Granholm, Ficano, Kilpatrick Say Health Authority Ensures Health Care for the Uninsured, Underinsured

Access to Quality, Convenient Care Among the Goals

August 18, 2004

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said the new regionally-based Detroit Wayne County Health Authority will help ensure that uninsured and underinsured residents in Detroit and Wayne County have access to quality health care in the months and years to come.  The Governor made her comments at the authority's first meeting at the Cabrini Clinic in Detroit. 

Photo Gallery

"The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority will help find ways to provide efficient and quality health care for thousands of residents in southeast Michigan who are underinsured or have no insurance," Granholm said.  "The authority will ensure that vulnerable citizens will have a home in the health care network where they can be treated.  This will benefit not only the patients but the healthcare systems that are responsible for their care."

Through the cooperative efforts of the State of Michigan, Wayne County, and the City of Detroit, the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority will provide, arrange for, and improve health care services and health care programs for uninsured and underinsured individuals in Detroit and Wayne County.

The health authority will:

• manage and improve the viability and effectiveness of health care for the residents it serves;
• ensure improved access to health care services through an integrated, coordinated, and seamless health care system that includes a full range of providers and services;
• aggressively seek and distribute additional government and private funds for health care services; and,
• enhance efficiencies at every level of the health care delivery process.

"Some 280,000 uninsured people in our communities and neighborhoods need access to convenient and quality medical care that helps keep them and their families healthy and the health authority is our key to achieving that for them," said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.  "It's the key to leveraging millions in health care funds and ensuring the safety net for primary and preventive medical services.  Our goal is to have a safety net that protects the uninsured and the tens of thousands of underinsured people as well."

"Today is another great step toward improving the quality of health care in our city and the surrounding region," said Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick.  "I applaud the state and county for working steadfastly with us to make this historic entity a reality.  This is a great example of how collaborative efforts can help to enhance the quality of life in any region."

In April 2003, Governor Granholm convened a workgroup of public and private health care leaders to research, study, and recommend solutions to creating a health care safety net in Detroit and Wayne County.  The recommendations of this group centered on establishing the authority by the signing of an intergovernmental agreement by the City of Detroit, Wayne County, and the State of Michigan.  Additionally, both the Detroit City Council and the Wayne County Commission have formally approved the agreement.

Serving on the authority are:

• Cynthia Taueg, vice president for urban and community health of St. John's Health System (Appointed by Granholm.)
• Sister Mary Giovanni, founder and president/CEO of Angela Hospice Home Care, Inc. (Appointed by Granholm on the recommendation of legislative leadership.)
• Dr. Noble A.W. Maseru, director and health officer for the City of Detroit's Department of Health and Wellness Promotion. (Appointed by Mayor Kilpatrick.)
• Dr. John B. Waller, Jr., senior vice-president for urban and community health at the Detroit Medical Center. (Appointed by Mayor Kilpatrick.) 
• Maryann Mahaffey, president of the Detroit City Council, representing the Detroit City Council
• Jewel Ware, chair of the Wayne County Commission, representing the Wayne County Commission.
• Gail Warden, former president and chief operating officer of the Henry Ford Health System. (Appointed by Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski.

Ficano has nominated Ron Gettelfinger, UAW president, and Sandra A. Cicirelli, mayor of the city of Westland, as his appointees, with Chuck Gayney, UAW member, as alternate.  The nominations are subject to approval by the Wayne County Commission.