For Immediate Release: December 19, 2019
Contact: Ryan Bridges, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, (517) 333-1606
After Fifth Circuit Court Decision, Advocates Call on State Leaders to Fight for Michiganders Health Care
LANSING – After yesterday’s disastrous decision by U.S Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for the Texas v. United States lawsuit, Protect Our Care Michigan was joined by local health care advocates for a press call to discuss the implications of the decision for Michiganders.
This lawsuit to overturn the entire Affordable Care Act, spearheaded by a coalition of Republican-led states, could leave hundreds of thousands of Michiganders without access to health care, and put the care of the 4.1 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions in grave jeopardy.
Listen to the full call recording here.
“I am one of the 4.1 million Michiganders with a pre-existing condition that this lawsuit threatens to take coverage from,” said Sarah Stark, a patient advocate. “As a type 1 diabetic and patient advocate, I know that diabetics and insulin dependent people are already struggling to afford the high price tag on our insulin, which costs upwards of $1,000 per month. The threat of taking away the Affordable Care Act and our protections is quite terrifying for all of us. The ultimate consequence is that more people will be rationing their insulin and ultimately losing their lives.”
“The results of this lawsuit are significant and may lead us toward a chaotic and much less generous health care system,” said Amber Bellazaire, a policy analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy. ”If the Affordable Care Act is ultimately invalidated, more than 700,000 Michiganders could lose their health care coverage and the 4.1 million people in our state with pre-existing conditions could lose the protections afforded to them under the ACA. Whether it’s asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer, many people we know and love have a preexisting condition. Today is a sad day for all Americans.”
“Yesterday’s decision will leave health care coverage for millions of Americans, especially those with preexisting conditions, in question,” said Dianne Byrum, state director of Protect Our Care Michigan. “This lawsuit is the centerpiece of the Republican’s agenda to kick people off their health insurance and raise the cost of health care, while taking away protections for pre-existing conditions. Following this ruling, we are certain health care will remain a top priority for Michigan voters heading into 2020 because it has a direct impact on working families across our state.”
“It is almost impossible to wrap your mind around the chaos that repealing the Affordable Care Act would cause in our state and our country,” said Dr. Vivek Palavali, a neurosurgeon and health care advocate. “In the first year alone, we expect to see a 115% increase in the number of uninsured Michiganders. It would also give insurance companies power to charge as much as they want, cover as little as they want, and drop you from your policy without cause or notice.”
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Here’s how the Trump lawsuit to dismantle the ACA would devastate Michiganders:
- Protections for 4,103,600 Michiganders with pre-existing conditions would end.
- 720,000 Michiganders would lose their coverage, causing a 115 percent increase in the uninsured rate.
- Medicaid expansion would be repealed, meaning the 688,300 Michiganders who are covered through Medicaid expansion could lose coverage.
- 203,864 Michigan seniors will pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare “donut hole” will be reopened.
- 73,000 Michigan young adults will no longer be able to stay on their parents’ coverage.
- Protections for women, who insurance companies previously charged 50 percent more than men, would be gone.
- Financial assistance that helps 219,996 Michiganders purchase health care in the marketplace would end.
- Key support for rural hospitals would disappear, leaving Michigan hospitals on the hook for $1.9 billion more in uncompensated care costs.
- 4,543,547 Michiganders could once again have to pay for preventive care, like mammograms and flu shots.
- Lifetime and annual caps on coverage would once again be allowed, allowing insurers to put limits in care for 3,547,000 privately insured Michiganders.
- Insurers will no longer have to cover a set of essential health benefits, including hospitalization, prescription drugs, or mental health services.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
