LANSING, Mich. -- Senate Democrats fought today against cuts to the Department of Community Health (DCH) budget introduced by Senate Republicans that would slash funding for important healthcare programs for Michigan’s citizens who are struggling to get by. Senate Democrats introduced 16 amendments to help restore these funds, all of which were defeated on a party line vote.

“Making cuts to the state budget has been a difficult process for all of us. However, these drastic cuts to Community Health are devastating for Michigan residents,” said Senator Deb Cherry (D-Burton). “Due to the job losses, many Michigan citizens who previously had private insurance are now uninsured, and if we continue to cut these essential programs such as the Healthy Michigan Fund and Medicaid, we are taking a large step backwards in caring for the health of the people in our state.”

At a time when unemployment is 14.1%, DCH services help make sure that Michigan citizens who have been hit hard by the economy are receiving the healthcare services they need. By cutting prevention efforts such as the Healthy Michigan Fund, which focuses on screening and prevention programs, the Senate Republicans are ignoring any action to prevent costlier health problems down the road. Senate Democrats sought to protect some of the most important initiatives supported by the Department of Community Health, including:

• Restore current year Healthy Michigan Fund funding prior to Executive Order cuts.

• Reinstate Senate Republicans’ proposed 8% Medicaid provider rate reduction.

• Provide $5 million General Fund to pay 17% of COBRA costs, which help out of work residents cover healthcare costs.

• Allow DCH to recover funds from incidences where consumers have been injured or killed faulty prescription drugs if Michigan’s outdated drug industry immunity law is repealed.

• Restore funding for the Michigan Essential Health Provider Program.

• Restore protections assuring Medicaid clients can continue to receive certain mental health medications.

“We need to let the people of Michigan know that we care about their health, and are ready to step up and make decisions in their best interest,” said Senator Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor). “The decisions made today do not reflect that, and I can’t support a budget that robs programs aimed at prevention, protecting the long-term health of our communities, and assisting people who can’t afford healthcare for themselves and their families.”

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