Prove me wrong.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026    3:00 p.m.

AGENDA

Presentations on Maternal and Child Health:

Amy Zaagman and Ta'Sheena Williams with the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health

Nicole White with Birth Detroit

Kiara Baskin with Bump to Birth

Tamika Jackson with Mothering Justice

Sabrina Luvene with Nia Purpose 4 Life

Janai Frazier with Universal Prevention Services

Isador Martinex, Michigan Associate Centering Advisor with CenteringPregnancy

Sonia Hassan with SOS Maternity Network

Dr. Muzammil Ahmed, Comprehensive Urology, a division of Michigan Healthcare Professionals

Trevor Hodges with Upper Great Lakes Family Health

And any other business properly before the committee.

It's a great opportunity to press for an accounting of all those jobs MEDC promised, to say nothing of LEO's cozy relationship with unions. Oh, and has unemployment's efficiency improved at all since COVID??

Wednesday, March 11, 2026    3:00 p.m.

AGENDA

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Presentation of the Governor's FY 2026-27 Budget Recommendation

Michigan Arts and Culture Council presentation on the Arts and Cultural Program

And any other business properly before the committee.

I indicated with italics that the Michigan Arts and Culture Council doesn't impact healthcare.

If I'm wrong, please comment. Thanks!

If history is any indication, the senate will strike higher ed accountability reports on aborted fetal cell research, while the MI house will insert such language. Differences will be reconciled later, possibly in conference committee.

DATE:

Wednesday, March 11, 2026              9:00 a.m.

AGENDA

Presentation of the FY 2026-27 Governor's Recommendation for the Higher Education and Community Colleges budgets.

And any other business properly before the committee.

LARA is quite content to progressively license the entire adult population of Michigan to do whatever we do - as long as taxpayers pay the department to do so.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026      1:30 p.m.

AGENDA

Presentation from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on the Governor's Recommendation for the FY2026-27 Budget

And any other business properly before the committee.

Also new: federalism in the Michigan Senate.

NCSL's purpose is to "support, defend and strengthen state legislatures."

Created by state legislators and legislative staff in 1975, NCSL serves America’s 50 states, commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia. Every state legislator and staffer is a member of the organization.

"NCSL represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures.

"NCSL also represents legislatures in dealing with the federal government, especially in support of state sovereignty and state flexibility and protection from unfunded federal mandates and unwarranted federal preemption. The conference promotes cooperation between state legislatures in the U.S. and those in other countries.

"In addition, NCSL is committed to improving the operations and management of state legislatures, and the effectiveness of legislators and legislative staff...."

Tuesday, March 3, 2026      3:00 p.m.

AGENDA

Presentation on Medicaid Eligibility & Financing Changes in 2026 by Kathryn Costanza, NCSL

And any other business properly before the committee.

The NCSL's presenter bio:

In her role as fellow in the Health Program, Kathryn Costanza serves state legislators, legislative staff and her colleagues as a nonpartisan Medicaid policy subject matter expert. Costanza is a licensed attorney who graduated with a health law and policy certificate from the University of Colorado Law School and has several years of experience practicing health law with an emphasis on issues related to the Medicaid program. Previously, Costanza was a practicing music therapist and predominately served Medicaid beneficiaries.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025     1:30 p.m.

AGENDA

Adopting the Report on Impacts of Proposed Medicaid Cuts

And any other business properly before the committee.

The Report lists this hearing date as its date of publication.

At 153 pages, it's far to long to reproduce in full, but worth a look. At a cursory glance: lots of emoting, not much engagement with real-life problems.

We got below the surface politics in a previous post:

Gov. Whitmer Releases Key Findings Of MDHHS Report On Federal Medicaid Cuts  

The current composition of the committee:

COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Sylvia A. Santana (D), Chair
John Cherry (D), Majority Vice Chair
Jeff Irwin (D)
Mary Cavanagh (D)
Rosemary Bayer (D)
Veronica Klinefelt (D)
Rick Outman (R), Minority Vice Chair
Mark E. Huizenga (R)
Roger Hauck (R)
Lana Theis (R)

Testimony, meeting dates, contact & subscription information are posted on the committee home page.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025     9:00 a.m.

AGENDA

Presentation on Michigan SNAP Payment Error Rate Reduction from David Knezek, Chief Operating Officer at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

And any other business properly before the committee.

SNAP is an extremely hot topic this year. Previous MHF Forum posts include:

MDHHS instructed by USDA to temporarily pause issuance of November SNAP benefits  

Medicaid Fraud comes in many guises  

RE: MDHHS Orders Full November SNAP Payments