Healthcare
Michigan prosecutor dismisses over 1,600 of Whitmer’s unconstitutional COVID-19 orders
A county prosecutor in Michigan announced Monday that she will dismiss more than 1,600 ordinance violations and misdemeanor citations involving violations of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus emergency orders that have been determined to violate the state Constitution.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office (WCPO) released a statement citing a 1945 Michigan Supreme Court ruling that determined Whitmer did not have authority to issue or renew any COVID-19 state of emergency orders after April 30, 2020.
Prior to the ruling, the WCPO and Michigan law enforcement issued ordinance violations and misdemeanors to those who allegedly violated the emergency orders.
From April to October of 2020, Michigan police enforced emergency orders by the Whitmer administration that limited social gatherings, commerce and other activity.
Whitmer’s mandates were some of the most restrictive coronavirus policies in the country.
As a result of the ruling, the WCPO conducted a review of the violations and determined there was not a legal basis to proceed with them.
“WCPO will be dismissing all adjudicated cases and all pending cases,” the statement said.
“Governor Whitmer’s leadership has prevented many of our citizens from contracting COVID-19,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in the statement. “However, considering the Supreme Court’s decision, WCPO will no longer use criminal prosecution to enforce the Governor’s Executive Order. It is my earnest hope that people will continue to wear face masks, social distance, and quarantine when warranted.”
Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime supporter of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is now acknowledging the unintended consequences of the healthcare legislation, particularly its impact on industry consolidation and rising healthcare prices.
Warren, who has been a vocal proponent of Obamacare, has recently had what the Wall Street Journal reported as an “epiphany” regarding the consequences of the healthcare law. In a letter addressed to the Health and Human Services Department inspector general, Warren, along with Senator Mike Braun of Indiana, expressed concerns about vertically-integrated healthcare companies potentially increasing prescription drug costs and evading federal regulations.
According to reports from Fox News, the bipartisan letter highlighted issues with the nation’s largest health insurers allegedly bypassing Obamacare’s medical loss ratio (MLR). According to Warren, these insurers, through vertical integration, have manipulated the system, leading to “sky-high prescription drug costs and excessive corporate profits.”
The senators detailed how conglomerates, like UnitedHealth Group, with ownership across various healthcare sectors, could inflate medical payments to pharmacies and, by realizing those payments on the pharmacy side, appear to comply with MLR requirements while retaining more profits.
Moreover, despite the Democrats’ argument that the MLR would benefit patients, it has incentivized insurers to merge with or acquire pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), retail and specialty pharmacies, and healthcare providers. This, in turn, has made healthcare spending less transparent, as insurers can allegedly shift profits to their affiliates by increasing reimbursements.
Warren, who has consistently voted against Obamacare repeal efforts, notably advocated for a “Medicare for All” proposal during her 2020 presidential campaign. Despite her prior support for the healthcare law, Warren’s recent concerns about its unintended consequences have raised questions about the long-term effects of Obamacare and its impact on the healthcare industry.
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