The Mackinac Center pivoted its strategy early on in the crisis and partnered with coalition groups to create a guide for COVID-19-related policies. The policies were recommended with the goal to protect the health, safety, and economic opportunity of all Michiganders. Sound healthcare policy solutions were desperately needed to help equip healthcare systems for the onslaught of patients. Many of these reforms were already part of the Mackinac Center’s policy agenda, including repealing certificate-of-need laws, promoting telemedicine, and loosening scope-of-practice restrictions.

The Center also recommended cutting nonessential state spending, separating COVID-19 items from other supplemental appropriations, and suspending the bottle deposit law, among others. The governor implemented almost all of the recommended policies via executive order and Michigan has greatly benefited.

Michigan was one of the first states to close K-12 schools. Parent Advocates for Choice in Education (PACE), a project of the Mackinac Center, was quick to step and offer help to families and teachers grappling with the quick transition to virtual education. PACE created a Facebook Live video series featuring cyber school teachers, homeschool parents, and others to give best practices for educating virtually. The Center’s blog has also been featuring stories of how businesses and individuals across the state are stepping up to help during the crisis.