Michigan Interfaith Coalition Calls for End of Humanitarian Crisis Caused by Auto No-Fault Reform
‘State leaders must open their eyes and listen to their hearts’
LANSING, Mich.—(Sept. 28, 2022)—With the latest phase of a longitudinal study finding that thousands of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents are suffering in the wake of auto no-fault reform, a group of Michigan’s faith leaders are calling on state leaders to show moral courage and end the state’s growing humanitarian crisis.
“Michigan’s legislative leaders must open their eyes and listen to their hearts,” said Dr. Bonnie
Anderson, co-founder along with Owen Perlman MD, of the Michigan Interfaith Coalition. “As a state, we have a responsibility to care for those who most need our assistance. Denying medical assistance to those vulnerable auto crash survivors is a moral stain that voters will not forget. All humans deserve to be treated with dignity and respect—we will keep fighting until our voices and our prayers are heard.”
Representing 14 faith organizations and more than 36,000 individuals, the Michigan Interfaith Coalition was formed to advocate for the removal of the 56-hour per-week cap for familyprovided attendant care, and the restoration of 2020 reimbursement rates for health care workers and family attendant care and health services at home.
The study, conducted by the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) and commissioned by the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI), aims to document the impact of the fee structure changes in the 2019 Michigan no-fault auto insurance reform law that took effect on July 1, 2021, on auto crash survivors and their families. The study found that:
- Six crash survivors have died
- 42 crash survivors required hospitalizations
- 78% of crash survivors reported a loss of needed services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and transportation
- 82% of crash survivors reported serious adversities such as an inability to get medication, increased family stress, depression and despair.
Previous phases of the survey, which focused on the impact to care providers, found that nearly 7,000 crash survivors had been discharged since the new law went into effect, while more than 4,000 health care workers had lost their jobs and ten businesses were forced to close their doors completely, with 14 more businesses expecting to close sometime over the next year.
“Crash survivors do not have millions of dollars to influence politics at the Capitol,” said The Rev. Timothy Flynn, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Lansing.
“People of faith are asking our Michigan elected leaders to reflect on their faith and call upon their courage to stand up for catastrophically injured individuals.” said The Rev. Kjersten Sullivan, Trinity Lutheran Church, Battle Creek.
“Lawmakers, this is a critical humanitarian crisis facing our state that needs to be immediately addressed,” said Pastor Robert Jones, Sweet Kingdom Baptist Chruch, Detroit.
Representing 14 faith organizations and more than 36,000 individuals, the Michigan Interfaith Coalition was formed to advocate for the removal of the 56 hour per week cap for familyprovided attendant care, and the restoration of 2020 reimbursement rates for health care workers and family attendant care and health services at home. Learn more at MichiganInterfaithCoalition.org
