District 10 News & Updates

Dear Neighbor, 

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and healthy. It’s been a busy few weeks in the Senate as we worked to finalize our budget recommendations, which include historic investments in education, our economy, and other new programs that will continue to make Michigan a great place to call home.   

Featured in this newsletter: 

• Comcast RISE 
• Detroit Launches Downpayment Assistance Program 
• May is Mental Health Awareness 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 
• Imposter Scams Take on New Forms: Missed Jury Duty and Demand for Payment Scams

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.

Warmest regards,

Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10

 

Comcast RISE 

Comcast RISE is committed to supporting the growth of all small businesses, while advancing the objective of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as community investment. The program is built to help businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth. This year, Comcast RISE will award 500 recipients in five cities with a grant package that includes business consultation services, education resources, monetary grants, creative production, media, and technology makeovers.  

Comcast RISE is one of several programs that Comcast has overseen as a part of Project UP that are aimed at closing the digital divide and achieving digital equity.  

Program Details 

• 500 awards will be distributed as follows: 
  • 100 small businesses in each city 
  • Each business will receive: 
    • $5,000 monetary grant  
    • Creative production, media, and technology makeovers 
    • Education resources 
    • Business consultation services
• Application period is June 1 – 30, 2023
• Grants will be announced at the end of August and awarded in September 2023 
• Applications will be available online here.  

 

Detroit Launches Downpayment Assistance Program 

Mayor Mike Duggan, City Council members, and the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department announced a landmark program today that will provide Detroiters who do not currently own a home with up to $25,000 in downpayment assistance to help them realize the American Dream of homeownership. 

The program is available to lower-income earners who may be able to afford a monthly mortgage payment but don’t have enough savings for a downpayment. For example, for a single person to qualify, they would have to earn less than $41,000 per year. 

Easy as 1-2-3 

The mayor and councilmembers laid out three steps for Detroiters to follow to take advantage of the program. 

• Find a lender from among the 13 partner organizations in the program. The participating lenders are Bank of America, Chase, CIBC, Citizens, Fifth Third Bank, First Independence Bank, First Merchants Bank, Flagstar Bank, Huntington Bank, Independent Bank, Liberty Bank, PNC Bank, and Rocket Mortgage. 
• Find a house you want to buy. 
• Apply to the program at www.detroitdpa.org. 

>>Click here for more information.  

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have joined mental health advocates around the nation to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Observed nationally since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month promotes mental health education and support to increase individual well-being and decrease the stigma often associated with seeking help for mental illness.   

Over the past two years, MDHHS and its partners have implemented three statewide lines to ensure that mental health or substance use help for all Michiganders is just a phone call away: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Michigan Peer Warmline, and Frontline Strong Together Crisis Line.  

Cumulatively, almost 11,000 callers a month have received help from these three lines.  

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a free 24/7 line that people can use confidentially and anonymously through call, text, or chat at 988lifeline.org. 988 is available to provide support to anyone who may be experiencing emotional distress or struggling with mental health or substance use concerns. It is also a resource for family members or friends who may be concerned about a loved one’s mental health. 

The Michigan Peer Warmline, 88-PEER-753 (888-733-7753), is a statewide Warmline for Michiganders living with persistent mental health and/or substance use conditions. The Warmline connects individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crisis, and are trained to support and empower the callers. All calls are anonymous and the Warmline operates seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.   

Frontline Strong Together, 833-34-STRONG, is a new service funded through MDHHS that provides 24/7 support to first responders (police, EMS, fire, dispatch, and corrections) and their families through a crisis line, specialty treatment, and referrals. This service was developed in a partnership between first responder professional unions, Wayne State University, and Michigan Crisis and Access Line staff.  

Mental health in the workplace has also taken on new significance in the wake of pandemic work-life challenges. The MDHHS Stay Well programrecently created a collection of resources to help plan, implement, and sustain wellness programs for employees within organizations, and is working closely with Labor and Economic Opportunity as they expand offerings attending to workplace mental health. Mental Wellness Tools for Organizations is available on the Stay Well website. 

 

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 Applicants 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. 

 

Imposter Scams Take on New Forms: Missed Jury Duty and Demand for Payment Scams 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns residents that they may be targeted by scammers claiming to be representing government entities.  

The Department has received reports that a missed jury duty scam is currently being perpetrated in Oakland County. In this scam, fraudsters call unsuspecting residents and tell them that they have failed to appear for jury duty in federal court. The caller threatens the person with arrest if they don’t pay a “cash bond,” which has reportedly been as high as $5,000. 

So far, two complaints involving the missed jury duty scam have been reported to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. In both cases, the scammer claimed to be an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy. Though in both instances, cash was demanded to keep the call recipient out of jail, neither person paid. Instead, they turned themselves in only to discover that there were no arrest warrants sworn in either case.  

Another imposter scam involves letters mailed to residents that appear to be from a state agency. The letters, which indicate that they are a “final demand for payment” related to a tax lien, threaten potential foreclosure unless payment is made.  

One such letter sent to a nursing center in Detroit from the “Tax Lien Group Tax Processing Unit” indicated the “State of Michigan may seize [the] property for nonpayment of taxes.” The amount listed on the letter was $27,622, but no tax debt was owed to the State. The letter contained an 800-phone number commonly used to perpetrate similar scams.   

The individuals perpetrating these scams may expand the deception to other agencies, such as the FBI, IRS, or some other state or federal government entity. If you are concerned that you are being targeted by a government imposter, you can protect yourself by doing your own internet research. Looking up the phone number for the government agency allows you to call and inquire without relying upon information provided by the scammer.  

Residents can also simply do an internet search for the phone number they are being asked to call. This may help determine whether it belongs to a government agency or if it is one being used in scams. AG Nessel wants all Michigan residents to be on the alert so they can avoid being scam victims. 

For more information about popular consumer scams, or if you believe you’ve been a victim, residents can contact the Consumer Protection Team Monday-Friday at 877-765-8388 or complete our online complaint form.