Dear Neighbor,
The pandemic has put a spotlight on many of the shortcomings of our health care system, and especially the need to address its disparities related to accessibility, affordability, and quality of care. These are issues close to my heart as a legislator as well, as evidenced in many of the bills I’ve introduced as your state senator.
I’ve put together this newsletter with various resources and policy updates regarding protecting reproductive health, expanding postpartum care, fighting the increase of prescription drug prices, access to affordable health screenings and vaccinations, bettering our mental health, and affordable childcare.
I have worked hard to represent you with accountability, honesty, and integrity every day, to be accessible and listen
to your priorities in the district as well as at the Capitol. In all I do, I put the hardworking people of West Michigan first in every decision.
If you would like to be more informed about my work at the Capitol and in-district activities like coffee hours and town halls, consider signing up for my biweekly email updates online at SenatorBrinks.com.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your senator and a pleasure to hear from you.
Winnie Brinks
State Senator, District 29
Website: SenatorBrinks.com
Email: SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-Free: (855) DIST029 (855-347-8029)
Affordable Screenings for Better Health
Community Health Centers are incredible resources that help ensure residents stay healthy by providing low- or no-cost health care to residents.
Among the services they provide are:
• Prenatal shots
• Baby shots
• General primary care
• Referrals to specialized care, including mental health or substance abuse
There are a variety of community health centers across Kent County, each of which may have different capacities or services available. For the most accurate information, it is best to visit their website or call ahead to learn more.
Federally Qualified Health Centers — or those which are recognized and funded in part by the federal government — in the Grand Rapids area include:
CHERRY HEALTH
Multiple locations, visit website or call
CherryHealth.org
100 Cherry St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 965-8200
MERCY HEALTH
MercyHealth.com
Clinica Santa Maria
730 Grandville Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 685-8400
Mercy Health Infectious Disease
310 Lafayette Ave. SE, Suite 410
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 685-8200
CATHERINE’S HEALTH CENTER
CatherinesHC.org
1211 Lafayette Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 336-8800
Immunization Resources
If you or your family members may have fallen behind on routine immunizations, would like to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19, or you intend to travel abroad, the Kent County Health Department is an incredible resource to get the vaccines you need — including COVID-19, Tetanus, Hepatitis, HPV, Infl uenza, Polio, Rabies, Chicken Pox, and more.
Most routine vaccinations are covered by insurance, but special programs — such as Vaccines for Children or the Michigan Adult Vaccine Program — may also qualify an individual for free or reduced-price vaccinations. A sliding scale vaccine administration fee ($0-$23) may be charged for each injection.
The Kent County Health Department has several locations to serve the Greater Grand Rapids area. For more information on the types of vaccines they provide or how much they cost, visit their website or call their main telephone line.
Kent County Health Department
Website: AccessKent.com/Health/Immunizations
Main Phone Line: (616) 632-7200
Locations Include:
Fuller Clinic (Main)
700 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
South Clinic
4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Sheldon Clinic Sheldon Complex
121 Franklin SE, Ste. 130, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Protecting Reproductive Health
High-quality reproductive health resources should be available and accessible to Michiganders who need them. I believe people have a right to make their own decisions about what is best for them and their families.
If you, a friend, or a family member is planning to start a family, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides Family Planning resources for women, men, and teens for little to no cost on their website, Michigan.gov/MDHHS.
Among these resources are:
• Information on birth control and sexual health
• Assistance choosing a birth control method best for you
• Help planning a healthy pregnancy
• Pregnancy testing and counseling
• Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Preventive health exams to screen for cancer or other health issues
Late last year, I was proud to support the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), which would protect every Michigander’s right to the full range of accessible and quality reproductive health care and would remove unnecessary barriers people currently face when seeking personal medical procedures in Michigan. I look forward to continuing work on this legislation so we can continue to protect your constitutional right to make your own reproductive choices.
Better Minds During Hard Times
During these extraordinary times, it is normal for Michiganders of all ages to feel a wide range of emotions. Given the uncertainty of an ongoing public health crisis, a rapidly changing climate, and the fraught nature of our current political reality, feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety can have enduring effects on our personal well-being and mental health.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides a variety of resources that can help, and that are available in your area or remotely via phone call, text messaging, and video. The Stay Well program was created in April 2020 through a partnership between MDHHS and the Michigan Public Health Institute as a way for Michigan residents to connect with mental health professionals, confidentially and with trained crisis counselors, who are available 24/7.
Mental Health Resources
MDHHS Warmline
MDHHS staffs a statewide, peer-run warmline that is intended to serve individuals living with persistent mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
(888) PEER-753 (888-733-7753)
Seven days a week | 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Kent County Community Mental Health Authority
For residents of Kent County, mental health and crisis services are provided through the Kent County Community Mental Health Authority. Resources for children and adults, including crisis counseling that is available.
network180.org
(616) 336-3909
Seven days a week | 24 hours a day
Fighting Increased Drug Costs
While pharmaceutical companies have been integral in increasing our quality of life and extending our life expectancy, they also play a major role in the prices we pay for prescription drugs. The fact that Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices of any developed nation — even though many of these drugs were produced right here in the United States — is just not right.
As a member of the governor’s Prescription Drug Task Force, I am leading efforts to limit price increases of necessary medications. This is especially important because over the past six years, the prices of medications prescribed to treat diabetes, heart disease, depression, and other common medical conditions have more than doubled and are increasing at a faster rate than inflation.
While there are many important factors that determine the final cost of prescription drugs for consumers, it all starts with the pharmaceutical manufacturers. To hold them accountable, I’ve introduced a package of bills that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would include stakeholders from across the industry. The board would limit how much residents pay for certain high-cost drugs, as well as require justification from drug manufacturers when the price of a prescription drug increases.
Reducing the cost of the prescription drugs Michiganders need is a goal across state government, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined in her 2022 State of the State address. I will continue working with the executive branch and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in both chambers to tackle the complex reasons for the high prices we pay. We must act soon, and we must act with courage, because the health and well-being of Michiganders depend on access to affordable prescription drugs.
Expanding Postpartum Care
It is becoming increasingly clear that the current two months of postpartum care provided to those who give birth to a child is falling short. It’s helpful to think of the postpartum period as a “fourth trimester” and recognize we must take action to better support those who are trying to balance raising a newborn while healing from the physical and mental effects of giving birth.
I sponsored Senate Bill 252, which would expand temporary, pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage to one year after childbirth, which is shown to improve maternal health outcomes and decrease postpartum mortality rates. Experts agree the ongoing physical and behavioral health of the birthing parent is a major concern during and after pregnancy, especially among communities of color and low-income families. This legislation would expand health care options in a manner that is consistent with reality that most birthing parents are not getting care beyond the archaic, bare minimum standards. These disparities and shortcomings in our health care system mean that new parents are suffering avoidable and unacceptable harm to their physical and mental health.
In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is exploring the authority granted under a State Plan Amendment to reduce postpartum morbidity and mortality in Michigan through the “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” program. Upon the implementation of this program, Michigan would extend the eligibility period of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 365 days, increasing access to health care coverage and ensuring continuity of care during this important period.
I look forward to continuing to advocate for these policies so we can get Michigan on track to better supporting mothers!
A Great Start for Affordable Childcare
Access to quality childcare is fundamental for working people in Michigan. Too many families struggle to find good childcare they can afford, keeping them from working the jobs of their choice and eating into their family’s budget. You shouldn’t need to worry about money when seeking reliable childcare. Over the course of my term in the state Senate, we have made fundamental changes to the childcare system in Michigan to make it more affordable and to provide a safe learning environment where your child(ren) can thrive.
Over the past four years, we have:
• Expanded access to free or low-cost childcare to 1 in 3 Michigan kids aged 0 to 12.
• Delivered $1,000 bonuses to nearly 25,000 full-time childcare professionals, which also has the added benefi t of boosting local economies.
• Ensured that 100% of eligible 4-year-olds could attend a high-quality preschool under the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).
• Invested $565 million to support 7,000 childcare providers with financial relief during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re not familiar with it already, the Great Start Readiness Program is the state-funded preschool program for more than 35,000 4-year-olds across Michigan that helps parents who meet income eligibility requirements. Just last year, we passed the largest education investment in our state’s history, which included an additional $168.5 million for the Great Start Readiness Program — setting us on track to ensure access to another 22,000 income-eligible children within the next three years.
