Lansing Lines is presented in cooperation with MIRS, a Lansing-based news and information service.
El Sayed Handing Out Grades To Kennedy
The former director of the Detroit and Wayne County health departments is awarding two grades to the new federal health director, RFK, Jr.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed gives Robert F. Kennedy Jr. an A for focusing on the major nutrition problem facing this country, but a D for suggesting the wrong solution.
“He is bringing attention to the long-term problem of nutrition in an industry dominated by huge corporations producing the wrong kinds of foods that are ultra-processed and delivered in ways just to get us to consume more (and) he defines the problem and then brings the wrong solution chaotically and ham-handed to be executed, usually for his own gain.”
Interviewed on Off the Record the day after tossing his hat back into the statewide elective ring, this time for the U.S. Senate, El-Sayed hit a number of bullet points.
– “I don’t second-guess somebody else’s decision-making,” regarding Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s strategy to work with President Trump when she can. “A governor’s role is different from what a senator’s role might be,” the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate observed.
– He conceded that President Donald Trump won the “young man disaffected” vote in 2024. El Sayed has a strategy to bring them home, adding, “these young men are frustrated and frankly pissed-off” and “there is no better person to win over disaffected young men than a relatively disaffected young man” like me. He is 38 years old.
– He will refuse to take corporate PAC money, even if it is at the 11th hour and the Senate race is tightening. “I will not take it.”
– He would have voted no as Michigan U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin did on the Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government open, even though the Michigan Sen. Gary Peters voted yes, as did Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York.
– He is unclear on what impact the independent candidacy of Mike Duggan for governor will have on the overall election. “I’m not sure.” But he does wish the Detroit Mayor had stayed in the Democratic Party and “do the work of trying to move your party in the direction you think it should move.” Having said that, he admits, “I understand what his frustrations are in the two-party system,” and he shares some of those same thoughts.
He also concedes that the Democratic gubernatorial nominee — whose name will appear on the top of the ticket — will have an impact on his own Senate candidacy. He’s not ready to endorse anyone, but promises to campaign to “make the most noise” to put him at the top of the ticket.
Free Preventive Health Care Benefits In Supreme Court’s Hands
Whether more than 150 million Americans will lose free preventive health care benefits since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) 2010 passage is in the hands of the country’s highest court.
The U.S. Supreme Court this month heard arguments in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management on whether the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s – volunteer experts who recommend what preventive care must be covered under the law – coverage recommendations are unconstitutional.
A win for Braidwood, a small Christian business in Texas, could mean insurance companies will not have to cover new preventative care, in particular, HIV medication they believe “encourage and facilitate homosexual behavior.”
However, the case could have broader implications, as insurers would no longer be required to offer the health services – such as cancer and diabetes screening – for free.
The arguments were technical in nature over whether the task force can be “independent” based on statute.
Justice Clarence Thomas immediately questioned the statutory authority to appoint the task force and Deputy Solicitor General Hashim Mooppan said the Secretary of Health and Human Services has the power to appoint and supervise the task force under the Reorganization Act of 1966.
Mooppan, who noted that the Secretary can remove members at will, also argued the creation of the ACA did not change the Secretary’s authority to appoint task force members.
Jonathan Mitchell, who represents Braidwood Management, argued the task force members “shall be independent” and “not subject to political pressure,” which cannot occur if they are subject to the Secretary’s supervision.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett repeatedly described Mitchell’s reading of the word “independent” as “maximalist” and she referred to the government’s argument as “middle-of-the-road.”
Mitchell, the former solicitor general who was behind Texas’ S.B. 8 vigilante enforcement abortion ban, also argued that the task force’s unconstitutional appointments from 2010 to 2023 invalidate their recommendations, necessitating an injunction to prevent their enforcement.
“One thing we all agree on is that the task force was unconstitutionally appointed for the 13-year period that began in March of 2010,” he argued. ” … And everyone agrees, I would think, that the recommendations that were issued during that 13-year period cannot be enforced until the task force re-issues those recommendations after receiving a constitutional appointment.”
In 2019, the task force recommended that pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, which is highly effective at preventing HIV, be included as a mandatory preventive-care service.
The plaintiffs – including four individuals and two businesses who have religious objections to PrEP – believe the drug encourages homosexual behavior and “sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman.”
In September 2022, Texas U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor held the ACA process for determining whether insurance companies can cover preventive care violates the Constitution and in March 2023 O’Connor expanded his ruling, striking down the provision that required health insurance companies to cover preventive care.
O’Connor, who made his order apply nationwide, held the task force are officers of the United States and violated the Constitution because its members are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate, but its recommendations “have the force and effect of law.”
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, but partially halted O’Connor’s ruling.
Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested the court should remand the case to determine whether the Secretary actually has the power to appoint and remove task force members, as Mooppan argued, because no statute directly says such.
Justice Elena Kagan summarized Mitchell’s arguments as wanting the court to construe the statutes as creating an independent agency, but she noted: “We don’t go around just creating independent agencies. More often we destroy independent agencies.”
Senate Passes ‘Momnibus’ Bills For Birth-Giving Care
The Senate this month passed its “Momnibus” legislative package, requiring the state to investigate racism and violence in pregnancy care. The bills additionally expand Medicaid and private insurer standards for gynecology and pregnancy services.
Last fall, the Senate moved a nearly identical bill package, but it was not taken up by the House before the end of the 2023-24 term.
“Making sure that people have the type of care that they desire, that they need…it transcends partisan lines. It transcends socioeconomic status,” said Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor). “I think we will see a decrease in some of the morbidities related to paternity and the first year of life that are largely preventable.”
SB 29 , SB 30 , SB 31 and SB 34 passed 22-14, after Sens. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) and Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) joined Democrats to support it. The bills instruct the state’s health department to maintain statistics on the incidence and prevalence of obstetric violence and racism.
Additionally, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will review policies concerning prenatal labor and delivery care, submitting a study to lawmakers by January 2026. Meanwhile, SB 31 specifically prohibits a hospital’s governing body from “discriminating” based on a person’s pregnancy or lactating status.
It mandates that by January 2027, hospitals must permit delivery patients to arrive with both a personal companion and a doula, or a professional providing emotional and physical support during births.
Bills that passed unanimously include SB 32 , SB 36 , SB 39 and SB 39 . The legislation, backed without opposition, will allow trained midwives to qualify for DHHS’ health provider loan repayment program. Furthermore, it will expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover ultrasound procedures and fetal nonstress tests performed through telemedicine or remotely.
DHHS Tracks First Michigan Measles Outbreak Since 2019
The first confirmed outbreak of measles since 2019 was confirmed this month by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services after three cases were reported in Montcalm County.
Michigan, overall, has seven confirmed cases of measles. The three new cases are linked to an outbreak in Ontario, Canada. There are no public exposure sites reported by the state.
“This outbreak underscores how contagious measles is and how quickly it can spread,” said DHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian.
The cases in Montcalm were not linked to other confirmed cases in different counties.
She said the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best defense against the virus and is 97 percent effective.
“We urge all Michigan residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are up to date with the MMR vaccine,” Bagdasarian said.
She has said that 2025 could be the worst year in decades for measles and, at the current rate, the U.S. could top more than 2,000 cases, which would be the highest number since the virus was nearly eradicated because of the vaccine.
Anyone without the vaccine or with immunity is at risk of contracting the virus, which is spread through the air and person-to-person contact.
PAs Push Michigan To Join Interstate Compact
Michigan would join Wisconsin, Ohio and about a dozen other states in allowing physician assistants (PAs) to work across state lines under legislation spotlighted this month in the House Health Policy Committee and at a press conference at the state Capitol.
Rep. Prestin is championing HB 4309 , which would allow Michigan professionals to work in other states and professionals from other states to work in Michigan through a licensure compact.
The bill is similar to legislation introduced last session by now-Committee Chair Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington), who showed up at the press conference with Prestin and Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Okemos).
Jodi McCollum, trauma program manager for Upper Peninsula Health system, explained that joining the compact is helpful for border residents who may be out of state for the day. If they suffer an out-of-state emergency, their Michigan-based PA can’t order meds for them or treat them as long as the patients are not physically in Michigan.
The patient would need to be referred to an out-of-state emergency room where the care may not be as quick and will likely be more expensive.
“You may end up with a big bill because now you’re getting a very long workup for a chronic condition your primary care provider knew you had,” McCollum said.
Shane Preston, the Great Lakes Regional Liaison for the Department of Defense, said the policies advanced in the bill would assist service members and their families find work if they happened to be PAs as they move across the country on assignment.
No one spoke against the bills. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association and the Michigan Association of Health Plans turned in cards of support.
Prestin, Vanderwall, Brixie and around 50 white-coated PAs stood outside the Capitol’s north steps to urge passage of the PA Licensure Compact.
Speaking of Ohio in particular, Brixie said, “Even though we may not be fans of their university, we want to provide people every opportunity to have access to health care. Nobody should go without care just because a PA is only a few miles away across the border.”
MDHHS Introduces Program To Recruit Nurses
A new program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) would repay student loans for some people heading through a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse program.
The Nurse Loan Repayment Program would give up to $300,000 to employers to repay student loans in underserved communities. The educational debt could be up to four years for those working in psychiatric hospitals and 10 years for other areas. The program has about $9 million available.
“Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, providing essential care to patients in hospitals, clinics, schools and homes,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said.
Hertel said hospitals and other healthcare facilities were facing nursing shortages and the program could help get more in the door and keep them there.
There would be two rounds, and they would need to be employed for 40 hours per week for a minimum of 45 weeks per year at an eligible nonprofit site that provides nursing services.
Nurses would need to stay with a sponsor employer for two years and the employer must keep the nurse for two years. The grant payment can’t be used to offset salaries or other components of the employee package.
Applications were available on the Michigan.gov website and would need to be received by June 4.