A new policy brief highlights research by IHPI member @minalrpphd.bsky.social of @umichsph.bsky.social on the financial, social, and health-related burdens facing Michiganders with #diabetes and explores policy opportunities to improve access to affordable care. ➡️: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...
Minal R. Patel, PhD, MPH
@minalrpphd.bsky.social
Professor at University of Michigan | Bridging healthcare affordability research, policy & patient experience | https://minalrpatel.com/
Testified (via Zoom) before the MI Senate Finance Committee on SB 701 & 702. My research shows unpredictable medical expenses drive delayed care and worse health. These bills add guardrails to prevent medical debt from escalating. Thanks to Sens. Sarah Anthony & Jonathan Lindsey and their teams.
Our new study in @jamahealthforum.com shows: Medicaid coverage can be a springboard, not just a safety net. When health improved, employment nearly doubled (26%→47%) among adults with serious health burdens. Coverage supports work. @um-ihpi.bsky.social @umich.edu
Testified today at Michigan Senate in support of SB 449-451 to protect 1M Michiganders from medical debt on credit reports. As I wrote in @freep.com , debt forgiveness helps but prevention is the solution. Grateful to legislators working on this.
The team behind this new study was led by @minalrpphd.bsky.social of @umichsph.bsky.social and @susangoold.bsky.social of the University of Michigan Medical School Learn more about our Medicaid evaluation project here: ihpi.umich.edu/research-pol...
Healthy Michigan Plan Evaluation
Did Michigan’s expansion of Medicaid, the public health insurance program for low-income adults, lead to improved access to health care and better health? From 2014 to 2024, IHPI studied these questio...
ihpi.umich.edu
Gov. Whitmer just erased $144M in medical debt for 200K+ Michigan families 👏 That’s huge—but it’s not a fix. In my @freep.com op-ed, I explain how Michigan can prevent medical debt—not just forgive it: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Forgiving medical debt is crucial, but it won't fix our health care system | Opinion
Debt relief is a compassionate bandage, but without structural reform, the wound keeps reopening.
freep.com
Nearly 1 million Michiganders carry medical debt—that's more than double the populations of Grand Rapids, Lansing & Ann Arbor combined. 80% of medical bills contain errors, but we have a solution hiding in plain sight- CHWs. My latest in @bridgemi.com www.bridgemi.com/guest-commen...
Opinion | Michigan has tools to ease medical debt. Does it have the will? | Bridge Michigan
Medical debt is a public health issue, and Michigan should enlist Community Health Workers to help residents navigate a system designed to confuse.
bridgemi.com
1/ 🚨 While we focus on "Make America Healthy Again," @larrylevitt.bsky.social argues we need "Make American Health Care Affordable Again" Thread on why this matters RIGHT NOW 🧵