Heartbreaking stories of accident victims continue to pour in: “It’s not like she’s a stump in a ditch. She’s a person.”

#MICareCrisis Impact Dashboard finds almost 700 patients have lost needed care, more than 1,500 jobs eliminated

BRIGHTON, Mich. – (Aug. 11, 2021) — Barely over a month since the #MICareCrisis was put into motion due to the legislation’s failure to protect auto accident victims, the heartbreaking stories of survivors losing care continue to pour in. 

The Aug. 11 edition of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council’s #MICareCrisis Impact Dashboard finds that 699 patients have lost needed care since the crisis began on July 1. In addition, at least 1,529 health care jobs have been lost, while at least 42 companies have been rendered unable to care for patients with auto insurance funding.   

The dashboard, which was launched on July 29, tracks key metrics stemming from the fallout of the Legislature’s failure to protect auto accident victims. The dashboard gives legislators, taxpayers, and the media a clear picture of what gravely injured auto accident survivors and their families are now facing since the 55% cap on reimbursements for specialized rehabilitation care went into effect on July 1.

“Accident victims—like all people—have the right to lead meaningful, dignified lives,” said Tom Judd, MBIPC president. “Thanks to the #MICareCrisis, that right has been ripped away. While the circumstances can be heart-wrenching, Michigan leaders need to hear these stories. They need to understand the humanitarian disaster that they’ve created—and only they can stop.” 

Michigan Radio this week reported on Ken Operhall, whose daughter requires the use of a wheelchair and needs around-the-clock care after surviving a catastrophic accident. After her long-term care provider was forced to shut its doors because of the legislature’s refusal to stand up for auto accident survivors, she was dropped off at Ken’s house.

Operhall—who is disabled himself—told Michigan Radio:

"She was dropped off at my house, and they said, 'here, you take care of her.' I'm in a walker, I can't take care of her. Allstate said it's not their problem, they didn't create the law. Then they're telling me, 'take her to the emergency room and just drop her off, they'll have to care for her.' It's not like she's a stump in a ditch, she's a person, and for them to tell me to drop her off at a hospital? It's totally ridiculous."

Last legislative session, bills were introduced that would have provided the narrow, technical legislative fix needed for a permanent solution to the 55% reimbursement cap. None, however, were allowed hearings in the face of fierce lobbying from the auto insurance industry. The only action taken was the passing of Senate Bill 28, a bill that offers no solution for most survivors and unnecessarily utilizes $25 million in taxpayer dollars for a problem created by a draconian government-mandated price fix.

Judd noted that many of the legislators who refused to consider a long-term fix said they needed more data to be persuaded. The #MICareCrisis dashboard will capture that data, as well as the heartbreaking personal stories of survivors and their families scrambling as the care they were promised is ripped away. The dashboard will be updated—and sent to legislators—every Wednesday.

“As the days and weeks go on, we are confident that Michigan’s leaders will see that continued inaction in the face of this crisis is inhumane and unacceptable,” Judd said. “The Legislature has the power to end this travesty right now. MBIPC looks forward to being an active partner in the process to find a viable, long-term solution.”  

The dashboard can be viewed at mbipc.org/dashboard.

Members of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council are committed to providing high quality, ethical rehabilitation services, with the mission of achieving the best outcomes for patients. As a trade association established in 1987 and based in Brighton, Michigan, MBIPC offers resource-sharing, information exchange, professional development and education, advocacy for brain injury standards of care and legislation protecting Michigan families, and the promotion of ethical conduct. For more information, go to mbipc.org https://www.mbipc.org, and connect with MBIPC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 The numbers continue to rise as Michigan Legislators ignore the fact that auto-accident survivors need and deserve continued care. The week two dashboard shows the detrimental effects that come with their lack of action. #MICareCrisis