Michigan’s Suicide Rate Dropped More Than 12% During Pandemic
Suicides were down to 1,284 in 2020 from 2019's 1,471 figure in Michigan. Meanwhile, a Maine project to prevent youth suicide is getting a nearly $850,000 boost from the federal government. And in other news across the states, wildfires, drought, equal pay matters and more.
Detroit Free Press:
Michigan Suicides Declined During Pandemic, Early Data Shows
While COVID-19 upended and ended the lives of thousands of Michiganders, taking a profound emotional toll, the challenges of 2020 did not seem to bring about a rise in suicides, which early data indicates dropped last year after rising significantly over the previous decade. According to provisional data from the state health department, Michigan recorded 1,284 deaths by suicide in 2020, down nearly 200 from the 1,471 recorded in 2019 and more than 250 from the 1,547 deaths in 2018. (Hendrickson and Boucher, 8/4)
AP:
Youth Suicide Prevention Programs Get Support In Maine
A project to try to prevent youth suicide in Maine is receiving a nearly $850,000 boost from the federal government. The effort is called the Maine Comprehensive Suicide Project and it supports youth suicide prevention programs in the state. Independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins said the money was awarded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention & Control. (8/5)
In updates on the wildfires and drought in California —
The Washington Post:
Dixie Fire And River Fire Burn In Northern California, Forcing Thousands Of Evacuations
As the Dixie Fire in Northern California surged on Wednesday, scorching the community of Greenville that firefighters had worked overnight this week to save, the nearby River Fire grew rapidly in less than a day, forcing thousands to evacuate. The Dixie Fire grew to more than 278,000 acres by Wednesday evening amid a red flag warning — indicating the risk of “extreme fire behavior” caused by hot, dry and windy conditions — that was issued through Thursday evening local time. (Pietsch, 8/5)
CBS News:
California Tourist Town Running Out Of Water Amid Drought
The historic California town of Mendocino is running out of water, as the wells the tourist town depends on are drying up amid a devastating drought. The Alegria Inn is paying to truck in water so its guests can shower. "Right now it costs $600 for 3,500 gallons, and that's lasting us a week," said Eric Hillesland, who runs the inn. (Evans, 8/4)
In news from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kentucky —
The Boston Globe:
McKee Signs Bills On Equal Pay, Women’s Health, Health Insurance In R.I.
Governor Dan McKee signed five new bills into law on Wednesday, supporting women’s health and pay equity for all employees, regardless of their gender or ethnicity. The pay equity legislation was first introduced in the House in January by Representative Susan Donovan, a Portsmouth Democrat, and introduced in the Senate by Senator Gayle Goldin, a Providence Democrat, in early February. (Gagosz, 8/4)
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Feds Roll Back ‘Confusing’ Addiction Funding Rules That Had Deadly Consequence In Pa.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has eliminated language that prohibited grant recipients from providing federal funding “to any individual who or organization that provides or permits marijuana use for the purposes of treating substance use or mental disorders. ”The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs highlighted the change in a public bulletin Monday. A spokesperson said the agency had “no insight into what led to the change, but we are happy to see that the updated term no longer includes” the prohibition. (Mahon, 8/4)
AP:
WellCare Of Kentucky To Expand Hazard Call Center
WellCare of Kentucky, a Medicaid and Medicare services provider, will double employment at its national call center in Hazard, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday. The eastern Kentucky facility was selected over call centers in Tennessee, Texas and Arizona. It will add 16 customer service representatives, a team leader and a supervisor, with all positions to be hired and trained by September. (8/5)
In news from North Carolina, Mississippi, Wisconsin and Montana —
North Carolina Health News:
When People With Dementia Wander, NC Programs Help
Deputy Daniel Roberson of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office still recalls a case a couple of years ago when a 75-year-old woman with dementia wandered from her home. The incident launched a multi-day search. Hundreds of people participated, combing the woods and streets near her home. Severe storms interrupted the search briefly. Two days passed before investigators from the sheriff’s office and other rescue crews found the woman in a drainage ditch, thankfully alive. (Dougani, 8/5)
Mississippi Clarion Ledger:
Medicaid Proponents Sound Off On MS Auditor's Fraud Accusations
Whether it's partisanship or political posturing, some advocates think State Auditor Shad White intentionally singled out Medicaid fraud in his office's audit report to make it harder for poor Mississippians to get public assistance. “This ... is going to be used during next year’s legislative session to make it even harder for low-income children to (get) basic health insurance,” Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, wrote on Twitter Monday afternoon. Dortch, a former Democratic state lawmaker, said in an interview he thinks White, a Republican, is using his office to set a political agenda. (Sanderlin, 8/4)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Gov. Tony Evers Introduces Bills To Reduce Costs Of Prescription Drugs
After a similar but less comprehensive set of proposals was shot down by Republicans in the budget, Gov. Tony Evers introduced a new legislative package Wednesday aimed at increasing access and lowering the costs of prescription drugs. Joined by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg and Democratic state Rep. Lisa Subeck, Evers announced the legislative package, comprised of initiatives proposed by Evers in the 2021-23 biennial budget earlier this year. (Garfield, 8/4)
KHN:
Feds To Nix Work Requirements In Montana Medicaid Expansion Program
Federal health officials will likely reject Montana’s request to include work requirements for beneficiaries of its Medicaid expansion program, which insures 100,000 low-income Montana adults, state officials said. Three years after the Trump administration encouraged states to require proof that adult enrollees are working a certain number of hours or looking for work as a condition of receiving Medicaid expansion benefits, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has reversed course under Democratic President Joe Biden. (Halland, 8/5)
