The MHA Health Access & Community Impact Council held its second meeting of the program year Dec. 4, diving into priority areas outlined in the 2025-26 MHA Strategic Action Plan.
Guided by co-chairs Jeremy Cannon, vice president and chief nursing officer at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center; and Sharon O’Leary, chief health equity officer and medical director of Michigan Data Analytics at Trinity Health Michigan, the meeting opened with council member storyboard profiles highlighting organizational activities and programs focused on improving community health:
- No Wrong Door: Mobilizing Michigan for Coverage – Chiquita Berg, MD, vice president, community health and well-being, shared the Trinity Health Michigan-led initiative, a coordinated statewide approach that leverages community touchpoints to support and protect Medicaid coverage.
- Building Engagement & Community Trust – Kyrsten Newlon, director, communications & donor development, Hillsdale Hospital, highlighted communication channels and strategies used to connect with the community – build trust, combat misinformation and raise awareness of obstacles and unique circumstances faced by rural hospitals and providers.
MHA staff provided updates on association level initiatives closely linked to focus areas of the council, including:
- The MHA’s communication and marketing strategy supporting the program year’s Strategic Action Plan.
- An overview of association-level data sources aimed at identifying strengths and opportunities for improving data integration and building a more comprehensive understanding of regional and community health needs.
- Recap of federal and state policies impacting health and healthcare sectors including H.R.1 impacts to Michigan, Medicaid workforce requirements and redeterminations, state budget recap and medical debt legislation.
As part of the meeting’s deep dive, council members reviewed progress of member-led workgroups established under the council’s guidance. These workgroups are developing a roadmap for scalable implementation of key strategies to advance community health across four areas: Access, Quality Improvement, Patient Experience and Community Alliance, and Care Integration. Members also engaged in sharing strategies and updates on creating resilient and adaptive regional food systems and coordinated response networks to address ongoing community needs. This discussion built on the Nov. 24 MHA Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours session featuring 211 and its role in connecting individuals with essential community services.
For more information on the MHA Council on Health Access & Community Impact, contact Ewa Panetta, director of community health impact and engagement at the MHA.