Packard Health is grateful to the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop for its generous support through two grants that will help us address critical community needs and expand access to care for the patients and families we serve.

The Emergency Grant will provide flexible funding to help patients overcome barriers that can prevent them from accessing healthcare services. These funds will support emergency needs such as transportation assistance to and from medical appointments, including bus cards and gas cards, and will allow us to provide necessary medical equipment to patients facing financial challenges. By helping meet these urgent needs, the grant will enable more patients to access and benefit from the healthcare services they need.

We are also honored to receive an Anne M. Hayes Memorial Fund Program Grant to support Healing Brothers United, Packard Health’s program focused on promoting mental health and wellness for Black men and boys. These funds will be used for Healing Brothers United’s school-based mentorship project which provides positive role modeling and meaningful connections, creating supportive spaces where participants can build resilience, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their overall well-being. This funding will help us continue and expand this important work in our community.

At Packard Health, we know that health is influenced by more than medical care alone. Transportation, access to essential resources, mentorship, and mental health support all play vital roles in helping individuals and families thrive. These grants from the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many of our patients and program participants.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop, its volunteers, donors, and supporters for their commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. We are proud to partner with organizations that share our vision of creating a healthier, more equitable future for all.

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Produce season has arrived, and Packard Health is expanding its food pantry services with the return of our Fresh-a-Sprout Market! Opening this Tuesday morning, June 2, at Packard Health West, the market offers free, fresh produce to anyone in the community.

The Fresh-a-Sprout Market is a seasonal supplement to Packard Health’s existing food pantry, providing an additional resource for fresh fruits and vegetables during the growing season. The market runs weekly on Tuesday mornings and alternates locations between Packard Health West and Packard Health Main, making it accessible to a wide range of community members.

Learn more and see the full schedule of dates and locations!

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• Up to a $50/month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals
• Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.

HOW TO APPLY

For assistance applying, contact our office to work with a Patient Resource Specialist.

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• Current Marketplace enrollees should check if they can now improve their coverage or reduce their costs. Even if enrollees choose to stay in the same plan, they should re-enroll before the deadline to receive significant discounts. 
• Those who received unemployment in 2021 and were not eligible for health insurance can now receive a zero-premium benchmark Silver plan.
• The ARP also extends the deadline to enroll in COBRA. Those eligible for COBRA because they were laid off or their hours were reduced can get a 100 percent premium subsidy from April 1 to September 30.

Source: Washtenaw Health Initiative

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Packard Health is partnering with VotER, an initiative that began at Massachusetts General Hospital by Emergency Medicine physician Alister Martin, MD, MPP.

The goal, to empower the patient population.

The initiative is a response to the staggering estimate of more than 50 million eligible people in the United States who are not registered to vote, as well as the number of patients who fall victim to failed public policy. Both groups are overwhelmingly one in the same with the top three categories being the low-income, people of color, and young Americans. Some of the policy issues hindering their health and care include homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, and lack of access to mental health care – exactly what is impacting many Packard Health patients.

The ability to request an absentee ballot using VotER is readily available by sending a text or using a simple link – vot-er.org/packard-votes.

In-person voter registration at your county clerk’s office ends at 8pm on November 3. Request to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you by 5pm on October 30. Vote absentee to safely avoid the crowds on November 3 or be sure to mask up and safely distance as you make your voice heard in person.

Encourage your loved ones to vote. While one vote feels insignificant, thousands (especially millions!) cannot be ignored. Let’s make a change!

TEXT REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT:

• Text “Vote Packard” to 34444
• Click the blue link sent your phone
• Click “Register to Vote”
• Click “Vote by Mail” to request your absentee ballot

REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ONLINE

Information derived from: Voter Registration is Part of Physician’s Mission

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Heartfelt thanks to the The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor for a grant award to purchase home blood pressure monitors for low income, at risk patients, as well as oral nutritional supplements for our homeless and cancer patients.

Patients who receive a monitor will also receive 1:1 counseling by our Chronic Disease Care Manager, Karen Koeppe, on appropriate set-up and use, along with lifestyle counseling (DASH diet, exercise) to help with blood pressure management.

Many appreciations to the congregation for their support!

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Packard Health has been selected as a featured charity in the Probility Ann Arbor Marathon on Sunday March 24, 2019. Staff, board members and friends are joining the event action. Hats off and a jump for joy to Epic Races for this opportunity to share Packard’s vision of health care for all.

MORE than a marathon …There’s also a half marathon, 10K and a 5K that are walker-friendly.

MORE than a marathon … It’s an opportunity to support Packard Health!

Want to help?  Here’s how:

• REGISTER to run or walk
  • Select Packard Health as your charity, donate $1 or more and Epic Races donates an additional $3 to Packard Health
  • If you want to really run with it, click the box to become a fundraiser and get friends to contribute
• DONATE – All donations go to support Packard Health as needed.
  • Make a donation to Packard Health HERE
  • Check out our teams below:

Health Care for Everyone – Donate

For 46 years Packard Health has opened our doors and reached out to the most vulnerable and under-served in our community. Primary and mental health care are integrated under one roof, with an array of supportive services as well, creating wrap-around care for patients with complex medical conditions and complicated lives. Dr. Kaila Queen is running the 5K. ” I’m not fast, but I’m all in on this community event!”

Addiction Treatment Services – Donate

In Washtenaw County there were 68 opioid related deaths in 2018, more than one a week. Emergency room admissions due to opioid misuse climb higher and higher. Packard Health has stepped up to this crisis with a team of addiction experts, led by Dr. Ankoor Soni and Dr. Sara Bur. Based on the latest models of care, Packard Health’s Medication Assisted Treatment program is making a difference in troubled lives. We are excited about our new partnership with the Emergency Department at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Prenatal Care – Donate

Everyone deserves a successful start in life! Everyone wants a pregnancy that is as enjoyable and routine as possible. With our Packard’s Prenatal Program, mothers-to-be enjoy the ease of prenatal appointments at our 3 locations, and delivery at state-of-the-art University of Michigan Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. Packard Health specializes in care for all ages and warmly welcomes newborns to our family of care.

Supportive Services – Donate

Packard Health supports our patients with services that help remove barriers to health and well being. We offer assistance with food, transportation, and medication expense. We connect patients with community resources as well as state and federal aid. We know all about health care insurance and are certified enrollment specialists. Katie Marquez, Patient Advocate Coordinator, meets with families in need every day and sees the difference these services make. “I’m really excited to be participating in the A2 Marathon event!”

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Food, a bed, help with an electric bill, health insurance – for some patients, the path to optimal health is complicated. Four problem-solvers are on the job. Meet our patient advocates, Haidar Al-Mohammad, Molli Morgan, Cynthia Fretter, and Katie Marquez.

 From their tiny offices at each Packard Health location they do big things, collaborating with caseworkers, plugging into community resources, pinpointing state and federal aid. They are Certified Application Counselors, experts in helping with health insurance enrollment. Two patient advocates are fluent in Spanish, one in Arabic.

They link patients to services that can improve lives. Hats off to these “Can-do!” staffers. Here’s 3 ways they build CONNECTIONS!

1. Health Care Coverage

Patient advocates lead patients through the complexities of eligibility, cost, subsidies, deadlines and penalties to connect with a plan that works for them. As Certified Application Counselors, they are trusty guides.

2. Our Staff – CONNECTED & Committed

Our dynamic duo communicates with Packard’s caseworkers – all day, all the time. For patients with lives of hardship and need, this close collaboration and connection translate into exceptional care. Packard is all about whole patient care, and these four staffers are key players.

3. It’s All About Community CONNECTION

Our patient advocates are experts on our community’s resources and facilitate patient access to them. Whether it’s housing, food, drug assistance programs, mental health programs, you name it – Haidar, Molli, Cynthia, and Katie help make the connection. And even experts get stumped, so if a solution is not clear, they send out a community S.O.S to find a resource.

We are proud of our patient advocates. In patient interviews, on the phone, at their computers, in Packard’s on-site food pantries they manage so well – they are making connections that count.

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