Wayne County staff report nearly 4,000 student eyeglasses, Narcan vending stations and $42 million in medical debt relief

Azra Harris Martin, chief program officer for Wayne County Health and Innovation Services, told the Health and Human Services Committee that the department’s school vision program will distribute nearly 4,000 eyeglasses to students across several districts and that the county’s Narcan vending-machine project has 72 stations placed so far.

“We will distribute nearly 4,000 eyeglasses to students across several districts,” Harris Martin said, and described the department’s ongoing work on air-quality monitoring and a medical debt relief effort.

Why it matters: The briefing combined several county public-health efforts that affect students, people with respiratory issues, and residents carrying medical debt. Commissioners asked for more detail about monitor placement, program eligibility and long-term funding as staff prepare contract renewals and sustainability plans.

Vision program and screenings

Harris Martin and interim director Kineal Johnson said the vision effort operates across district geographies and serves kindergarten through 12th grade. The county coordinates with its vision-and-hearing team — which conducts mandated screenings in first, third and fifth grades — and with Vision to Learn for additional screenings and eye exams in nonmandated grades. Harris Martin said charter and private schools may opt in to participate.

Johnson said the program is structured as a three-year effort; the county is in its second school year and staff view the next school year as the final year for selected districts under current metrics. Johnson said the department will share scheduling information for food-safety and other related outreach and is exploring partnerships to help sustain the vision program beyond the grant period.

Air-quality network and mobile monitors

Staff described two monitoring tracks: about 102 fixed monitors already placed around the county and a larger pool of mobile units that were approved but remain mostly in storage. Harris Martin said the county has “around a little less than a 100” of the mobile devices deployed and is rethinking how it distributes them after low uptake in some communities.

Commissioner Mayberry asked whether the program includes an education component; staff said JustAir, the county’s partner, offers one-on-one coaching for residents who request devices, and that the county has recently broadened eligibility beyond people with asthma so more residents can participate.

The committee also heard an explanation of an inhaler-triggered device used in some backpacks: the device records inhaler use and links that event with local air-quality readings.

Narcan vending machines

Harris Martin said the Narcan vending-machine project remains “ongoing,” with 72 stations placed and a goal of at least 100 under the current contract. She said some additional monitors were provided by the manufacturer to replace malfunctioning units at no added cost to the county.

Medical debt relief

Staff said the county’s medical-debt relief partnership has cleared about $42,000,000 in medical debt for Wayne County residents. Harris Martin said the county is working with the vendor Undue to better understand the vendor’s back-end processes so county staff can answer constituent questions.

Commissioner Killeen asked about the program budget. Harris Martin said the county previously appropriated $5,000,000 for the contract and that about $4,500,000 remained under the current agreement; she also said the largest single account relieved so far was about $160,000.

Action taken

Commissioner Baker McCormick moved to receive the report on file; Commissioner Anderson seconded. Commissioners voted using electronic tablets and the motion carried.

What’s next

Staff said they will return with contract renewal details and continued analysis of monitor placement, and will circulate schedules and outreach materials for vision services and related community events. Harris Martin also said the interim director will send further email updates to commissioners.