Committees & Councils

MHA Committees, Councils and Task Forces

Participation in an MHA committee, council, or task force provides MHA members with the opportunity to influence and shape policy-making decisions for the association. The call to serve on committees, councils and task forces will reopen in 2026. 

MHA members who participate in an MHA committee, council or task force may influence and guide policymaking decisions for the association. Each committee, council and task force has a very specific purpose as outlined below:

• MHA Committees focus primarily on programmatic issues.
• MHA Councils explore and examine issues unique to a specific group within the MHA membership.
• MHA Task Forces formed for a limited time, under the direction of the MHA Board or by a given committee, to address a specific issue.
• PHA Committees provide nonbinding input on BCBSM PHA activities including billing, payment practices, utilization management and quality assurance.

The MHA also establishes work groups as necessary or when input on a particular issue is deemed essential.

MHA Councils and Committees

Behavioral Health Integration Council

The Behavioral Health Integration Council guides the MHA’s policy efforts for behavioral and physical health integration. Including developing recommendations addressing access to behavioral healthcare services and fostering integration with the greater healthcare delivery system.
Lauren LaPine

Chief Financial Officer Council

The Chief Financial Officer Council identifies and analyzes financial policies and payer issues that impact MHA member hospitals and health systems. Additionally, the council develops and recommends strategies to address identified issues based on the MHA Board of Trustees’ priorities.
Jason Jorkasky

Chief Quality Officer Council

The Chief Quality Officer (CQO) Council is composed of individuals who focus on the unique issues associated with overseeing, managing and providing strategic direction while leading the quality and safety of patient care and related services within the healthcare organization. The Council members facilitate shared learning and utilize evidence based best practices to advise the MHA, its governing boards and the MHA Keystone Center. This council provides a forum to assemble, promote and advance the role of CQOs and serves as a catalyst for the delivery of safe care.
Gary L. Roth, DO

Council On Children’s Health

The Council on Children’s Health advises the MHA on issues unique to the advancement of children’s health in Michigan.
Megan Blue and Taylor Alpert

Council on Health Access and Community Impact

By leveraging quality improvement principles to drive better access to health and healthcare, the MHA Council on Health Access and Community Impact directs the identification of strategic priorities and the implementation of interventions across the association and its members to advance the delivery of safe, high-quality care.
Amy Brown and Ewa Panetta

Healthcare & Public Health Integration Council

The Healthcare & Public Health Integration Council brings together healthcare and public health leaders to strengthen coordination and improve population health outcomes. Through joint planning, data sharing and collaborative initiatives, this group aims to maximize impact and reduce duplication. It also serves as a platform to address systemic challenges and resource constraints, support partners and recommend policy solutions for lasting improvement.

Kelsey Ostergren

Health Finance Committee

The Health Finance Committee works with the MHA to identify and analyze finance policy, payer matters and operational issues that impact the financial performance of hospitals and health systems. The committee also develops and recommends strategies for issue resolution to the MHA Chief Financial Officer Council as needed in alignment with the MHA Board of Trustees’ priorities.
Vickie Kunz

Health Information Technology Strategy Council

The Health Information Technology Strategy Council identifies and develops strategies to help the MHA and its members with health information technology issues by reviewing regulatory and industry trends with significant implications for member hospitals and health systems.
Jim Lee

Human Resources & Workforce Council

The Human Resources (HR) & Workforce Council advances the mission of the MHA and elevates the role of HR leaders by providing input on legislative and regulatory issues relevant to healthcare employers, with a focus on workplace safety and workforce development. The council offers networking and educational opportunities for HR professionals and disseminates best practices for data collection and reporting related to hospital and health system workforce metrics.
Ken Krapohl and Rob Wood

Legislative Policy Panel

The Legislative Policy Panel identifies and analyzes healthcare legislation impacting MHA members and Michigan’s healthcare community. It also recommends formal association positions on legislation and helps guide association advocacy efforts based on the MHA Board of Trustees’ legislative and political priorities.
Adam Carlson

Michigan Green Healthcare Committee

The Michigan Green Healthcare Committee operates virtually to promote sustainable strategies for healthcare facilities and foster innovative initiatives that address emerging needs and support the achievement of environmental, economic and social objectives.
Erica Leyko

Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council

The Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council promotes and accelerates person and family engagement and the principles of person-and family-centered care in Michigan hospitals, giving a voice to patients and families within the MHA and MHA Keystone Center.
Erin Steward

Physician Health Leadership Council

The Physician Health Leadership Council focuses on the unique issues related to physicians, including physician integration and interaction within hospitals, healthcare systems and physician practices. This council serves as a catalyst for excellence in healthcare delivery by advancing the role of physician leadership, facilitating their education and providing relevant insights to the MHA and its MHA governing boards.
Gary Roth, DO

Safety & Quality Committee

The Safety & Quality Committee provides input on MHA policy issues related to safety, quality management and compliance, including performance improvement and accreditation/regulatory compliance. The committee also identifies, develops and recommends policy solutions, guided by the MHA data principles, to position the MHA as the primary source for hospital and healthcare data and information. The committee routinely reviews accreditation standards and policy changes that affect providers as proposed by organizations such as The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The committee will regularly receive updates from the MHA Council on Health Access and Community Impact to Health and discuss opportunities to integrate improved access into everyday quality and safety efforts. Additionally, this committee facilitates MHA feedback regarding national quality initiatives, including those of the American Hospital Association, National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission.
Adam Novak 

Small Or Rural Hospital Council

The Small or Rural Hospital Council identifies and examines issues unique to small or rural providers from a regulatory and policy development viewpoint. The council informs policy and decision-making bodies of the MHA.
Lauren LaPine

BCBSM Committees and PHA Advisory Committee

The BCBSM committees are populated by invitation and appointment. The Participating Hospital Agreement (PHA) Advisory Committee is an MHA Board-level Committee.

Benefit Administration Committee

The Benefit Administration Committee provides input to BCBSM on billing and claims processing issues.
Vickie Kunz and Megan Blue

Participating Hospital Agreement (PHA) Advisory

The Participating Hospital Agreement Advisory provides input to BCBSM on participating hospital agreement contract matters.
Jason Jorkasky

Utilization Management & Quality Assessment

The Utilization Management & Quality Assessment Committee provides input to BCBSM on matters that are relevant to utilization, quality and health management.
Megan Blue and Vickie Kunz

BCBSM Pay-for-Performance Committee

The Pay-for-Performance Committee provides input to BCBSM on pay-for-performance issues.
Megan Blue

MHA Work Groups

A work group is a subgroup of any entity (council or committee) that is appointed by the chair to work on a specific project. Work groups often use specific area experts. The “experts” are acknowledged for their work with the specific project but may not be regular members of the work group’s parent entity.

Hospital Affiliated Legislative Officers (HALO)

This committee/work group complements the MHA Legislative Policy Panel through the coordination of day-to[1]day advocacy efforts with members and by monitoring and reviewing healthcare policy, state budget activities and proposed/pending state and federal legislation.
Elizabeth Kutter

MHA Task Forces

Artificial Intelligence Task Force

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force is developing a framework focused on the safe and ethical application of AI within healthcare. This framework includes clear guidance and model policies to help hospital and health system policymakers manage the evolving impact of AI.
Jim Lee, Amy Barkholz, and Elizabeth Kutter

MHA Regional Councils