioritized, protected and accessible to all,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive. “From preventive screenings, contraception and pregnancy care to safe, legal abortion, every woman deserves the tools, resources and support needed to make informed decisions about her body and future. MDHHS is committed to ensuring that all women in Michigan can access the care they need to lead healthy, empowered lives.” 

“Improving health outcomes for women and girls in Michigan is core to our mission to help women across the state thrive,” said Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the Michigan Women’s Commission. “This important proclamation echoes the Commission’s ongoing conversations to address menopause in the workplace, shining a light on often overlooked issues that impact women’s quality of life. This Women’s Health Week, let’s keep building a Michigan that supports women’s health and wellbeing at every stage of life.” 

Governor Whitmer’s Historic Wins for Women’s Health: 

· Signed the Reproductive Health Act to decriminalize abortions and ensure access to reproductive healthcare.   

· Repealed Michigan’s extreme 1931 abortion ban.  

· Signed a law prohibiting employers from discriminating against women because they’ve had an abortion.  

· Signed bills decriminalizing surrogacy and protecting children born through IVF in Michigan.  

· Announced more than 300 locations across the state now have free contraception resources available for Michigan families through the Take Control of Your Birth Control program.  

· Filed a proactive lawsuit and petitioned the Michigan Supreme Court to protect abortion access for more than 2.2 million Michiganders of reproductive age.  

· Expanded access to high-quality and affordable child care for 150,000 more children.   

· Consistently invested and expanded in Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, an initiative to address disproportionate racial impacts of maternal and infant mortality.  

Provided free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students and forgiving all school meal debt. Continued summer meals so every kid eats free.

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LANSING. Mich. - This year marks the golden anniversary of Michigan’s endangered species law, 50 years of protecting the state’s most vulnerable wildlife and rarest plants. Our collective conservation efforts travel the path from brink of extinction to hopeful recovery, working to shape a future where native species can thrive. Here is one of those stories. 

When walking around outdoors this spring – whether in the deep woods or in the wilds of your own backyard, schoolyard or local park – keep an eye out for wicked big puddles. If you see one, look closely and you’ll see that it is teeming with life! Look for the egg masses of frogs and salamanders, tadpoles swimming around, or salamander larvae hiding under leaves.

According to Amy Derosier, supervisor of the DNR Wildlife Division’s Planning and Adaptation Section, if you just bend down and look, you’ll be amazed at what you see.

“Vernal pools are small wetlands that often fill up from rain, snow melt or high groundwater in the spring or fall, and they typically dry up by late summer,” Derosier said. “It’s this seasonal flooding and drying cycle that makes vernal pools different from other wetlands and shapes what kinds of critters use them as habitat.”

Because vernal pools dry up, they don’t have fish, which are major predators on young frogs and salamanders. These pools provide a safe haven for a diversity of frogs and salamanders, allowing the young to have greater survival than in other habitats such as ponds. For some frogs and salamanders that return to breed in the very same pools from where they hatched, these individual vernal pools are irreplaceable.

In addition to the diversity of wildlife living under the water – including frogs (like the spring peeper shown here), salamanders, fairy shrimp, beetles and other bugs – vernal pools provide critical watering and feeding places for a plethora of wildlife, including bear, deer, raccoons, skunks, and many other mammals, birds and reptiles. “Sometimes,” Derosier said, “vernal pools are the only water source for miles.”

Rare plants and animals often are dependent on healthy, well-functioning nature to survive. Vernal pools, which help reduce flooding and improve water quality by filtering runoff, can be strong indicators that an area is healthy.

“When we have healthy habitats for rare and unique plants and animals, we have clean water, clean air and places for people to enjoy nature,” Derosier said. “Michigan’s endangered species law is in place to protect the rarest plants and animals. They are part of Michigan’s natural heritage, and they are a part of Michigan’s – and our collective – history, identity and future.”

Learn more about vernal pools at the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership website. You’ll find tons of information about vernal pools and the cool critters that rely on them, as well as ways to get involved in their conservation. To discover more about amphibians and reptiles, check out the Michigan Herp Atlas.

Here are other ways to support conservation:

• Learn more about Michigan’s rare plants and animals, and check out Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan. Share what you learn with others.

• Buy a wildlife habitat license plate to show your support for Michigan’s wildlife.

• Get engaged with and support your local conservation organization, nature center or land conservancy. These groups often offer hands-on education and ways to take action – like pulling invasive plants.

• Donate to Michigan’s Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.

Questions? Contact Rachel Lincoln, DNR wildlife communications representative, at 517-243-5813.

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