Michigan Will Not Cut Medicaid, Health Care

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) on Monday said the state will not cut Medicaid as part of a plan to reduce statespending by $435 million, the Detroit Free Press reports. The state faces a $1.75 billion deficit. Areas that could face cuts include prisons, universities, public schools, Medicaid and nursing home payments. Granholm said, "We are not going to cut people off Medicaid, we are not going to cut grandparents who care for children in their families, we are not going to cut people off health care."

State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R) said the governor must address Medicaid spending. He added that more than onemillion state residents are uninsured but have access to health care.However, he acknowledged that uninsured residents often seek treatment in emergency departments, which can lead to high costs.

Bishop supports giving incentives to Medicaid beneficiaries to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent diseases (Christoff, Detroit Free Press, 10/2).

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