Car insurance reform supported by Rep. Shane Hernandez was signed into state law last week, lowering costs for all Michigan drivers.  The reforms – approved by Hernandez and the Legislature – give drivers more choice on personal injury protection coverage, combat fraudulent claims and stop price gouging on medical services for car accident victims. Many Michigan families will save hundreds of dollars or more each year.  Michigan has had the most expensive car insurance in the nation mostly because it’s the only state mandating unlimited lifetime health care coverage through car insurance. The revised law will provide more affordable options while allowing those who currently use the unlimited coverage to keep it, and those who want it in the future to continue buying it.  “These reforms will get rid of what amounts to a burdensome and often unaffordable mandate on Michigan drivers, providing real rate relief,” said Hernandez, of Port Huron. “Eliminating the state mandate for unlimited medical coverage through car insurance is a victory for freedom of choice and family finances.  “Starting in July 2020, some drivers will be able to opt out of personal injury protection altogether, including seniors with retiree health coverage such as Medicare and those with health insurance policies that cover car accident-related injuries. Others will be able to continue with unlimited coverage or choose PIP limits of $250,000 or $500,000. A $50,000 option will be available for drivers on Medicaid.  A fee schedule will be established for medical providers, reining in runaway costs that result from medical care providers charging far more to treat car accident victims than other patients.  Non-driving factors such as zip codes, home ownership and educational level can’t be used to determine rates. Residents in Sanilac and St. Clair counties will not have to pay higher rates to subsidize drivers in other regions of the state.  An anti-fraud unit will help crack down on those abusing the system, which should help further lower car insurance rates.  “This reform plan is not perfect, but it is a huge step in the right direction after four decades of dealing with a broken car insurance system,” Hernandez said. “It proves that good things happen when we work together in the spirit of bipartisanship with the best interests of Michigan families at heart.”

From June 7 through the 29th, Studio 1219 will present the work of Christine Noetzel.  The exhibit will be on display in the South Gallery, with a reception, Friday, June 7th from 6 to 8 p.m.  Noetzel says what inspires her to paint is the reaction from people when they view her artwork. If they say they like it or maybe if they don’t like it, but it touches an emotion and reminds them of some time or place on their life’s journey.That reaction is, she says, her greatest gift as an artist.  Nature is also an inspiration with its shapes, contours, colors and light. With paper, brush, watercolor, inks, pastels or colored pencils , she says she is motivated to create. Sometimes an abstract or collage work with an assortment of textures emerges in her attempt to express an image to the viewer. Traveling to new areas and attending workshops help her to continue to learn new techniques and ideas and keep her updated in the art world. Most of all the wonderful people she meets along the way Noetzel says, inspire and stimulate her as a person and are a testimony of the love and beauty the world holds.  Art Studio 1219 is located at 1219 Military Street in Port Huron

Medical providers who begin providing or expand opioid addiction treatment are now eligible for student loan repayment through a new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) program.  The goal of the program is to increase availability of opioid use disorder treatment across the state, especially in areas where treatment is difficult to access.   MDHHS received a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to implement the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program to repay medical education loans.  “Michigan needs more health care providers that will treat patients suffering from opioid use disorders,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. “This program provides critical educational debt repayments to incentivize providers to treat patients with substance use disorders in communities across the state. This will help strengthen our capacity to respond to this growing epidemic.”  The program is available to medical doctors and osteopathic medicine doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and substance use disorder counselors who begin offering opioid treatment or expand treatment that is already being offered. Providers who work in a variety of health care settings are eligible to apply.  Applications can be filed through June 30, 2019. Applications and other resources can be found on the Michigan Opioid Treatment Assistance website. Health care providers are encouraged to review the materials and submit applications when the cycle begins. They can contact Megan Linton at 517-335-6713 for more information.  Michigan has been significantly affected by the national opioid epidemic. The number of annual opioid-related overdose deaths in the state has more than tripled since 2011, from 622 to 2,053. As part of the state-government-wide plan to address the issue, MDHHS has developed an action plan that is focused on prevention, early intervention and treatment. Find more information atwww.michigan.gov/opioids.

McLaren Port Huron and the Karmanos Cancer Institute will host a cancer survivor picnic Wednesday, June 19, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The picnic will take place at the Marysville Community Health Center, 867 East Huron Boulevard, Marysville.  Cancer survivors, their families and care team are invited to saddle up and celebrate survivorship at this western themed event. Enjoy barbeque vittles and fellowship, with special performances by the Hooked On Country Line Dance Team. This program is made possible by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Port Huron.  The picnic is free, but registration is required by June 12. For more information or to register, call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484.

Earl Smith Distributing, a family owned, independent beer distributor located in Port Huron, plays a role in the continued growth of Michigan’s beer industry.  According to a new report released by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute, Michigan’s beer industry has a $10.2 billion impact on the state’s economy. Michigan’s beer distributors alone have an economic impact of more than $830 million and employ over 4,700 people in good-paying jobs with good benefits.  “This report leaves little doubt how much Michiganders love their beer, and it helps quantify just how much the state’s beer industry contributes to Michigan’s continued economic comeback,” said Erik Smith, Vice President of Operations at Earl Smith. “We’re proud to work with breweries big and small right here in Michigan, across the country and around the world to help them compete, grow and thrive on a level playing field.”   In 2018, the state’s beer industry, which includes brewers, distributors, retailers and supporting industries like agriculture, transportation and manufacturing, pumped nearly $10.2 billion into Michigan’s economy, employed over 62,000 people and paid more than $2.6 billion in wages.  “On all levels of the supply chain, the beer industry continues to have a positive impact on Michigan’s economy – from malthouses and hop farms to breweries and local retailers – and we expect this growth to continue,” Smith said. “Michigan is a Top 5 beer producer and home to some of the most innovative breweries in the country, making it not just the Great Lakes State but the Great Beer State, too.”  Earl Smith Distributing serves retailers in Michigan’s Thumb area including St. Clair, Tuscola, Sanilac and Huron counties.