Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to this month’s edition of my e-newsletter. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the tough issues that will help lower the cost of living, help families get ahead, and build a brighter future for all who call Michigan home.

As always, I welcome your feedback on current issues facing Michigan or the Greater Rochester Area, Troy, Sterling Heights and Utica communities. Constituent feedback is vital as I represent our communities in Lansing. If you are experiencing a problem with one of our state government agencies, my office is always available to assist with finding a solution. I respect your opinion and will always do my best to make myself available and accessible to you.

Please take a moment to visit my website, like my official Facebook page, send me an email or call my office at 517-373-0994. If you have any questions, concerns or opinions on what is happening, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michael Webber
State Senator
9th District

The Office of the Auditor General will consider my request for an investigation of the only state-run psychiatric hospital for minors for its 2024 audit cycle.

This is good news for families who rely on the vital services provided by the Hawthorn Center. This audit would help bring to light important data that we can use to hold the facility accountable and identify opportunities to improve care and restore confidence in the center.

I asked for a state audit following the Protect MI Kids listening session I hosted in Rochester Hills on July 14 with state Sen. Jim Runestad and Reps. Tom Kuhn, Jamie Thompson and Mark Tisdel, who each co-signed the formal request to the OAG.

We heard heartbreaking and tragic accounts from families and young people who have suffered under the care of the state; their testimony — combined with an increase in other concerning factors — demands action. As legislators, we have a duty to ensure state officials are held accountable and restore confidence in these agencies for our residents.

In June, I sent letters to Senate committee chairs requesting a legislative hearing to investigate the ongoing problems at the Hawthorn Center.

At least 17 young patients have escaped from the center under the supervision of Hawthorn personnel since 2020, and the facility is the subject of a lawsuit pending from an active shooter drill in December 2022. Officials also have plans to temporarily house patients at Reuther Hospital, where adults are currently being treated, while the aged facility is demolished and reconstructed.

The most recent OAG audit of the Hawthorn Center was conducted in 2014 on the effectiveness of the center’s operations, including timeliness of assessments, medication inventory monitoring, internal incident investigative processes, and more. It did not focus on patient care or clinical decisions, opinions of staff about patient treatment, or the effectiveness of the Office of Recipient Rights (ORR) at the center, which is responsible for patient treatment complaints.

Lawmakers requested an updated performance audit of the Hawthorn Center that includes reviews of the following areas:

“We have received your letter requesting the Office of Auditor General conduct a performance audit of the Hawthorn Center,” Michigan Auditor General Doug Ringler said in his reply to my request. “We believe most items from your request could be effectively reviewed in a wider-scope audit of the Office of Recipient Rights (ORR). We can commit to considering ORR during our next audit planning cycle for 2024.”

Annually, Aug. 15 commemorates India's freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. This year’s India Day marked the 77th celebration. I participated in numerous celebrations in Troy and throughout Oakland County celebrating India’s independence and presented a legislative tribute honoring this special occasion.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May.

Following these steps will help determine if you still qualify:

If you’re a Medicaid member, learn more about how these changes may affect your health care coverage at Michigan.gov/mdhhs/end-phe/medicaid-benefit-changes.

Pathfinder is a free online career exploration tool available to every Michigan student, their parents and guidance counselors.

Pathfinder was developed by the Michigan Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education in partnership with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity as a result of Public Act 88 of 2022. The tool provides valuable information to help students make informed choices about educational and career options, and includes filters to help individuals explore jobs, fields, and schools and choose multiple paths for comparison.

The law requires school districts in Michigan to provide students in grades 8-12 with a post-graduation opportunities informational packet, including information on how to access the Pathfinder tool. This requirement includes intermediate school districts, public school academies, or nonpublic schools.

No appointment is necessary to attend. The 9th Senate District includes the cities of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy, and Utica along with parts of Oakland Township, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.