Rep. Annette Glenn today voted in favor of a $1.2 billion plan providing reinforcements for overworked health care employees and expanding early treatment options for COVID patients in Michigan.

House Bill 5523 was approved with broad bipartisan support and is expected to soon be headed to the governor for consideration. It is largely based on a plan first proposed by Glenn and her House colleagues in December.

“This is a good example of using federal COVID relief funds to get help where it is needed most – and this help is definitely needed as soon as possible,” said Glenn, of Midland. “These investments will help more people recover from COVID more quickly and completely, and benefit health care workers who have labored so heroically under extremely difficult conditions for nearly two years now.”

The plan also continues Glenn’s commitment to keeping students healthy and in school.

Highlights of the plan include:

Early treatment in COVID cases: A $175 million investment will help set up eight regional centers across Michigan to speed delivery of early treatments proven to help lessen the severity of COVID and allow patients to recover more quickly. Studies suggest monoclonal antibodies, for example, can reduce the risk of hospitalization or death for COVID-positive patients by up to 85 percent.

Easing the health care worker shortage: A $300 million investment will help hospitals and other short-staffed health care providers retain, recruit and train more workers. An additional $114 million will be provided for adult foster care facilities, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Keeping students in school and protecting residents: An additional $150 million will provide more screening and rapid testing in schools, helping classrooms stay open for in-person instruction.

Strengthening other community health efforts: An additional $367 million will help Michigan communities continue outreach and testing efforts. More support is included for child welfare, homeless shelters, respite care and other services.

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