Summertime in Michigan can be fun. However, warmer temperatures pose health risks unique to the season, as people spend more time outdoors.

Medical experts highlighted recognizing the signs of overheating early is critical. Symptoms include headaches, nausea and dizziness.

Donna O'Shea, chief medical Officer of population health for UnitedHealthcare, said certain people are at an even greater risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses, including children.

"Their internal cooling systems aren't fully developed yet and some of the symptoms may be missed," O'Shea cautioned. "There's greater risks of heat stroke if you're 65 years of age or older, or if you have prolonged physical exertion in the heat."

Other tips, wear helmets on bikes, life jackets on boats, stay hydrated, drinking about 4 ounces of water every 15 minutes. Also, wear sun-protective clothing and sunglasses, and apply sunscreen at least every two hours, and immediately after swimming, toweling off or sweating.

Dr. Wendy Sadoff, a dermatologist at Corewell Health in Farmington Hills, encouraged people to get a little more finesse using sunscreen.

"The sunscreen that's maybe great for our body," Sadoff suggested. "It's inexpensive and we can apply it very heavily to get the adequate protection -- and then one that's maybe a little lighter weight that feels good on our skin, and maybe a stick sunscreen for the back of your neck, or something for the lips."

O'Shea emphasized increased temperatures lead to increased emergency room visits for heat-related illnesses, meaning longer wait times. As an option, she noted insurance providers such as UnitedHealthcare also offer virtual doctor visits around the clock, from anywhere, with no extra costs.

"The beauty of virtual care is that it's in your home," O'Shea stressed. "And that you can decide with a knowledgeable caregiver, do I need more."

Health professionals in Michigan warn never to leave children or pets alone in a car, even with windows open. Temperatures can quickly reach dangerous levels inside the vehicle.

A program in Georgetown, in Williamson County, is working to improve health outcomes for low-income residents by helping them gain access to community and social services.

Community Health Connect works with food banks, social service and health care providers to assist clients with beneficial wraparound services.

Dorothy Light, Community Health Connect director at the United Way for Greater Austin, said the program started almost two years ago.

"The first thing we did was launch what's called the Pathway Community Hub," Light recounted. "It allows us to build a network of community health workers. We're starting with pregnant and postpartum moms."

Light emphasized they hope to eventually expand services to include residents with chronic health conditions or chronic social needs. The program is one of six community sites across the state, funded by the Episcopal Health Foundation, finding local solutions to address nonmedical drivers of health inequity.

The community health workers are the eyes and ears of the HUB and report back valuable information. Light was surprised to learn a majority of the 100 postpartum moms they are working with are food insecure. She noted most of their clients are afraid to take advantage of help from food pantries or other nonprofits.

"They heard from their neighbor that the guy down the street went and got turned away, so they're not even going to try," Light explained. "Or some of our families that have emigrated from other countries are really fearful to use any type of social support."

Light added they recently completed the county's first community needs assessment focusing on food access in Williamson County.


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Some emergency medical services, or EMS, are consolidating or closing across Wyoming, while the need for services is increasing. In 2021, Wyoming EMS agencies received about 89,000 calls for service, that's a roughly 27% increase in five years. The law doesn't require EMS services be funded in a community, but a recent AARP survey shows many people think communities should chip in funding.

Tom Lacock, associate state director for communications and state advocacy with AARP Wyoming, said 16 EMS providers have folded or consolidated over the last decade.

"And when you tell folks that you know, EMS is not an essential service, it's not required to be there, they kind of do a double take. " he explained.

73% of Wyomingites think that communities should fund EMS in the same way as police and fire departments, according to the survey. A 2022 Wyoming Department of Health report shows roughly half of EMS nationwide are delivered through fire departments. Others come via a combination of municipal and county governments, private providers and hospital systems.

After listening sessions, the department's potential recommendations for supporting emergency medical services include creating EMS districts, designating EMS as an essential service, regionalization, education and licensing requirements. Lacock says what he calls the "patchwork" of funding could be strengthened, too.

"The question becomes - what can we do to make perhaps a mix of funding? - Not only to pay for this, you know, as Wyomingites, but also to capture some revenue from folks who come through the state?" he said.

The state doesn't currently contribute to EMS funding. Recent attempts to get grant money and American Rescue Plan funding approved by state legislators and Gov. Mark Gordon both failed.

Hundreds of thousands of older Californians will see huge savings on prescription drugs starting in January, according to a new report from AARP.

The Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act caps prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year for people on Medicare, starting in 2025.

Nina Weiler-Harwell, associate director of advocacy and community engagement for AARP California, said an estimated 271,000 people in the Golden State will hit the out-of-pocket maximum next year.

"Medicare drug plan enrollees nationwide who reach the new out-of-pocket cap will see an average savings of roughly $1,500," said Weiler-Harwell, "or 56% in 2025 for new prescription drugs."

On average, 40% of people on Medicare who reach the cap will save at $1,000 a year. And 12% will see savings of more than $3,000.

Every year from 2025 to 2029, between 3 and 4 million Part D plan enrollees are estimated to benefit from the new out-of-pocket cap.

Weiler-Harwell said the Inflation Reduction Act introduced a number of new policies to cut costs for Americans on Medicare.

"Copays for insulin capped at $35 a month," said Weiler-Harwell. "Vaccines such as shingles and pneumonia are free. The Inflation Reduction Act did allow Medicare to negotiate the price of high-cost prescription drugs. But we won't really start to see that until 2026."

Also thanks to the IRA, drug companies will have to pay a penalty if they raise their prices higher than inflation.