4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, August 13, 1997 Edited and managed by ERIN MARSH JACK SCHILLACI students at the + Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor s University of Michiganoteedoaod lorriseea 42 M ynrdStee Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials re ect the opinion os 420 Maynard Street majority o theeDaily' editorial board. All ote o articlh letters an Ann Arbor, MI 48109 cartoons d not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Dailva Conventional wisdom dictates that healthy people are happy people. Health can greatly affect a person's ability to contribute to society and better them- selves. If an entire segment of the popula- tion does not receive proper medical care and has higher violent crime rates than other parts of the community, it will be unable to achieve its potential. According to a Health Atlas issued last year by the Washtenaw County Health Department, the area's black population faces just such obstacles. In response, several Washtenaw County groups will sponsor a summit this week to address health issues facing the black community. The summit could offer insight and facilitate solutions to the health crises facing Washtenaw County's black population. The county's report revealed many frightening statistics. For instance, the infant mortality rate among the black pop- ulation is twice that of the county at large. In addition, the black male homicide rate is more than five times that of the county's Conference call Summit could produce possible solutions average. Such disparate crime and health rates should alarm county health authori- ties of the need to address such problems quickly and efficiently with programs tar- geted at the black community. The summit will address many impor- tant areas including maternal health, sub- stance abuse, youth violence, chronic dis- eases and aging. The summit will feature speeches by Louis Sullivan, former U.S. secretary of health and human services and Na'im Akbar, a psychologist special- izing in personality development in the black community. The summit's speeches and workshops may be able to offer Washtenaw County authorities advice and guidance. Oftentimes, conferences produce the bginnings of many valuable ideas that may never come to fruition. Such inactivity could negate the effort organizers and par- ticipants put in to the summit. Following the four-day summit, organizers will hold planning session to release an African American Health Improvement Plan early next year. In addition, the summit is the first step in a plan sponsored by a state grant to address health problems facing the black community in Washtenaw County The grant will also sponsor an African American Health Guide, a resource directory to be published and dis- tributed this fall. It is important that coun- ty authorities put the valuable ideas that come out of the summit to use. The summit also offers the University the opportunity to lend its resources to the cause of health issues. The University has the medical and psychological facilities t provide resources for studying key healt issues. In addition, the Universit Minority Health Initiative and the Turne African American Service Council, th offspring of the University's Tu Geriatrics Center, could offer a great a of information for the summit. Rectifying significant social problems requires community effort - the Universit should pitch in its vast capabilities an resources to help give back to the commu nity. The significant differences of healsl and violent crime rates indicated by th county's report are disturbing Something must be done to ensure tha the entire Ann Arbor community @1 reach its greatest potential. The summi offers the community the chance to ban( together and fight a social problem - it organizers deserve commendation fo their idea and the foresight to have a plas to put into effect the ideas the summi produces. Out of reach High tuition harms states' economic health W hile British students will soon see state residents desiring to obtain a college tuition for the first time, America education. By providing additional finan- has long dealt with the problem of people cial aid and increasing the sizes of annual being unable to deal with the cost of high- state appropriations, Michigan could er education. begin a strong push toward increasing the For too many Americans, higher educa- number of people that pursue their educa- tion remains too expensive and thus, inac- tion past high school. In the past, a strong cessible and impractical. A recent study by relationship between the size of the state Wayne State University's Center for Urban appropriation and the strength of the state Studies found that the population of and national economy existed. In 1995-96, Michigan and the Detroit metropolitan state universities' budgets comprised of 57 area, in particular, came up short in the percent from state funds while tuition number of people with college degrees. made up only 43 percent. The state ranked 38th nationwide and With the economy flourishing in Detroit came in 22nd out of the 24 metro- Michigan, the state must choose to invest politan areas with populations of two mil- in the education of its citizens and thus, in lion or more - a mere 18 percent of resi- its future. However, state officials must dents have a college degree. ensure that solid financial support of pub- Due to the nation's sharp turn toward a lic education is maintained during eco- high-tech economy, the value and impor- nomic downturns as well as upswings. tance of a college education is greater Maintaining educational expenditures will than ever. Today, a high school diploma support long-term stability both educa- not only fails to provide job security but tionally and economically. often will not even provide holders with If state government leaders hope to any feasible job opportunities. Michigan's rebuild the city of Detroit and sustain eco- inability to adjust to the new educational nomic stability across Michigan, they standards is not surprising given the sig- must advocate higher education for citi- nificance of the automobile industry in zens. An encouraging first step might the state's economy. The Big Three entail making college attendance more automakers once offered Detroit numer- feasible for adults who felt that the oppor- ous manufacturing jobs providing a liv- tunity for higher education disappeared able wage where a high school diploma with their youth. Helping them re-enter was sufficient. In the present job climate, school could help them achieve success this has changed. A college degree is now and aid the state's economy. an accepted standard among the American The state has the potential to drastically workforce - making it difficult for those improve its record in college learning. with only a high school diploma to get a State officials must play their part by con- job. sistently allocating more government dol- To resolve Michigan's education dilem- lars to public universities. Doing so will ma, the state must address the cost of keep tuition down and allow state residents attending higher education institutions. who presently are unable to access higher Cost stands as a major obstacle faced by education a chance at getting a degree. A dollar a day " Federal funds will ichigan parents might not mind one of the fringe advantages of the promised balanced budget agreed upon last week in Washington. While the bene- fits of a reduced deficit remain far in the future, the state will enjoy a large windfall under the fiscal 1997 budget signed by President Clinton last Tuesday. Arriving in the form of a $400 million grant to the state's Medicaid program, the gift will help Michigan provide adequate care to the several thousand children presently without health insurance. Currently, there are an estimated 230,000 children in Michigan who lacked health insurance for at least one year. The number increases to 670,000 when consid- ering children without insurance for at least one month during the past year. The numbers are especially disturbing in light of strong evidence showing uninsured children's health care suffering in compar- ison to their insured counterparts. Three years ago, Michigan moved toward insuring its children's health when it raised the maximum household income under which families could be eligible for Medicaid assistance. An estimated 70,000 children were allowed access to health care through the maneuver. However, the state did not move far enough. Even with the higher income cut-off - $24,000 instead of $16,000 -most uninsured chil- dren are from families just barely above the new limit. These families earn too much to apply for Medicaid, but are unable to afford medical insurance on their own. As a result, their children live vulnerable to common ailments other fam- ilies can afford to treat. The $400 million gift from the federal government will undoubtedly help more aid state's children children receive medical care. The stat plans to expand Medicaid eligibilit requirements, but officials must still final- ize the details. Medicaid officials should look to th state of New York for clues about how to proceed. The first item that stands out 9n eligibility cap for Medicaid $11,500 above Michigan's limit. The higher cap allows for a greater percentage of working-class fam- ilies to be eligible for Medicaid's benefits. Another point of interest lies with the age limit for children's eligibility under Medicaid. In Michigan, this limit is 16 years of age, meaning dependent children ages 17 and 18 cannot receive Medicaid- funded care, no matter how poor their f- ilies are. In New York, the comparable ge limit is 19, providing care for poor and working-class children until they are adults. Even if Michigan takes these simple steps, one more important stage remains. Thousands of uninsured children remain unprotected because their parents, although eligible, do not take advantage of the public-assistance programs. Whether due to confusing eligibility standards or parents' ignorance, the state needs to et the word out to parents. At the same e state officials should renew their drive and commitment towards getting Michigan children immunized. Although the state no longer occupies last place in the United States for child immunization rates, it still lags far behind other states. A golden opportunity has landed on Lansing's doorstep in the the $400 million grant. Michigan must use this money to widen children's access to MedicaidAl- lars and immunization, and thereby pro- tect thousands of the state's most vulnera- ble residents.