By EMMARIE HUETTEMAN
Half of voters say the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion has made them more motivated to vote in next month’s midterm elections, with enthusiasm growing especially among Democrats and those living in states with abortion bans, according to a new poll from Kaiser Family Foundation.

The survey also showed that most voters, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, do not think abortion should be prohibited in cases of rape or incest, nor do they support laws that set criminal punishments for abortion providers and women who have abortions.

The findings, collected in late September through KFF’s regular survey of public opinion on health care issues, highlight that [Read More]

Abortion providers and medical providers are pushing to pass Proposal 3 next month to keep the money coming in the door and to shield themselves from potential legal action down the road, according to Democrats who opposed the constitutional amendment on the Capitol lawn.

A handful of speakers led by the “Democrats for Life” argued that passing the Reproductive Freedom for All initiative will mean abortions with no limitation or oversight.

The message coming out of the event was Proposal 3 will eventually eliminate all statutory regulations over abortion. The courts will have no choice but to side with the broad constitutional language that allows for abortion, regardless of age, up until [Read More]

By EWA MATUSZEWSKI
How does one build a 41-year-old organization? My response today is different than it would have been 15 or so years ago, largely due to my increased understanding of the value of internships. During this time, we’ve hired numerous interns of differing backgrounds and skill levels and the overwhelming majority have made meaningful contributions that ultimately helped us build a stronger organization.

I define ‘stronger’ in differing ways. One is our ability to take on new projects where we can lead with creativity and enthusiasm; another, our reputation for offering interns – and staff – both direction and independence in their careers with us – which in turn helps [Read More]

By JENNI COLAGIOVANNI & DANIEL AYYASH
Wachler & Associates, PC

Overview

Signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, the No Surprises Act addresses surprise medical billing or “balance billing” at the federal level by protecting patients from receiving surprise medical bills resulting from gaps in coverage for emergency services and certain services provided by out-of-network clinicians at in-network facilities, including by air ambulances. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, healthcare providers, facilities, and providers of air ambulance services (hereinafter “providers”) are subject to new requirements that generally apply to items and services provided to individuals enrolled in group health plans, group or individual health insurance coverage, and Federal Employee Health Benefit plans. These requirements generally [Read More]

By KIMBERLY RUPPEL
The current Public Health Emergency expiration deadline is this month.  However, the Secretary of the Health and Human Services indicated he would provide a 60-day notice before ending the PHE in order to minimize disruptions and potential loss of government and private insurance coverage.  That notice has not yet occurred.  Therefore, we expect another 90 extension.  In the meantime, telehealth waivers remain in effect.

Moreover, once the PHE is finally over, the Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law earlier in 2022 provides a 151 day extension period of the expiration of many of the Covid-related exceptions or waivers, to allow for a transition period.

CMS has provided some guidance as [Read More]

Lansing Lines is presented in cooperation with MIRS, a Lansing-based news and information service.

Anti-Prop 3 Campaign Going On Air With ‘Puberty Blocker’ Argument

The latest anti-Proposal 3 TV ad is making the claim that “sterilization” language in the proposed constitutional amendment would legally allow gender-changing-seeking minors to receive puberty-blocking drugs without their parents’ consent.

The “conversation is going to take a turn” said anti-Prop 3 consultant Fred Wzsolek for an anti-Proposal 3 side that’s averaging about $2.25 million a week on broadcast media.

Proposal 3, the constitutional amendment to overturn the 1931 Michigan abortion ban, also includes extreme policies “hidden behind the words,” said Christen Pollo of Citizens to Support MI Women and Children, the group [Read More]

By PAUL NATINSKY
Despite perceptions to the contrary, the COVID 19 pandemic is not over. Notwithstanding the return of crowds, the diminishment of mask wearers and the back-page treatment of pandemic news, the virus continues to circulate and the risk of resurgence looms.

“We’re certainly not done with it. We still have nationally a few hundred people a day dying from COVID. If you look at the overall mortality numbers, it’s still multiple times the number of deaths we see, say, from influenza. So it certainly has not faded into the background,” said Dr. Justin Skrzynski, a hospitalist with BHSH System, who has worked with COVID patients since the pandemic began.

Dr. Dennis [Read More]

“If local prosecutors, guided by their political expediency, are planning to imprison board certified obstetricians like me, then who do they expect to safely deliver all these pregnancies?” asked Dr. Audrey Stryker, a Bay City obstetrician and gynecologist.

Stryker met with several other medical professionals as part of a Committee to Protect Health Care’s virtual panel to discuss gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon’s abortion ban policy, which they say will drive medical professionals out of the state and lead to additional staffing shortages.

Dixon’s senior advisor, Kyle Olson, criticized the Committee, calling the group’s founder, Dr. Rob Davidson, a “political hack who failed at running for Congress.”

“He’s trying to remain relevant,” Olsen said, adding that the Committee is on [Read More]

By EWA MATUSZEWSKI
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) recently announced the names of its Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) designees – many receiving designation renewals, but others being PCMH designated for the first time. From my vantage point, these practices, whether multiple-year designees or newbies, represent the best of primary care and affirm the effectiveness of a healthcare approach that puts the patient in partnership with the physician or advanced care provider and their team to optimize outcomes in physical and mental health. I again must give recognition to my friend Tom Simmer, MD, who had the foresight to launch the PCMH practice program through the Physician Group Incentive Program [Read More]

By STEPHEN SHAVER & CHRISTIAN IERACI
The COVID-19 pandemic created a newfound need for expansive telehealth services. As lockdowns, restrictions, and mandates left many without in-person access to healthcare, providers shifted to telehealth services to provide the care their patients needed, providing telehealth care to over 28 million Medicare beneficiaries in the first year of the pandemic. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognized the need for telehealth services and temporarily paused many audits and other medical reviews of claims in order to expand telemedicine access to Medicare beneficiaries. The increased need for telehealth services caused by the pandemic also led CMS to increase the types of services [Read More]