December 04, 2003
December 4, 2003
DETROIT – After months of negotiation, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick today finalized an intergovernmental agreement that will ensure long-term viability for health care services in southeastern Michigan.
The creation of the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority marks a milestone in the way health care services will be delivered in both the city of Detroit and Wayne County.
"For the first time, the State of Michigan, Wayne County, and the City of Detroit have come together in common purpose to address critical health care needs in southeastern Michigan," Granholm said. "This agreement will ensure continued viability of safety net medical services in Wayne County and create a strategic plan of action for the future."
When approved by both the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and the Detroit City Council, the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority will begin to create a roadmap for health services that will lead to a healthier Detroit area.
"Together, we’ve achieved a real victory today for the people affected by the lack of access to medical care and by the high costs of health care services," Ficano said. "The creation of the Wayne County-Detroit Health Authority provides the framework for a vital safety net for the uninsured and underinsured and has the potential to be a blueprint for an expanded multi-county approach to resolving the regional health care crisis. It's good news that this agreement and the authority will provide continuity of care, require accountability, and leverage more federal funds in a restructured health care system that better serves the public."
Within 30 days of the Detroit City Council and Wayne County Board of Commissioners approval, the next step for the authority will be the creation of a nine-member governing board – with three members each appointed from the state, county, and City of Detroit.
"One of the major cries that I heard from the health care community coming into office was the need for government to take more of a lead role in finding ways to reduce the burden of uncompensated care," said Kilpatrick. "The creation of the Wayne County-Detroit Health Authority is a major milestone for this region. It is also a most essential first step in closing the gap in the delivery of adequate health care to the uninsured and underinsured. I commend the State and Wayne County in helping us take the lead in addressing this region's health care needs."
Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health said, "It is our hope that the agreement will serve as a watershed event that changes the face of health care in southeastern Michigan and will eventually serve as a successful model for other urban cities across the country."
