Michigan Council for Maternal Child Health

 

August 1, 2014

In this issue
Voters to Consider Proposal 1, Other Races in Tuesday's Primary
State Sees Increase in HPV Vaccinations for Teens
Remembering Public Health Champion Jean Chabut

Voters to Consider Proposal 1, Other Races in Tuesday's Primary

From Citizens Research Council

State policymakers succeeded in 2012 in enacting legislation to eliminate a large portion of the personal property tax burden on Michigan businesses, particularly those involved in the manufacturing sector. They followed up that success with revised legislation in 2014 - part of a compromise reached with local government organizations - that would largely reimburse local units of government for their revenue losses under the new PPT exemptions. Given the fiscal tensions between the state and local units of government, the agreement relies on a unique and somewhat peculiar arrangement through which a new local (yet statewide) unit of government is given authority to levy a portion of the state's existing use tax as a new local tax. Given this construct, constitutional restrictions on new local taxes require approval by local voters, which in this unique case, is all of the Michigan electorate.

The package also comes at a price. The reimbursement provisions contained in the package are not cheap, and the state will forego an increasing amount of its general fund/general purpose revenue in future years in order to hold local governments harmless from the PPT reforms. The net loss to GF/GP revenue rises to over $500 million by FY2025, and this foregone revenue also means foregone opportunities to use this revenue to meet other budget priorities.

State voters will be asked, in a direct sense, to vote on the proposed redirection of the state's existing use tax revenue to help facilitate the reimbursement to local governments of lost PPT revenues. But again, the vote has much broader implications as a rejection of the ballot measure effectively repeals the entire set of reforms, essentially re-establishing the imposition of the personal property tax on businesses and canceling the need for the local reimbursement. Valid arguments have been advanced by supporters of the PPT repeal that the reforms will enhance business competitiveness and encourage additional private sector investment. Voters will need to weigh these arguments against their own judgments as to the potential value of other possible budget and tax reforms that could be achieved with the state GF/GP resources that will otherwise be invested to facilitate the PPT reforms.

Remember to vote in Tuesday's primary!

We all need to consider Proposal 1, but many of us will also have critical primaries for state and local offices including seats in the State House and Senate. Please familiarize yourself with the candidates and their position on issues that matter to you.

Several current legislators who have been champions for the Medicaid expansion/Healthy Michigan Plan are encountering significant primary challengers who are using their vote on this issue against them. These are almost exclusively seats where the primary will decide the election. We need to join with others in health care to support these incumbents and keep people in office that are supportive of HMP, or chance more "tea party" voices that will try and repeal the coverage for over 340,000 people (and that number increases every minute).

Key House members seeking re-election: Rep. Anthony Forlini - Harrison, Clinton, and Macomb Townships Rep. Frank Foster - Chippewa, Emmet, and Mackinac Counties; Koehler, Beaugrand, Hebron, Mackinaw, and Munro Townships; City of Cheboygan Rep. Brad Jacobsen - Oxford, Orion, Oakland, Addison, Brandon Townships Rep. Klint Kesto - Wixom, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield Township, Village of Wolverine Lake

Key Senate members seeking re-election:Sen. Goeff Hansen -Oceana, Muskegon, and Newaygo Counties Sen. Mike Kowall - Orchard Lake, White Lake Township, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield Township, Walled Lake, Wixom, Novi, Lyon Township, Milford Township, and South Lyon

Key members seeking to move to  higher office:

Rep. Wayne Schmidt (running for State Senate) - Luce, Mackinac, Chippewa, Emmet, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Antrim, and Grand Traverse Counties Sen. John Moolenaar (running for US Congress) - Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, Mescosta, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Gratiot, Saginaw, Clinton, and Shiawassee Counties

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State Sees Increase in HPV Vaccinations for Teens

The 2013 National Immunization Survey for teens (NIS-Teen) has been issued in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

In conjunction with the release, Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, held a telebriefing to talk about NIS-Teen findings, where she highlighted five states with significant impressive increases in HPV coverage. Michigan was one of the five states mentioned, with a 17.9 point increase (from 48.1% to 66.0%) for one or more doses of HPV vaccine for females.  An MMWR was also released on the HPV findings, "Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents, 2007-2013, and Postlicensure Vaccine Safety Monitoring, 2006-2014 - United States."

According to NIS-Teen 2013 data, Michigan coverage levels for 13-17 year olds are as follows:

94.0% (+3.4) for two or more doses of MMR

92.2% (+3.8) for two or more doses of Var

81.0% (+5.2) for one or more doses of Tdap

90.7% (+3.9) for one or more doses of MenACWY

66.0% (+9.1) for one or more doses of HPV among females (statistically significant increase from 2012)

34.5% (+9.4) for three or more doses of HPV among females

30.0% (+8.1) for one or more doses of HPV among males (statistically significant increase from 2012)

7.7% (+4.5) for three or more doses of HPV among males

In Michigan, 2013 coverage with Var, MenACWY, and HPV (one or more doses among females) was above the national average. Further, Michigan reached the Healthy People 2020 targets for Tdap, Var, and MenACWY in 2013.

The MCIR County Immunization Report Cards have been updated include current NIS-Teen 2013 data.  The report cards contain select immunization measures across the lifespan for each Michigan county and the City of Detroit.  Additionally, the report card ranks each immunization measure for the county compared to all of Michigan's 83 counties and the City of Detroit.

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Remembering Public Health Champion Jean Chabut

MCMCH joins others in the state health community in mourning the passing of Jean Chabut, former deputy director of public health administration for MDCH. Jean retired in 2012 after 30 years of service, and was a passionate public health advocate whose breadth of experience and knowledge was a tremendous asset to the state.

DCH Director James Haveman issued the following statement about Jean:

"The passing of Jean Chabut, former deputy director of the Public Health Administration within the Michigan Department of Community Health, is a loss not only to those who knew her personally, but to the many Michigan residents whose lives have been touched by her commitment to improving public health in Michigan.

"Jean was a champion of public health for Michigan residents for more than 30 years. She was an absolutely invaluable resource and trusted colleague within the Department as well as with many of our partners. Her keen understanding and passion for public health in Michigan served our residents well throughout her entire career and her passing is a loss to both the Michigan Department of Community Health family and entire the field of public health."

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Contributors to this Issue Citizens Research Council HealthDay MDCH Division of Immunization