Senator Stabenow Continues Health Care “Check-In” Visits in Lansing

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) yesterday continued a series of health care “check-in” visits across the state. Stabenow met with patients, providers and other stakeholders in Lansing to hear first-hand about their challenges and needs. Stabenow visited the CMH Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties and Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center.

Over 900,000 people, or 17% of all Michigan workers are employed in health care related jobs. Health Care has a $65 billion economic impact each year in Michigan—more than any other industry in the state. From hospitals, VA clinics and pharmacies to mental health and addiction treatment programs, home health and school based clinics, Senator Stabenow plans to visit a broad range of health care providers and practitioners across the state over the coming year. She will help showcase innovative programs and services and discuss ways to improve services and bring down costs.

“Health care directly impacts the lives of people and is also one of the biggest drivers of our economy,” said Senator Stabenow. “Today’s visits are an important way for me to hear first-hand from some of Michigan’s most dedicated health professionals and patients on ways to improve care and bring down costs for Michigan families.”

“Over the past two years we have worked to improve outreach efforts, increase access points for 24/hour crisis services, and offer comprehensive behavioral health services in the communities we serve,” said Sara Lurie, CEO of Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham Counties. “Expanding access to these types of ongoing services in partnership with other community resources is vital in assisting individuals and families in seeking their desired quality of life. We are extremely grateful to Senator Stabenow for her leadership, advocacy and legislative work to support and expand access to behavioral health services here in Michigan and across the U.S.”

“We appreciate Sen. Stabenow’s interest in health care and its huge impact on our region,” said Gordan Srkalovic, M.D. Ph.D., Medical Director of Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center. “Sparrow is proud to deliver innovative patient care through the largest cancer clinical trials program in the area, offering clinical trials and molecular tumor board analysis not available to patients anywhere else in the region. This fall, our innovation will continue as we become one of the first cancer centers in Michigan with ViewRay MRidian, an extraordinary radiation therapy machine that focuses on the tumor while protecting nearby healthy tissue. Many tumors previously too dangerous to treat, or hard to reach, will be treated safely with ViewRay MRidian.”

As Ranking Member of the Health Care Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Stabenow plays an instrumental role in addressing federal health care policies. Because of Senator Stabenow’s leadership, the CMH Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties recently received $3.7 million over the next two years to provide comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment services. Last week, the Senator announced her bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act to expand funding for community mental health and addiction services across the state.