Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Flint Investigator: Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Could Be On The Table
The Associated Press: Flint Counsel Says Manslaughter Charge Harshest Possible
Flint's water crisis, after a switch in the source allowed dangerous levels of lead and potentially caused deadly cases of Legionnaires' disease, could result in criminal charges as serious as involuntary manslaughter, a top investigator said Tuesday. The emergency will prompt Gov. Rick Snyder to propose another $195 million in aid in his annual budget proposal on Wednesday, including $25 million to potentially replace old lead and copper pipes. The proposal comes on top of $37 million in emergency funding already set aside to address the crisis. (Eggert, 2/9)
The Detroit Free Press: State Defends Legionnaires' Response In Flint Crisis
State health officials today defended their response to the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint, discounting concerns that infighting hurt public health. "We rely on strong relationships with our partners at the local level including primary care providers, community organizations, health plans, and most importantly our local health departments,” Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. (Wisely and Anderson, 2/9)
The Detroit Free Press: Snyder To Propose $195M More For Flint Water Crisis
Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday is expected to request an additional $195 million to bring back safe drinking water to Flint and treat its impacted residents after highly corrosive water drawn from the Flint River leached lead throughout the city's drinking water system, according to a person familiar with the budget. (Dolan, Gray and Spangler, 2/9)
