Four of the top legislative leaders in Michigan health care and health policy joined us at our 2022 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference to discuss the most pressing issues in the state legislature. 

The keynote panel included Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Cadillac), Chair of the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee, Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Minority Vice-Chair of the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee, Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Allegan), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Lansing), Minority Vice-Chair of the House Health Policy Committee. 

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The legislators said they are mainly focused on access to care for rural communities, food insecurity, fixing the behavioral health system, and expanding the health care professional workforce. 

“Most people just assume that our hospitals are always going to be there, and right now, they don’t understand the shortage that we have in professionals…” said VanderWall. “We are finally starting to make a bit of a difference in making sure people are aware of their mental health, but we need to continue to make sure that we allow [the experts] to build staff around you that can give us those opportunities around the state.”