LANSING Michigan House Speaker Jason Wentworth and Republican colleagues are making health care reform a top priority this year, and they’ve got some Democrats on board for what could be a heavy lift in an often-divided state Legislature.
Wentworth on Wednesday announced a 15-bill package that seeks to drive down the price of prescription drugs and improve access to certain services. He called it the first phase in a longer-term effort to fix what he called a “rigged” health care system whose profit motives have been magnified by the coronavirus pandemic.
While sponsors expect pushback from private insurers and other lobbyists, state Rep. Adullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, said the package proposes several “leaps forward” for Michigan in ways that transcend political and partisan lines.
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The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) is a professional society representing more than 15,000 physicians and medical students in Michigan. (Image Credit (MSMS))
EAST LANSING –
The following is a public statement from Bobby Mukkamala, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to the health care legislative package released today by the Michigan House of Representatives. The Michigan State Medical Society is happy to see that the health and safety of Michigan s residents is top of mind for our state lawmakers. In releasing this legislative package today, Michigan s House of Representatives and Speaker Wentworth have made it clear that they intend to tackle issues aiming to improve Michigan s health care and public health, which is a goal they share with our more than 15,000 member physicians across the state.
Lansing Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged a move toward common ground with Republican lawmakers Wednesday during her third State of the State address as she called for ending the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting the economy.
The less-than-30-minute speech was short on criticism but emphasized working together despite high-profile clashes with Republican lawmakers as recently as Wednesday afternoon. She mentioned focusing on what unites us and improving how we talk to each other. My mission is to find common ground so we can emerge from this crisis stronger than ever, Whitmer said.
Speaking from her Capitol office, the governor spent much of her address reflecting on 2020, a year defined by a pandemic and a contentious presidential election, touting past accomplishments and renewing appeals for past proposals. There were new ideas included, such as the announcement that she ll reconvene a school advisory council to examine how to promote a comprehensive recovery.