Committees & Councils

MHA Committees, Councils and Task Forces

The MHA offers opportunities for healthcare professionals and industry leaders to help shape policy, inform decision-making, advocate for meaningful change and collaborate with peers across the state.

Participation in MHA Committees, Councils and Task Forces (CCTFs) provides a forum to share expertise, address emerging issues and support the advancement of Michigan’s healthcare system. These groups primarily meet virtually from September through June, with meeting frequency varying by committee.

In addition to standing committees, work groups may be established as needed to address specific issues or gather targeted input. These groups play an important role in responding to timely challenges and advancing focused initiatives.

Nominations are now open through May 22 for members interested in serving on a CCTF. Members are encouraged to participate in the nomination process and contribute their expertise to these collaborative efforts that support the MHA’s mission to advance the health of Michigan communities through strong, effective healthcare leadership.

• 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.

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-Ray and Kelsey Ostergren

Chief Financial Officer Council

The Chief Financial Officer Council identifies and analyzes finance policy and payer matters that affect MHA member hospitals and health systems. In addition, 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 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.
Taylor Alpert

Council on Health Access and Community Impact

The Council on Health Access and Community Impact advances the association’s efforts by mobilizing healthcare community to expand access, strengthen communities, and improve health for all. Grounded in a commitment to deliver safe, high quality, and reliable care, the council guides association and member led strategies that respond to the complex clinical, social, structural, and behavioral conditions shaping health. It facilitates shared learning, identifies priority issues, and informs statewide action that transforms care delivery and drives population level impact beyond hospital walls. The council champions integrated, multisector approaches and community informed solutions that elevate local voice and foster innovation. Through this work, it ensures hospitals and health systems can deliver person centered, community responsive care that benefits every patient and every community.
Ewa Panetta

Healthcare & Public Health Integration Council

The Healthcare & Public Health Integration Council is focused on strengthening coordination between healthcare systems and public health agencies to advance shared priorities and improve population health outcomes. By fostering communication, joint planning, and data sharing, the council aims to maximize impact, reduce duplication, and enhance efficiency across the healthcare sector. It also serves as a platform for identifying systemic challenges and proposing policy and operational solutions amid shifting funding and resource constraints.

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 as well as the role of HR leaders by providing input on legislative and regulatory issues relevant to healthcare employers, including workplace safety and workforce development. The council offers networking and educational opportunities for HR professionals, dissemination of best practices and data collection and reporting related to hospital and health system workforce metrics.
Ken Krapohl and Krista Dowding

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

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 and gives a voice to patients and families within the MHA and MHA Keystone Center.
Erin Steward

Physicians in Healthcare Leadership Council

The Physicians in Healthcare Leadership Council focuses on the unique issues related to physicians, including physician integration and interaction within hospitals, healthcare systems, and physician practices. This council will promote and advance the role of physician leadership and facilitate their education; provide insight, advice and recommendations to the MHA and the MHA governing boards; and serve as a catalyst for the delivery of healthcare.
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 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-Ray 

Supply Chain Council

The Supply Chain Council convenes healthcare materials management and supply chain leaders to guide MHA strategy, inform advocacy and policy priorities, and strengthen collaborative relationships across member organizations. The council provides strategic insight and practical guidance to enhance supply chain continuity, promote safety and quality and enable contingency planning in support of uninterrupted patient care. Through shared expertise, educational opportunities and access to resources, the council advances cost effective care and works to lower per capita costs while improving operational resilience and value across the healthcare supply chain.
Rob Wood

BCBSM Committees and PHA Advisory Committee

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (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 Jason Jorkasky 

Participating Hospital Agreement (PHA) Advisory Committee

The PHA Advisory provides input to BCBSM on participating hospital agreement contract matters.
Jason Jorkasky

Utilization Management & Quality Assessment Committee

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

BCBSM Pay-for-Performance Committee

The Pay-for-Performance Committee provides input to BCBSM on pay-for-performance issues.
Jason Jorkasky

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-day advocacy efforts with members and by monitoring and reviewing healthcare policy, state budget activities and proposed/pending state and federal legislation.
Elizabeth Kutter