Senator Stabenow Kicks off Health Care “Check-In” Visits in Detroit

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today kicked off a series of health care “check-in” visits across the state. Stabenow met with patients, providers and other stakeholders in Detroit to hear first-hand about their challenges and needs. Stabenow visited the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors at Wayne State University, the Children’s Center as well as CHASS Southwest Health 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.”

"Through the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES) at Wayne State University, we are assessing the adverse health effects of complex urban exposures to environmental contaminants," said Tracie Baker, DVM, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology at Wayne State University. "We are pleased to host Senator Stabenow today to discuss the impacts of water quality on health and child development with the goal of improving disease prevention and reducing health disparities through research, community engagement and public policy change."

"It's difficult to understand how Detroit's native children and families continue to struggle with significant mental health and basic needs when the City overall is doing so much better,” said Debora Matthews, President & CEO of the Children’s Center. “That's why we're so excited to have Senator Stabenow advocating for children and families' mental health issues."

“We were honored to host Senator Stabenow at CHASS Center today. As a longtime advocate of the community health center movement, the Senator understands the crucial role health centers play in providing comprehensive primary and preventive care to 28 million Americans, “ said Felix Valbuena, Jr., MD, CHASS CEO. “Her leadership, and ability to garner bi-partisan support, has ensured health care access to communities across the nation. We are appreciative of her tireless efforts to cement continuing support for the Community Health Center Fund for an additional five years and protect an essential and effective Medicaid program, which extended health coverage to over 676,000 in Michigan.”

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.