• As Michigan's Medicaid enrollment has doubled over the last ten years, physicians working in residency programs bridged the gap to provide primary care for Medicaid and uninsured patients.

• Teaching hospitals provide 78 percent of burn care units and 63 percent of pediatric ICUs.

• For every dollar Michigan invests in the GME program in fiscal year 2016, the federal government sends an additional $1.91 to the state.

• Michigan is a national leader in preparing future physicians. Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for the number of teaching hospitals, third for student enrollment in medical schools and sixth in the nation for GME program residents and fellows on duty.

• GME funds do not pay for medical school tuition. Physician residents are licensed physicians who have completed medical school. They work in hospitals, community clinics and laboratories.

The MOA participated in an organized social media blitz. Using the MOA Twitter account (michigandos) and  Facebook account, postings and tweets were used to raise awareness of the funding cuts. The MOA also utilized our VoterVoice online application, allowing our members to directly contact their legislators and the governor. The results were impressive as in a few days hundreds of emails were sent from the MOA Action Alert page. The messages were thoughtful, addressing salient points on how important the GME programs are to healthcare in Michigan and in keeping future physicians from leaving our state. The MOA would especially like to thank the students at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine for the number, and the quality of the messages they sent through our VoterVoice application.

We urge all members to get involved. If you are active in social media, follow and use the hashtag #GMEMatters
Our MOA Action Alert application can be found HERE