Michigan could save $1 billion over 10 years and provide health insurance to 600,000 residents if it expands Medicaid eligibility as allowed by the national health care reform law, according to a report to be released today.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in June, but one provision was not upheld: penalizing states that opt out of the laws expanding Medicaid.
That means the decision to expand Medicaid eligibility to other residents has been left up to the states. Michigan has not yet made a decision on how to proceed, but some lawmakers have proposed a bill to ban Medicaid expansion.
The report is issued by the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation (CHRT) in collaboration with two University of Michigan economists.
It shows cost savings to Michigan for six years starting in 2014, when states can begin expanding Medicaid eligibility and the federal government will pick up 100 percent of the cost. It also shows a minimal cost to Michigan starting in 2020, when the states pay 10 percent of the cost.
"It's a good economic choice for the state," said Marianne Udow-Phillips, CHRT director. "It's a billion dollars in savings over 10 years." Marianne Udow was former Director of Michigan Department of Human Services. Not much of a people person, not much of a public administrator but she can do tech. I respect her because she knew when to step down.
Medicaid is for residents who fall at or below 138 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Besides the elderly and disabled, those who qualify include low-income people with children. Those who would qualify for the expansion would be low-income residents without children. Sick people are not highly productive and dead people do not pay taxes.
She added that expansion would also be a benefit for hospitals, which annually provided hundreds of millions of dollars in uncompensated care.
The report comes a month after Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Pittsford, and three other senators proposed legislation that bans the state from expanding Medicaid.
Reached Sunday, Caswell declined to comment on the report, saying he hasn't read it. But he said he would look at it.
For those who do not know the expansion of Medicaid will cover more than health insurance. It will provide job training, housing assistance, and education, all of which will be by the expansions of jobs and contracts to provide these services so people will no longer need assistance of Medicaid and will be able to pay more into the system when jobs, better jobs, are secured.
The report also comes as Gov. Rick Snyder's administration is studying Medicaid expansion, but has not yet made a decision on the issue.
"Gov. Snyder is very interested in short-, mid- and long-range projections, and he and the team are still closely analyzing the impacts and ramifications of any decision," said Sara Wurfel, Snyder's spokeswoman. "We're working hard to evaluate the options that will help determine the best course of action that provides protection and security for Michiganders." Best course of action is to end Medicaid fraud.
Great work, Maura Corrigan!!! The other 33% of kids live in medium to low poverty areas of Detroit or are they in foster care?
Before people get on their economic and racist soap box and start proselytizing child abuse propaganda, let me get one thing straight. You created this.
Maura Corrigan and her alter ego,
"The Queen of Child Welfare Fraud"
The period between 2000 and 2008 was a very dark period in Detroit. It was during this time the groundwork for the state harvesting of children took place, right here in Wayne County. Child Protective Services had nothing to do with protecting children. It was all about money.
Child welfare funding is not monitored so people were creating fake reasons to put children in care with fake services. There was so much fraud, from the administrative realm, in community, educational and social programs that the city began to crumble. Everyone in Metropolitan Detroit was using the picture of a "poor, abused child" to ask for money. Lincoln Hall of Justice Judges and Referees. Detroit Police Officers. Wayne County Commissioners. Clergy. Educators. A Mayor and his wife. An Assistant Attorney General who would later on become Governor of Michigan.
The State of Michigan covered it up the billions of dollars of fraud being sucked out of the system of Detroit.
This was the era of fraud. Everyone was doing it and everyone knew about it. It created jobs and stimulated the economy. There was banking fraud, campaign fraud, election fraud, federal fraud, tax fraud...foster care and adoption fraud. The who's who of Detroit had their hand in the cookie jar, from churches to courtrooms, from schools to hospitals, all at the expense of children.
Children were being shipped out of state and warehoused in overcrowded cells, not fit for human existence, in an abandoned prison in Texas, courtesy of these political leaders.
Children were being drugged for profit, a Medicaid reimbursed cost.
Children were tortured for the sadistic pleasure called therapy, a Medicaid reimbursed cost.
With the blessing of Michigan Department of Human Services under Marianne Udow and then State Supreme Court Justice Marua Corrigan, everyone covered it up because the institution of poverty was too powerful with too much potential to maximize the revenue of the state to advance their political aspirations.
Maura was once "blue slipped" and thought she was going to sit on SCOTUS. Udow thought she could make a lateral shift from EDS to state government. They ran public image campaigns.
In honor of the products of the "King Maker" I will be nominating Detroit community leaders and political figures who are System Sucks.
A System Suck is an individual or organization that profits from the malevolent use of children in poverty.
If you know someone you would like to nominate for this award, please submit to me or Legally Kidnapped with your reasons why the award should be given. I will be personally delivering my awards and encourage you to do so, also.
Detroit— More children live in high-poverty neighborhoods in Detroit than in any of the nation's 50 largest cities, according to a new report.
Roughly 67 percent of Detroit children live in a neighborhood with concentrated poverty, according to the "Data Snapshot on High-Poverty Communities" from Kids Count. That's 10 percentage points more than the next worst city, Cleveland, where 57 percent of children live in high-poverty areas.
Michigan ranked 44th among the states for the number of children living in neighborhoods where 30 percent or more of the population is in poverty, defined as about $22,000 per year or less for a family of four.
Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Jane Zehnder-Merrell said children who live in neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty "struggle more with behavior and emotional problems, they are less likely to graduate and they have reduced potential to be economically successful as adults."
There were 341,000 Michigan children in high-poverty communities in 2010, about 124,000 more than at the start of the decade, or a 57 percent increase.
The report, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, found the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods nationwide increased from 9 percent to 11 percent over the past decade. About 8 million children across the country live in areas with a high concentration of poverty.
The number of children living in such neighborhoods increased at a faster rate in Michigan than nationwide. Statewide, Michigan's share of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods climbed from 8 percent in 2000 to 14 percent between 2006 and 2010.
Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled that CPS agents are immune from liability even though it is substantially documented that they failed in their duties and let this girl meet her death.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the ruling and this is why.
There is a history of Calista Springer's mother, friends and family fighting for her well-being but in Michigan, it does not work that way.
Mark Bugnaski / Kalamazoo GazetteMembers of Calista Springer's biological mother's family mourned after her funeral Monday in front of the house in downtown Centreville where Calista died in a fire.
Michigan CPS advocated for the father to have custody of Calista years ago despite complaints of her mother.
Michigan granted the father consent to adopt his own child. How can a biological father adopt his own child? There were adoption bonuses and subsidies attached to this. The last time I checked this is considered a false claim, defrauding the federal government with the blessings of Michigan.
This is why Michigan ruled in favor of CPS, otherwise it would be admitting to false claims.
The CPS agents are not the ones liable, it is the state as they are only agents who follow the training and supervision of their superiors. It is the administration of the state which generates policies allowing for misfeasance and possible malfeasances in situations such as this. It is the state that will not hold these workers accountable. They may be just transferred like the workers of the Ricky Holland case.
I consider this nothing more than a severe breech of public policy.
The individual who is liable is the Michigan Director of Department of Human Services, The Madame Maura Corrigan. Even though she was not in the position, she inherited all responsibilities of Marianne Udow, the former Director who demonstrated positive presentations in lack of empathy to the posterity of childhood and human existence. Proudly, I state that I am the one who made her resign. (A story for another post).
With that said, the Court ruled properly. CPS agents are not liable and it was remanded for proper amendment of the record.
Rulings like this made me run for State Representative of District 4. Spread the word, I coming to Lansing.
UPDATE: Judge Michael J. Kelly used to sit on the Board of Advisors for St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Residential Institution I had shut down for similar actions as outlined in this case. He also sat on Board of Directors for Boysville, another hell hole.
The attorneys of this case should file for recusal based upon new evidence presented below and amend he complaint because he has a history of turning a blind eye to what goes on in Michigan's child welfare.
Over the last few days, it seems I have some really interested .xyz individuals who have taken a statistically significant interest the following post:
Tim Damschroder, of Ann Arbor, is a member of Bodman PLC, where he heads the Business Practice Group, advising clients in matters involving mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, general business, corporate governance, securities offerings, and tax. He served on the board of directors of the Washtenaw United Way, the Washtenaw County Red Cross, and on the advisory group of Ann Arbor Angels. Damschroder holds bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. He represents the general public.
Lynn Alexander, of Bloomfield Hills, is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. She also serves as president of Your Aging Well Advisor, a consulting and education firm for consumers over 50. Alexander has served on the Commission on Services to the Aging and as director of the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. She also has experience with the White House Conference on Aging, the Help America Vote Act Advisory Council, and the Elder Abuse Reporting Protocol advisory group and maintains involvement in several community organizations. Alexander holds a bachelor’s in social work from Defiance College and earned a master’s degree in psychology from Lone Mountain College, which is now known as the University of San Francisco. She represents the interests of senior citizens.
It looks like Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare.
A law signed this year to modernize Blue Cross required it to contribute up to $1.6 billion to a foundation that will take on some of its charitable work. The money may be spent on infant mortality, wellness and fitness programs and other areas.
Alexander is vice president of public affairs for Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.
ASSET FORFEITURE THROUGH CORPORATE PARENTAL RIGHTS
Keith Pretty, of Midland, is president and CEO of Northwood University, a position he has held since 2006. He previously served as president and CEO of Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration. His previous experience includes work for the State of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Amoco Corporation, the Michigan Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives. Pretty holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Michigan University and a degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He represents the general public.
Susan Jandernoa, of West Olive, taught fourth, fifth, and sixth graders for 30 years at East Grand Rapids Public Schools before retiring in 2004. She is a member of the Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan, the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan, the YMCA Advisory Board, and is a local board president for Ele’s Place. Jandernoa holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Central Michigan University. She serves as the nominee of the Speaker of the House.
What we do ~ We steal Medicaid from Child Welfare, then use the funds for personal investments in land we stole from the Detroit in fake ass property tax & bogus mortgage forclosures, then snatch up the properties in the name of the tax exempt god from the fake ass Detroit Land Bank Authority, then mortgage a few times in federal grants, wiping them out in quiet titles, run the financial boon out the U.S. through children's trust funds, mostly the Ukraine, then funnel back to fund U.S. campaigns, to get chosen spokestokens elected by taking over the administrations of local & state governments, to get more crappy predictive modeling Social Impact Bond private state contracts in child welfare, where we never have to pay taxes because it is all done as a foreign takeover the U.S. in the name of the tax exempt god.
We support the development of Michigan as an outstanding state in which to live, learn, work, and raise a family, with a particular focus on West Michigan. We do this by committing our leadership, talent, and financial resources, in particular to key initiatives and effective organizations seeking to collaboratively and positively enhance:
Education
Wellness and Healthcare
Families and Quality of Life
Individual Responsibility
Jobs (see also Entrepreneurship)
Public policy - particularly focused on the first five of these priorities
Rob Fowler, of Haslett, is president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, a 10,000 member business trade association. He previously worked for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Department of Commerce. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Small Business Association, the Michigan Health Insurance Access Advisory Council and the Haslett Board of Education. He represents the business community.
As president/CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), Rob Fowler is a registered lobbyist representing small business before the Michigan Legislature. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Small Business Association and serves on the board of the newly created nonprofit organization MiQuest, whose mission is to make Michigan the State of Entrepreneurship. In October 2013, he was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to serve on the Board of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and currently serves as board chair. SBAM, which was founded in 1969, serves more than 23,000 member companies from all of Michigan’s 83 counties. A leading voice for growing the state’s entrepreneurial community through a strategy known as “economic gardening,” SBAM helps Michigan’s small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy.
Fowler joined SBAM in 2000 and was vice president of the subsidiary corporation, Small Business Insurance Services, until July 2003, when he became president. Before moving to Michigan, he was the executive director of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) in Cleveland, Ohio from 1995 to 2000. A former lobbyist for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for ten years, he served as executive director of the Indiana Small Business Council and was on the staff of the Indiana Lt. Governor for two years.
He is the former chair of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan and has served as chair of the Business Advisory Committee of the Michigan Hospital Association. A graduate of Ball State University with a degree in political science, Rob and his wife Lisa live in Haslett with their son Reid and daughter Emma.
Henry Veenstra, of Zeeland, was the President of Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, a position he held for more than four decades. During his tenure, Veenstra directed all strategic planning, construction of a new facility, and the transition of Zeeland Community Hospital to membership in the Spectrum Health System. In addition to being a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Hospital Association Foundation. Veenstra serves as the nominee of the Senate Majority Leader.
Michigan State University Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building. University of Michigan Biomedical Science Building, a 2007 AIA honor award winner. The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor (MLSC) is a $1 billion biotechnology initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan. The MLSC invests in biotech research at four Michigan institutions: the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; Michigan State University in East Lansing; Wayne State University in Detroit; and the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation administers the program. It began in 1999 with money from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry. When the program's funds distributions are completed in 2019, the goal is that the investments in high tech research will have notably expanded the state's economic base. History In 1998, the State of Michigan, along with 45 other states, reached the $8.5 billion Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, a settlement with the U.S. tobacco industry.[1] Former Governor John Engler created the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor in 1999 when he signed Public Act 120 of 1999.[2] The bill appropriated money from the state's settlement with the tobacco industry to fund biotech research at four of Michigan's largest research institutions.[3] Under the management of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the MLSC allocated $1 billion over the course of 20 years, including $50 million in 1999 to fund research on aging.[4] The following year, the MLSC awarded $100 million to 63 Michigan universities.[5] In 2002, Governor Jennifer Granholm incorporated the MLSC into the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor, adding funding for homeland security and alternative fuel research.[6] In 2009, the University of Michigan added a 30-building, 174-acre (0.70 km2) North Campus Research Complex by acquiring the former Pfizer pharmaceutical corporation facility.[7] A BioEnterprise Midwest Healthcare Venture report found that Michigan attracted $451.8 million in new biotechnology venture capital investments from 2005 to 2009.[8][9]
Alexis Wiley, of Detroit, is Chief of Staff for Mayor Mike Duggan, where she oversees the implementation of the Mayor’s initiatives, legislative affairs and external communications. Prior to joining the administration, Wiley was a reporter and anchor at WJBK Fox 2 Detroit. Her Emmy award-winning work has appeared on local television stations across the country and cable networks such as Fox News and CNN. Wiley is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, a member of The Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves on the board of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Wiley serves as the nominee of the House Minority Leader.
I still want to know about FOX2Detroit and their financial fundraising activities with St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Residential Facility.
Michael Williams, of Westland, is the president and CEO of Orchards Children’s Services, Michigan’s largest foster care and adoption agency. He has served in this capacity since 2003. Previously, he was president of Detroit-based Starr Vista Inc., and held various positions with Starr Commonwealth, in Albion. Williams is an adjunct professor at Albion College, and received the “Heroes” award from Michigan’s Children in 2007. He holds many professional memberships and is involved in several community organizations. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Albion College and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Eastern Michigan University. He represents the interests of minor children.
Michael Williams is dumb as dirt. I only say this as an original source, where I am more than willing to swear an oath in the court, under penalty of law, to this fact....wait a minute...I already did.
Cindy Estrada and her international symbol of stealin'
Cindy Estrada is serving her third four-year term as a UAW Vice President and currently heads the Fiat Chrysler and Women’s Departments.
She earned a degree in education from the University of Michigan and had planned to become a teacher. After organizing with the United Farm Workers union on an internship she was drawn to union organizing instead.
Estrada worked as a UAW Region 1A temporary organizer successfully organizing a number of Parts suppliers. She helped organize workers at Mexican Industries in southwest Detroit in 1995, resulting in one of the UAW’s largest victories among Spanish-speaking manufacturing workers.
Estrada’s organizing ability was recognized by then UAW President Stephen P. Yokich, who appointed Estrada to the UAW International’s organizing staff in 2000.
She was soon appointed to Coordinator of Michigan organizing and ran the Michigan Organizing Center. In 2007 UAW Vice President Terry Thurman appointed her as the Administrative Assistant over the Organizing Department. After Terry Thurman’s retirement UAW President, Ron Gettlefinger appointed Estrada as the Director of the National Organizing Department.
She was first elected UAW Vice President in 2010 and assigned to direct the unions UAW Independents, Parts and Supplier/Competitive Shop Department; Public Sector and Health care servicing department and the UAW Women’s Department. While in that role she was the lead negotiator for over 17,000 UAW workers in the State of Michigan.
Estrada also led negotiations for the Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions, providing historic agreements protecting health care and establishing vital programs addressing privatization and workplace democracy for over 35,000 state employees.
As director of UAW Independents, Parts and Suppliers/Competitive Shop Department Estrada proudly honored the reason Walter Reuther urged the departments establishment in 1968: to use the UAW’s parts worker density to establish minimum industry-wide compensation standards in IPS contracts. This resulted in breakthrough agreements in seating and other major auto component part industries.
Four years later, she became the first woman and first Latina to lead the union’s General Motors Department.
The long-time organizer and activist is involved with many labor and community organizations. Estrada is a proud member of UAW Local 174, having worked at Impressions in Taylor, MI. She is the mother of twin 15-year-old sons, stepmother to four and grandmother of six. She is the widow of the late UAW organizer and retired Administrative Assistant Frank White.
I apologize to my readership, but I neglected to post one of my all time favorite, classic child abuse propaganda reports of Michigan.
This is the report where, former Direct Marianne Udow announced her resignation the day I did a WWJ national radio interview and ripped the administrative entombments of its systemic fraud.
Ah, the memories. There was a series of state administrative resignations that followed that day.
Anyway, this is the report that came out to play damage control for the State Auditor General's report that came out documenting the horrifying operations of the state's child welfare system.
The recommendations of the report were to "identify, target, maximize, engage and focus" on more Title IV-E funds and that is exactly what they did.
"Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money." I do so enjoy a good propaganda campaign.
Let's sit back and see what how good the next child abuse propaganda campaign is going to be. It's going to have to be a miraculous to cover this mess!
Mailing Address: The Jason Foundation, Inc.
18 Volunteer Dr.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone:(615)264-2323
Email: info@jasonfoundation.com
Website: www.jasonfoundation.com
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
Entity Type: CorporationState Established: TNDate Created: 10/01/1997
501(c)(3): YesEIN: 62-1714715
Purpose Statement: PROVIDE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT IN THE AID OF YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION.
FILING STATUS
Solicitation Registration Status Charitable Trust Registration Status
Registered - Expiration Date: 7/31/2020Exempt
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Data is taken from the organization's IRS return or, if no return
was filed, from its solicitation registration or financial statements.
Period Ending 12/31/2018
Total Revenue $1,442,068.00
Total Expenses $1,339,493.00
Revenue Less Expenses $102,575.00
Reports Filed 990/CPA Audit
Total Assets $3,470,240.00
Net Assets $3,298,092.00
Expense breakdown % of Total
Expenses Charitable Programs Program Services $1,189,655.0089.00 % Supporting Services Mgt & General* $118,363.009.00 % Fundraising* $31,475.002.00 % Total Supporting Services $149,838.0011.19 %
=====================================================================
Source US Federal Central Contractor Registration, http://www.acquisition.gov/
RELATED DATA
Company Addresses
COMPANY ADDRESS
1220 L ST NW STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC, 200054013
ID Number: 801868371
Summary for: BCA OF DETROIT, LLC
The name of the FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY: BCA OF DETROIT, LLC
Entity type: FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Identification Number: 801868371Old ID Number: B94531
Date of Qualification in Michigan: 09/11/2008
Organized under the laws of: the state of Delaware
Purpose:
Term: Perpetual
The name and address of the Resident Agent:
Resident Agent Name:THE CORPORATION COMPANY <=== a foreign agent not registered under FARA because everyone is stealin' the children, land and votes in Michigan and attorneys have immunity...but not for much longer.
Street Address:40600 ANN ARBOR RD E STE 201
Apt/Suite/Other:
City:PLYMOUTHState:MIZip Code:48170
Registered Office Mailing address:
P.O. Box or Street Address:
Apt/Suite/Other:
City:State:Zip Code:
When a youth would file one of those Recipient Rights Complaints, it was always tossed.
I know.
I used to talk to them.
Then I would file a grievance with Michigan, strictly for documentational purposes, only, because all they did was toss, or send me a gratuitous phone call, or dismissive missive, letting me know everything was status quo.
See, there are no civil rights in child welfare because it is all privatized under foreign corporate shape shifters who like to use LLCs because it is easy to dissolve, or bankrupt, or sell, gift, trust or something, right after you get the state grants. contracts and the fake ass Medicaid cost reimbursements because, more than likely, they took out some mortgages, DLA Small Business loan, TARP, then quiet titled, then mortgaged again, or some stealin' like that.
0121028489.15000 GRATIOTDETROITBCA REAL ESTATE HOLDING LLC
0121028489-9015000 GRATIOTDETROITBCA REAL ESTATE HOLDING LLC
0121991831.0115000 GRATIOTDETROITA & H PHARMACY SERVICES INC
0121991831.0215000 GRATIOTDETROITBERGEN BRUNSWIG DRUG COMPANY / PMB 308,LEASED TO:SCCI HOSPITAL OF DETROIT
0121991831.0315000 GRATIOTDETROITZEVEX INC
0121991831.0415000 GRATIOTDETROITABRAMSON, SAMUEL M MD PC / A/K/A ST JOHN GRATIOT CENTER
0121991831.0515000 GRATIOTDETROITSARATOGA URGENT CARE PC
0121991831.1015000 GRATIOTDETROITST JOHN HOSPITAL
0121991831.1515000 GRATIOTDETROITTRIUMPH HEALTH CARE,TRIUMPH HOSPITAL OF DETROIT
0121991832.0015000 GRATIOTDETROITSARATOGA GENERAL HOSPITAL
0121991832.0115000 GRATIOTDETROITUNIVERSAL HOSPITAL SERVICES INC
0121991833.1015000 GRATIOTDETROITCOMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION / DBA: COMPUTER SCIENCES<====Dyncorp
0121991834.0115000 GRATIOTDETROITSARATOGA MGMT INC
All they ever want is to turn a profit.
How is it one can turn a profit when engaging in the healing of a child?
Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare, of course.
Oh, there are so many fraudulent billing scams that go on in child welfare.
I used to let them take me in their offices and show me everything, including voicing their grievances that Michigan will not do a damn thing for these children.
Remember, there are no civil rights in child welfare because it is privatized, where the foreign entity comes up with its own, self-reporting, of all the wonderful things they do for kids.
Lawmakers call for more review of post-release deaths
Notification of Death Report
LANSING (WXYZ) — Since 2017, at least four patients have died within two days of being released from StoneCrest Hospital, a private inpatient psychiatric facility in Detroit. Despite being notified of each of the deaths, state officials never investigated.
Officials with LARA, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, say they’re not legally required to follow up on deaths like these, nor are they empowered to by statute. Today, in response to an investigation by 7 Action News, two state senators are calling for changes to ensure that post-release deaths are investigated.
RELATED: A Detroit psychiatric hospital released him Thursday, he took his life Friday
At 162 beds, StoneCrest is one of the largest private psychiatric facilities in the state. 7 Action News first investigated the hospital earlier this year, after one of its patients, Joe Sadlak, admitted to murder only two days after he was discharged.
He had been treated at StoneCrest for less than a week.
“You put my son on four different kinds of medication and knew his drug history,” said Pamela Rowley, Joe’s mother, “and you let him go.”
In Michigan, when a psychiatric patient dies within two days of being released from a hospital, the state requires the hospital to report it. Those reports come to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
In September 2017, StoneCrest reported that a patient came to its hospital after stating he “was not happy in his life and wanted to die.” After treatment, he was released and died shortly thereafter. StoneCrest reported the death to the state, listing the cause as “not known.”
Less than a month later, another patient came to Stonecrest after saying he wanted to “jump off a bridge.” Within 2 days of release, he was found dead in his bathtub with his throat cut. State officials from LARA didn’t investigate.
A third death would be reported the following July. A woman came to Stonecrest with a history of suicidal behavior. She was treated, released and—the next day—found dead in a river. The cause of death was listed as “unknown.” Again, state officials didn’t investigate.
Then, this past June, a 29-year-old Detroit man came to Stonecrest after displaying severe psychotic behavior. He was deemed well enough to be released, but took his life the next day.
“Did your office ask any questions about that?” asked Channel 7’s Ross Jones.
“Again, we’ve been doing our statutory requirement,” said Larry Horvath, the Director of the Bureau of Community and Health System at LARA
“Did you ask any questions about that?” Jones asked again.
“We required the report to be filled out,” Horvath said.
“And that’s it,” Jones replied.
“Yes,” Horvath said.
Officials asked no questions, according to a spokesman, because “LARA is not by law or rule required to follow up on these reported deaths,” nor—they say— does the law give them the express authority to. State watchdogs are empowered to investigate only deaths that occur in restraints, Horvath said.
The death reports are reviewed during regular inspections, but no investigations are launched. Horvath said he hopes hospitals use the reports to guide their treatment.
"If they're starting to notice a pattern with a cause of death that occurs have discharge, hopefully they're starting to work with their medical directors, their nursing staff, their social workers to put corrections in place to address it," he said.
“It’s inexcusable,” said Mark Reinstein, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in Michigan. “To hide behind, ‘It’s not our legal responsibility.’ Well then whose is it?”
By law, LARA is required to report all psychiatric deaths reported to them to the state legislature. But they haven’t been, 7 Action News has learned, for at least the last three years. In August, prompted by our reporting, the state submitted reports for 2016, 2017 and 2018, though they did not include post-release deaths.
Following our questions, LARA changed the reporting requirements for post-release deaths—no longer requiring that deaths occurring within 48 hours of discharge be reported. Spokesman Jason Moon said changing the policy aligns LARA with state law, which doesn’t require notification of post-release deaths.
The decision stunned multiple mental health advocates, including Andrea Rizor, the Director of Advocacy for Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services,.
“It looks like they don’t want to know if it’s a suspicious death or not,” she said. "It doesn't make sense."
This week, in response to 7 Action News' findings, the Democratic leader in the state senate is calling for changes.
“Stories like these are deeply concerning, and as a state we should be doing all that we can to help stop these preventable deaths,” said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint). “The department should have the ability to identify concerning patterns, and if it requires a legislative fix to make sure they are empowered to do so, we will write the bill.”
Care Act in June, but one provision was not upheld: penalizing states that opt out of the laws expanding Medicaid.
