LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a plan introduced by State Representative Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) to preserve health care access for Michigan's low-income residents. The plan restores funding for seven health care centers across the state that was eliminated after being inadvertently included in cuts proposed by the Department of Community Health (DCH).
"Because of Michigan's economic struggles, more and more Detroiters and residents across the state are relying on these health care centers every day," said Jackson, Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Health. "There is absolutely no reason we should be cutting funding to groups that provide such vital services to our residents in need. We cannot afford to leave our residents with nowhere to turn when they are sick or injured."
Jackson's plan restores $2.025 million in funds – nearly $1.3 million of which will come from federal dollars – to the Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, which provides funding for seven primary care providers across the state.
Funding from the plan will be distributed to the Arab American Chaldean Council in Lathrop Village and Detroit; Community Health and Social Services in Detroit; Hamilton Family Health Center in Flint; North Oakland Medical Center in Pontiac; the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn; the Center for Family Health in Jackson; and Community Health and Social Services in Grand Rapids.
"With families across Michigan struggling to pay rent or put food on the table, it's often their health care coverage and regular doctor visits that suffer," Jackson said. "Providing this funding to these health care centers will help ensure that our residents are getting the health care they deserve."