MHA Monday Report Aug. 5, 2024

Michigan Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Paid Sick Leave & Minimum Wage

The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling July 31 in Mothering Justice v. Attorney General that upholds voter initiative petitions on paid sick leave and minimum wage. Those laws, as originally enacted, will go into …


Michigan Medicaid Facility Rates Increased for Dental Procedures Under General Anesthesia

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a final policy to increase Medicaid payment rates for dental services provided to patients under general anesthesia in ambulatory surgical centers and outpatient hospitals, …


MDHHS and Michigan 211 Launches New Website for Grief and Bereavement Support

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), in partnership with Michigan 211, recently launched a new website aimed to providing support services for families who have experienced loss of a mother or infant. …


Kelley Cawthorne Ad


CMS Releases FY 2025 Final Rule for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatric facilities for federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. Key provisions …


Applications Open for MI Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has allocated $3.5 million for the Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program. This program will offer up to $15,000 stipends to student interns enrolled in behavioral health …


CMS Releases FY 2025 Final Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities for federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. Key provisions …


The Keckley Report

The Five Characteristics of the Blame and Shame Game in Healthcare

“The Blame and Shame Game spikes in election cycles as candidates pit themselves against their opponents. Healthcare plays its own version: last week is indicative: …

As Congress heads home for their August recess this week and Campaign 2024 intensifies, there’s no doubt healthcare issues will be prominent in local, state and national news. It’s also likely much of that coverage will be negative due to mounting cynicism about the industry’s business, consolidation, and opaque pricing and intensifying blame and shame games between hospitals and insurers, primary care and specialty physicians, PBMs and drug manufacturers, public health and healthcare delivery and others.

Blame and shame rhetoric about these tensions is not new, but its intensity is higher than ever as are the stakes. Blame and Shame is Chapter Two in most organization’s playbooks. Chapter One, the organization’s mission, vision, purpose and strategic plan is often missing and frequently premised on false assumptions. Thus, the “strategy” defaults to calling out the wrongdoings/shortcoming of adversaries and critics and little more. And their rhetoric is laced with terms for which accountability is suspect i.e. community benefit, affordability, value, quality and others. …

Here’s too much at stake to expect any inside sector to do this on its own: Blame and Shame is easier.”

Paul Keckley, July 29, 2024


News to Know 

The Primary Election is Tuesday, Aug. 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters in line at 8 p.m. can still cast ballots. Those who missed the deadline to register online or by mail can do so in-person through Election Day with their local clerk. To check registration status, polling location or preview a ballot, visit the Michigan voter webpage.