Dear Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter reaches you and your family safe and healthy. It’s been an exciting few weeks in the Senate as the first round of budget bills have been passed and are now headed to the House for consideration. I will be sure to keep you updated as this process continues!
Featured in this newsletter:
- Upcoming Events
- Legislative Updates
- Community Updates
- May is Maternal Mental Health Month
- Summer 2023 Job Market Forecast for Michigan Teens (Ages 16–19)
- End of Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to Insurance Coverage for Michiganders
- Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
- Applications Now Being Accepted for the Fostering Futures Scholarship
Please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-0990 or reply to this email if you have any questions or need assistance.
Working for you,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
Upcoming Events
WHEN: Monday, June 12, 2023, from 9 – 10:30 am
WHERE: St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center, 19321 W. Chicago, Detroit, MI 48228
>>Click here for more information.
WHEN: Monday, June 12, 2023, from 11 am – 12:30 pm
WHERE: Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
>>Click here for more information.
WHEN: Monday, June 12, 2023, from 1 – 2:30 pm
WHERE: Detroit Public Library – Campbell Branch, 8733 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209
>>Click here for more information.
WHEN: Monday, June 12, 2023, from 3 – 4:30 pm
WHERE: John F. Kennedy, Jr. Library, 24602 Van Born Rd, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
>>Click here for more information.
Legislative Update
As chairwoman of the Department of Health and Human Services budget, I was proud that my bill, Senate Bill 190, passed out of the Senate this week. It is a budget to provide for Michiganders across our entire state.
Senate Passes Santana Bill to Make Juneteenth Officially a Michigan State Holiday
I’m pleased to report that my colleagues and I voted nearly unanimously to pass my bill, Senate Bill 50, which establishes “Juneteenth,” or June 19, as a state-recognized holiday. The bill will bring Juneteenth on par with other state and federal holidays as a bank and judicial holiday in Michigan.
I have been working on this issue throughout my time in the Senate. I am honored to carry on the great work of my legislative predecessors and am so proud to see this bill pass the full Senate—and nearly unanimously. This is another major milestone as we work in our state and our nation to tackle our history head on and better acknowledge, recognize, and in this case, celebrate the diverse experiences of all cultures and races. I appreciate the widespread, bipartisan support of this bill and the progress and awareness of Juneteenth that it illustrates, and I will keep looking for ways to find common ground to make Michigan a more inclusive state for all.
Community Updates
I am a proud sponsor of the Safe Patient Care Act. We must help patients and protect nurses from burning out! Thank you, Michigan Nurses Association, for all you do!!!
Community Day at the Capitol
On Tuesday, I welcomed 47 residents, from kids to seniors, from the 2nd Senate District to the Capitol, where they discussed concerns and interest in auto insurance, taxes, and health and human services issues.
The people of the 2nd District have brought me to the Capitol, and it only makes sense to return the favor. Government means being connected to and responsive to the people I serve, and that’s why I make it a point to bring my constituents to Lansing to visit the beautiful Capitol and see the Senate process up close.
These regular visits also provide an important opportunity to discuss the issues resonating in the communities I represent that need attention at the state level. My legislative colleagues and I have and will continue to work on protections for seniors, improving schools, access to healthcare and the other concerns on the minds of Detroiters and Michiganders, and I hope today helped make state government feel as accessible to the people it serves as it always should.
May is Maternal Mental Health Month
May is Maternal Mental Health Month, a time to increase awareness about the availability of perinatal mental health help, resources, and support for birthing people, their partners, families, and friends.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is hosting an exclusive campaign for Maternal Mental Health Month 2023, themed Healing Starts with Help. Use the PSI Social Media Toolkit throughout May to help raise awareness.
Summer 2023 Job Market Forecast for Michigan Teens (Ages 16–19)
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget’s Michigan Center for Data and Analytics released its summer (June–August) teen employment forecast for 2023. For more information, including resources for finding summer employment, click here.
End of Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to Insurance Coverage for Michiganders
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is alerting consumers that there may be changes to their health insurance coverage for COVID-related testing and treatments now that the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) has ended.
Federal law required that many health services related to COVID-19, including testing and vaccinations, had to be covered at no cost for the duration of the PHE. Many Michiganders may now have to pay out-of- pocket for some COVID-related care. For more specific information about different types of medical care that have been affected by the ending of the PHE, see below:
At-Home and Laboratory COVID Tests:
- Private Insurers: The federal mandate requiring health insurers to provide no-cost coverage for COVID-19 testing, including at-home tests, has ended. Most people with health insurance will continue to have coverage for laboratory COVID-19 tests, subject to the plan’s cost sharing. At-home testing for COVID-19 is an eligible medical expense for flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs). Michiganders should check with their plan for more details.
- Medicare: Medicare is no longer required to provide coverage for at-home COVID-19 testing. Medicare Part B participants can still obtain laboratory COVID-19 testing, with authorization by a medical provider, without out-of-pocket cost. Medicare Advantage participants may have additional flexibility regarding COVID-19 testing. Michiganders should check with their plan for more details.
- Medicaid: Under federal law, Medicaid and MIChild participants can obtain at-home and laboratory COVID-19 tests through September 30, 2024.
COVID-19 Treatments:
- Private insurers: Treatment for COVID-19 will continue to be covered but insurers are now able to apply cost sharing, such as deductibles and coinsurance, and require prior approval for these treatments. Michiganders should confirm coverage with their insurer or plan before seeking treatment.
- Medicare: Medicare beneficiaries may have to pay for a portion of their COVID-19 care as required by their plan.
- Medicaid: Medicaid and MIChild are required to cover all drugs for the treatment or prevention of COVID–19 with no cost sharing for enrollees through September 30, 2024.
COVID-19 Vaccinations:
- COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be supplied with no out-of-pocket cost by the federal government.
DIFS can help consumers with health insurance questions and complaints. Contact DIFS Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 877-999-6442 or Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance. For more information about the state’s Medicaid and MIChild programs, visit the MIBridges website.
Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
Take action to avoid a gap in coverage
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May.
Following these steps will help determine if you still qualify:
- Make sure your contact information is up to date.
- Check mail or text messages for a letter.
- Complete your renewal form (if you get one).
If you’re a Medicaid member, learn more about how these changes may affect your health care coverage at Michigan.gov/2023benefitchanges.
Applications Now Being Accepted for the Fostering Futures Scholarship
Young adults who have experienced foster care on or after their 13th birthday are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
The priority deadline for the Fostering Futures Scholarship application for academic year 2023-24 is August 1, 2023. Eligible students enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university may now apply to receive scholarship funds for tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies.
Fostering Future Scholarship Applications with questions should contact the state Treasury Department’s Student Scholarships, Grants and Outreach area at mistudentaid@michigan.gov or call toll-free at 1-888-447-2687.