Just scant days after warning physicians against prescribing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine — drugs that President Trump mentioned as a possible treatment for coronavirus — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has changed its mind and is now asking the federal government to send as much of the drug as they can to the Great Lakes State.
The request came from the Michigan Health and Human Services Department after the drug was approved for emergency use for COVID-19 by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday.
The drugs had previously been approved for use in treating malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The Department of Health and Human Services recently secured 30 million doses of the drugs through donations from Sandoz and Bayer Pharmaceuticals.
At a Monday press conference, Whitmer said that her government needed to be “nimble in the crisis” and added that her administration was “continually updating and adjusting” in their attempt to control the spread of the coronavirus.
“We want to ensure that doctors have the ability to prescribe these medicines,” Whitmer said. “We also want to make sure that people who have prescriptions that pre-dated COVID-19 have access to the medication that they need. And so, all of the work that we’ve done is to strike that balance.”
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While Whitmer can be commended for changing her mind on the subject, the abrupt change of heart represents a drastic about-face from only a few days prior, when the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) warned doctors against prescribing the drugs for cases of COVID-19. The statement threatened that physicians risked investigations and possible administrative actions by the state if they used the drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.
“Prescribing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine without further proof of efficacy for treating COVID-19 or with the intent to stockpile the drug may create a shortage for patients with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other ailments for which chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are proven treatments. Reports of this conduct will be evaluated and may be further investigated for administrative action. Prescribing any kind of prescription must also be associated with medical documentation showing proof of the medical necessity and medical condition for which the patient is being treated. Again, these are drugs that have not been proven scientifically or medically to treat COVID-19.”
The statement also warned other healthcare providers such as pharmacies or nurses that they were required to report any “inappropriate prescribing practices.” In fact, healthcare providers were encouraged to inform on physicians they suspected of prescribing the drugs for COVID-19.
“It is also important to be mindful that licensed health professionals are required to report inappropriate prescribing practices. LARA appreciates all licensed health professionals for their service and cooperation in assuring compliance in acting responsibly while continuing to provide the best possible care for Michigan’s citizens during this unprecedented and very challenging time.”
So, “see something, say something,” as any good communist informer should.
The drugs in question were first lauded by President Trump on March 19. “It’s shown very encouraging — very, very encouraging early results. And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that’s where the FDA has been so great. They — they’ve gone through the approval process; it’s been approved. And they did it — they took it down from many, many months to immediate. So, we’re going to be able to make that drug available by prescription or states,” Trump said.
While the president may have misspoke by saying that the drugs had already been approved for treatment of COVID-19, he was absolutely correct about the FDA streamlining the process. Still, the mainstream media had a field day calling the president out for spreading “misinformation.”
Whitmer and Trump have fenced publicly over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. On Twitter, Trump referred to the governor as “Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer” and saying “she doesn’t have a clue.’”
I love Michigan, one of the reasons we are doing such a GREAT job for them during this horrible Pandemic. Yet your Governor, Gretchen “Half” Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesn’t have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020
Whitmer has repeatedly called out the president, and at one point claimed that vendors were being prohibited from sending supplies to Michigan over her war of words with Trump.
“When the federal government told us that we needed to go it ourself, we started procuring every item we get our hands-on. But what I’ve gotten back is that vendors with whom we’ve procured contracts are now being told not to send stuff here to Michigan. It’s really concerning,” Whitmer said on Friday.
Whitmer cited no specific evidence for the claim.
Michigan has been one of the states hardest hit by the virus. As of today, the state reports 9,334 cases of coronavirus with 337 deaths.
James Murphy is a freelance journalist who writes on a variety of subjects, with a primary focus on the ongoing anthropogenic climate-change hoax and cultural issues. He can be reached at [email protected]
