Health care feels personal until you try to navigate it and realize how many parts are designed to be confusing. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with former Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow for a fast, candid conversation about what’s working, what’s breaking, and what Michigan communities need next. We start with the pressure points she’s most concerned about right now: mental health access, Medicaid cuts, and affordability. Stabenow explains why community behavioral health clinics with 24-hour access matter, not just for patients in crisis, but for families, hospitals, and communities trying to keep people out of emergency rooms and jails. We also talk about rural health care in northern Michigan, where hospitals are often the biggest employer and the backbone of local access, yet many are being forced to cut beds, reduce services, or stop delivering babies. Then we zoom out to the national policy fights. Stabenow reflects on the Affordable Care Act, what she would keep, and what she would change, including her push for a public Medicare option to drive real competition. She shares a stark reminder of why “essential health benefits” matter by revisiting the days when pregnancy could be treated like a pre-existing condition and prenatal coverage was far from guaranteed. We close on prescription drug prices, Medicare Part D, and the long-running impact of blocking Medicare from negotiating prices, plus how PBMs add yet another layer of complexity. If you care about Michigan health care, rural hospitals, mental health policy, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and prescription drug costs, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find The Common Bridge. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!
