September 14, 2005

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) will hold two public forums next week to further its efforts on addressing health care coverage for uninsured Michigan residents.

“The Health Care Listening Tour represents a tremendous opportunity for Michigan citizens to share their concerns about the impact that the lack of health insurance is having on themselves and their communities,” said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. “We want to communicate with local residents directly to learn more about the true impact the lack of health insurance has on individuals, families, and communities.”

Next week, MDCH will hold two public forums, including:

Tuesday, September 20: Flint

Riverfront Character Inn, 1 Riverfront Center

Flint, Michigan 48502

Thursday, September 22: Gaylord

University Center, 80 Livingston Boulevard

Gaylord, Michigan 49735

Both forums will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The public is invited to attend both forums. If you require special accommodations, please contact MDCH at (517) 241-2966.

Other public forums will be announced at a future date. Local organizations in several additional cities will also be hosting town hall meetings on behalf of MDCH later this year. A schedule of those events also will be forthcoming.

The Michigan State Planning Project for the Uninsured – operating since January 2005 under a federal grant – has already involved key stakeholders, policymakers, and professionals who work with the uninsured.

The project intends to broaden and strengthen the current knowledge base regarding uninsured citizens by utilizing extensive research methods, including household surveys, Michigan employer surveys, focus groups, interviews with policymakers, and town hall meetings. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2006.