Latest news with #MDHHS
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MDHHS helps families stay fed with SUN Bucks
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– The , also known as SUN Bucks, is back, and according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, it is to ensure children will have access to nutritious food while school is out. that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service approved Michigan's Summer EBT program to assist low-income families feed kids during the summer. MDHHS officials say families who already have a Bridge card will have a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child added to their existing card. People who don't have a Bridge card will get a pre-loaded one in the mail. If benefits are unused, they will expire and not be reinstated. Children who are eligible according to MDHHS: Children aged 6 to 18 who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid benefits between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, will be automatically enrolled. Medicaid recipients' income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Students of any age certified as eligible to receive free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. Approved through the summer EBT application process. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer explains how proud of the Summer EBT program in a news release sent to 6 News. 'Summer is here, but hunger isn't going anywhere,' said Governor Whitmer. 'I'm proud that we're continuing our successful Summer EBT program so no child goes hungry between school years. I'm proud of the work we've done to tackle hunger, including our work to deliver free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, saving their parents nearly $900 a year in groceries and time every morning. While folks in DC keep trying to find ways to cut health care for Michiganders and food benefits for hungry families, here in Michigan we will keep taking action to make a real difference in their lives.' According to Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, kids who don't have access to healthy food during the summer are at risk of malnutrition. 'Michigan children and their families shouldn't have to worry about going hungry over summer break,' said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. 'Summer break is a time when many children lose access to the reliable meals they receive at school, placing them at risk of hunger and malnutrition. The Summer EBT Program, in addition to our other nutrition assistance programs, like WIC and SNAP, helps us close the summer hunger gap by providing every eligible child with nutritious food, addressing one of the key social determinants of health, food insecurity.' To apply to the Summer EBT program, . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State officials warn about the dangers of tick-bites
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)—With tick-borne diseases on the rise, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services () is encouraging people to be aware when they are outdoors. The MDHHS reports that the cases of these diseases, such as disease and , are increasing across the state. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the state. Cases have increased by 168% over the last five years. The state recorded 1,215 cases in 2024, compared to 452 cases in 2020. Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease. Cases have increased by nearly five times in the last five years, with 82 cases in 2024 compared to 17 in 2020. The disease is particularly common in northern parts of Michigan. MDHHS says both diseases are transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged or deer tick. Symptoms usually arise one to two weeks after a bite, often after being in wooded or brushy areas where ticks commonly live. Early symptoms may include fever, chills, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Early treatment with antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications. 'Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis,' said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, in a news release sent to 6 News. 'If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it. Monitor your health, and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches, or other symptoms, or if you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, consult with your medical provider,' added Bagdasarian. Avoid tick-infested areas As ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, individuals should walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges Keep an eye on your pets Dogs and cats can encounter ticks outdoors and bring them into the home. Talk with your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products. Use insect repellent Apply an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin. Find a repellent product that is right for you. Treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer`s instructions when applying repellents. Perform daily tick checks Always check for ticks on yourself and your animals after being outdoors, including in your yard. Inspect all body surfaces carefully and remove attached ticks carefully with tweezers. To remove a tick, grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With steady, even pressure, pull the tick`s body upward and away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic. Be sure to bathe and shower Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks. Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill ticks in clothing. If you need help identifying a tick, you can email photos of it to for identification free of charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Michigan officials warn against touching foam on lakes, rivers
The foam people can find on shorelines in Michigan doesn't just smell a little gross; state officials say it's dangerous to touch and accidentally consume. Officials say a combination of water movement, pollution, or natural contaminants causes foam to form. The foam developing at Thompson Lake in Livingston County is similar to what you'll find in lakes and streams across the state. "Just when water is churned up, foam can occur, and it can be a bright white foam. It can be an off white or brown color," said Andrea Keatley, a manager in environmental assessment with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Keatley said MDHHS is trying to get the word out as more people go to the water as the weather warms. "We want to make sure that people are avoiding that contact of that foam and really important to have them to wash it off if they do come in contact with it, just to reduce their exposure to what could be in that foam," said Keatley. She said the foam can have bacteria and pollutants like forever chemicals, also called PFAS. "We're really concerned about people that it accidentally get it into their mouth and swallowing it," said Keatley. She told CBS News Detroit that the foam on the shoreline doesn't mean you must avoid the water altogether. Instead, ensure you rinse off after being in lake or river water. "Clear water is good to rinse off," she said. The same goes for pups. They shouldn't be allowed to eat the foam; if they go into the lake water, they need a bath with fresh water when they get home. "Break down the dirt and the stuff that could be trapped in the fur or on your skin is always really good practice," Keatley said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Judge rules some remaining abortion restrictions in Michigan are unconstitutional
A Michigan judge has struck down parts of the state's remaining laws that restrict abortion access, including finding the 24-hour mandatory waiting period and informed consent laws unconstitutional after voters passed an abortion access measure in 2022. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled May 13 that Proposal 3 of 2022, which voters passed to create the "fundamental right to reproductive freedom" in the state's constitution, invalidates laws that could restrict abortion access. Abortion providers in Michigan had sued the state last year over its mandatory 24-hour waiting period for patients before receiving an abortion, the informed consent law that required providers to ensure patients review certain materials described as inaccurate by abortion proponents, and a law prohibiting advanced practice clinicians (APCs) from providing abortion care. APCs can include nurse practitioners and other medical assistants, and plaintiffs in the lawsuit noted that APCs are permitted to provide abortions in other states. The laws had already been blocked from being enforced since June, after Patel previously issued a preliminary injunction against them in the case. However, in her May 13 ruling, Patel did not strike down all the abortion laws providers sought to have blocked. She ruled a statute requiring providers to ensure that patients are not coerced into getting an abortion can remain in place. "The Court finds that, with limited exceptions, the challenged laws violate the (amendment)," Patel wrote in her 83-page opinion. "Most of the statutory requirements burden or infringe upon individuals' reproductive freedom, are not based on a compelling state interest to protect the health of individuals seeking abortion care, are not consistent with the accepted standard of care and evidence-based medicine, and infringe on autonomous decision-making." Patel's ruling is a win for abortion advocates in Michigan, who said the laws previously created barriers to reproductive care for patients. The informed consent law required patients to fill out and submit a confirmation form affirming they've reviewed specific information. Before Patel issued a preliminary injunction against the informed consent law, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) stated on its website it "does not necessarily endorse all the information it is required to make available under this statute," the Free Press reported last year. Abortion providers said the information contained inaccuracies — in Patel's ruling, she wrote abortion providers would have to show pictures comparing the size of gestational fetuses compared to types of fruit, according to testimony. Providers also argued the informed consent law didn't allow them to tailor their care for each specific patient. The web page no longer exists on MDHHS' website. Patel wrote the 24-hour mandatory waiting period "forces needless delay on patients after they are able to consent to a procedure, thus burdening and infringing upon a patient's access to abortion care." Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commended the ruling. While Nessel, a staunch proponent of abortion access, and other state officials listed in the lawsuit didn't oppose an injunction against the abortion laws, lawyers from the Attorney General's Office represented the state so an adversarial defense could be provided. "This ruling affirms what Michiganders made clear when they voted to enshrine a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in our state constitution: that deeply personal medical decisions belong to individuals and their providers," Nessel said. The lawsuit was filed last year by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Northland Family Planning Centers, a group of abortion providers in metro Detroit. Patel heard arguments in the case in February. In 2023, Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives had introduced legislation to repeal the waiting period and informed consent laws, but didn't have the votes to pass it alongside a series of other abortion access measures that were ultimately signed into law. Republicans have since gained control of the House. Right to Life of Michigan, a group that opposes abortion rights, derided the ruling. 'This court ruling is bad news for women," Genevieve Marnon, Right to Life of Michigan's legislative director, said in a statement. "At a time when abortion complications are on the rise, eliminating standardized informed consent about procedures, potential risks, and alternatives is a serious disservice to women.' According to state medical data, there were 5.1 total immediate medical complications per 10,000 abortions performed in Michigan in 2023. From 2020-2022, the rate was 1.7 total immediate medical complications per 10,000 abortions performed in the state. Providers say abortion care remains safe, MLive reported in December. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also commended the ruling, saying in a May 13 statement: "Today's ruling means that patients and doctors are no longer subject to even more of these outdated restrictions on abortion, including the forced waiting period and a ban on advanced practice clinicians from performing abortions." Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge rules abortion restrictions in Michigan unconstitutional
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Michigan doctors urge for vaccinations as infections surge across the US
The Brief A scary trend of low vaccination rates leading to surges of infections across the country. As cases of whooping cough surge in Michigan, state officials want families to take action. The medical community is calling it vaccine hesitancy. OAK PARK, Mich. (FOX 2) - It's an alarming trend as low vaccination rates are leading to surges of infections across the country that were once thought to be a thing of the past. Now Michigan health care officials and advocates are sounding the alarm. Local perspective Veronica McNally founded the 'I Vaccinate Campaign' after losing her infant daughter, Francesca Marie, to whooping cough in 2012. It's a campaign to spread awareness about the importance of vaccines. As cases of whooping cough surge in Michigan, state officials want families to take action. "We are really here to sound the alarm because we are seeing some real consequences from declining childhood vaccination rates," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian with MDHHS. The state is also dealing with growing cases of measles as officials monitor a measles outbreak in Montcalm County. "If we look at MMR, the vaccine that prevents against measles, mumps, and rubella, our coverage is down to about 79% statewide," said MDHHS Director of Immunization Ryan Malosh. "If we look back at March 2020, our coverage was about 85%." The medical community is calling it vaccine hesitancy. "We are struggling to help to educate the parents of our young children in the state of Michigan about the importance of vaccinations," said Dr. Rachel M. Klamo. "Vaccine hesitancy has increased. This is real; these children are in our offices and our emergency departments." What they're saying The medical community says vaccines are safe and effective, and if you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. "The CDC recommended schedule protects against 16 diseases by age 18 and is backed by every major medical organization in the country," said Bagdasarian. The power is in your hands. "We have the ability to protect our children against what is happening right now across the country," said McNally.
