Dear Neighbor,
I hope this letter finds you and your family safe and healthy. This month we celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth. I encourage you to spend some time outdoors enjoying this sunny and warm weather.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Velocity Sterling Heights
- June is Pride Month
- Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Lifeline Plan
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Recommends Residents and Visitors to Avoid Foam on Water Bodies
- Senate Bill 27 Ensuring Equal Insurance Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatments Becomes Law
- Tips to Keep in Mind During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week
- Bipartisan Senate Legislation to Address Michigan’s Paramedic Shortage Enacted
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Safe this Summer
- Storm Resources from EGLE
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Velocity Sterling Heights
Velocity, located in Sterling Heights, is the dedicated Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) SmartZone for Macomb County residents and businesses. They provide space, programming, and support to entrepreneurs and growing companies. Velocity specializes in helping entrepreneurs with grant opportunities, connecting them to events, resources, and programs. A few different programs they offer, include the Entrepreneur in Residence program which extends one on one coaching and support, the Incubator program which presents guidance and education for early-stage companies, and the Accelerator program which covers brainstorming, assessments, and evaluations of business proposals for viability and sustainability.
They also offer office spaces for those looking for a cost-effective solution and many networking events. To learn more, please visit mivelocity.com.
June is Pride Month
The Michigan Senate is committed to cultivating true inclusion and belonging in Michigan — not only during the month of June, but every day year-round. My colleagues and I have worked to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), reaffirming, and expanding legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community. This effort has been 50 years in the making and will protect our LGBTQ+ family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and public services. It also will provide protection in educational facilities, housing, and real estate.
In addition to passing a resolution recognizing June as Pride Month, the Michigan Senate has passed bills — including Senate Bills 348 and 349 — to ban the harmful practice of conversion therapy by mental health professionals seeking to change the gender identity or sexual orientation of minors.
These legislative efforts are a big step forward for Michigan, but certainly not the last. Our caucus remains committed to putting forth legislation that will further advance our shared mission of equity and inclusion.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Lifeline Plan
Water and sewage bills can be very expensive, especially for those struggling to make ends meet. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Lifeline Plan is Detroit’s new water affordability program to help alleviate those in need. Low-income households in Detroit may be eligible to receive an affordable fixed bill based on household income and size. This program offers water shut off protection, past due balances erased, up to 1,125 gallons of indoor water usage per household member per month, and eligibility for minor plumbing repairs for high water usage.
To be eligible, you must be in a low income-eligible household and receiving SNAP/FAP benefits. Please note, the 2,500 households currently enrolled in WRAP (Water Residential Assistance Program) will be auto-enrolled in the new plan beginning today and the 19,000-plus households who were previously in WRAP can immediately qualify and will be contacted by Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency.
Required Documents to qualify include a Photo ID (City, State or Federally issued, Detroit ID, or Passport – U.S. or foreign), current water bill, and proof of most recent 30 days income. To learn more, please visit waynemetro.org/dwsdlifeline.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Recommends Residents and Visitors to Avoid Foam on Water Bodies
With summer beginning, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has recommended that residents and visitors avoid foam on water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and streams. Foam can form on any waterbody and is usually an off-white/or brown color with an earthy or fishy scent, and tends to pile up in bays, eddies, or river barriers such as dams.
While some foam may be harmless, foams can contain harmful chemicals or bacteria, that can include high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These foams will typically be bright white in color and lightweight. Studies have found that high exposure to some PFAS can be linked to damaging health effects including high cholesterol and liver damage.
If you touch any foam, rinse off or bathe as soon as possible, especially if the water is suspected to be contaminated with PFAS, other chemicals, or bacteria. While PFAS entering your body through your skin is low, touching foam without rinsing or bathing increases the chances of accidentally swallowing the foam and its contents. It is also recommended that pet owners do not allow their animals to touch or swallow foam on waterbodies. If a pet does touch foam, it is also recommended that the owner rinse or bathe them.
To learn more, please visit Michigan.gov/PFASResponse or call 800-648-6942.
Senate Bill 27 Ensuring Equal Insurance Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatments Becomes Law
On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 27, a bill I co-sponsored. This new law requires insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders at the same level as physical health services. It aims to close existing loopholes and ensure that Michigan residents can access the necessary treatments.
My colleagues and I remain committed to uplifting and supporting Michiganders in every facet of life and will work hard to ensure that our state’s residents have access to mental health care and resources.
To learn more, please click here.
Tips to Keep in Mind During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is participating in Medicare Fraud Prevention Week in support of nation-wide efforts to combat Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.
Fraud impacts Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, and health issues. It also costs families, friends and caregivers in worry and lost work when helping their loved ones recover from Medicare fraud. Everyone, however, can play a part in the fight against fraud. Take these steps during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week and beyond:
- Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements. They can request free My Health Care Trackers from their local Senior Medical Patrol (SMP).
- Caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to never give out their Medicare number or other personal information over the phone to prevent unauthorized purchases.
- Families can help by talking to their loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. Help loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review statements when they come in the mail. Beneficiaries can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and visit Optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.
- Partners and professionals can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.
- Health care providers can help by talking to patients about health care scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. Remind patients that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.
- Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. Encourage older adults to talk to a trusted source about Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams. Community members can also volunteer with a local SMP.
Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by joining SMP and their partners. Learn more about Medicare Fraud Prevention Week at Senior Medical Patrol Smpresource.org.
Bipartisan Senate Legislation to Address Michigan’s Paramedic Shortage Enacted
Gov. Whitmer also recently signed Senate Bill 249, which I co-sponsored. This legislation will help ensure more paramedics can enter the workforce by giving qualified individuals more opportunities for accreditation. The bill allows paramedics to receive accreditation through a state-administered exam instead of only having a national exam option, cutting bureaucratic red tape that could reduce time and financial barriers to becoming a paramedic.
The legislation also updates exams for emergency medical services personnel and requires non-accredited education program sponsors to give specific notices. By expanding accreditation exam options, the state of Michigan is making the cost of paramedic programs more accessible and affordable.
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Safe this Summer
With the start of summer behind us, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would like to remind owners of some of the best ways to keep their animals healthy and safe. Keep your animals safe this summer by following these seven easy tips:
- Vax & Relax: Keep animals up to date on routine vaccinations.
- Let it Flow: Provide unlimited cool, clean fresh water.
- Happy Tummies: Avoid feeding animals people foods.
- Know Their Limits: An animal’s ability to tolerate heat varies.
- Look Before They Splash: Avoid harmful algal blooms (HABs) in bodies of water.
- Animal illness due to HABs is reportable to MDARD. To report cases, submit a Reportable Disease Form or call 800-292-3939. In addition, to report any suspicious looking algae, please email algaebloom@michigan.gov.
- Search No More: Make sure animals have proper identification.
- Small Circle of Friends: Keep animals away from wildlife, ill animals, and animals of unknown health status.
These tips can help keep your animals safe and healthy throughout the summer months. If there are any concerns about your animals’ health now or throughout the year, please talk to your veterinarian.
Storm Resources from EGLE
With the tragic devastation caused by the tornadoes that recently ripped through southwest Michigan, the realities of storm season are fresh on our minds. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) encourages Michiganders to prepare as much as possible for severe storm events prior to them occurring. Here are some resources they recommend starting with:
- The MIReady Webpage provides ample resources to help residents prepare for emergencies like natural disasters, homeland security threats, and power outages.
- The EGLE Storm Recovery Webpage page provides resources that help local officials, emergency responders, recycling and disposal vendors, and residents respond to storm emergencies. It provides details on managing storm debris, how to stay informed during an emergency, and how to get an emergency disposal permit in the aftermath of a storm.
- Local officials, disposal and recycling vendors, and emergency responders are encouraged to use EGLE’s NEW Storm Debris Planning Tool before a storm occurs, to troubleshoot how to remove excess waste during an emergency, preventing a nuance, public health threat, or environmental threat.