COVID-19 Resources for Michigan Hospitals, Media and the Public
Updated January 15
Michigan hospitals and health systems are monitoring developments related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) very closely and are working diligently with state and federal agencies to appropriately respond to COVID-19 cases in Michigan. A current summary of the situation in the state is available on the state of Michigan's website.
Resources are available for:
Note: New or recently updated items are marked with an orange chevron. 
Resources for all Michiganders:
Everyone can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practicing everyday prevention measures like social distancing, frequent hand washing, staying home when sick and covering coughs and sneezes.
Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
If you suspect you are sick, contact your healthcare provider by phone or email for guidance before traveling to a healthcare facility. If you do not have a healthcare provider, call your local hospital. Healthcare providers may request testing based on a patient’s signs, symptoms, travel history and risk.
The state has launched a new hotline to answer health-related questions seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (888) 535-6136. Staff cannot provide individual clinical advice or a diagnosis through the hotline.
How Can I Help?
Financial Donations: The American Hospital Association has launched a hospital donation tool to search for individual hospitals make a contribution. All donations go directly to help hospitals purchase PPE for health care workers and other desperately needed resources to fight COVID-19.
Volunteer: The state of Michigan is calling on healthcare professionals who can volunteer their expertise. Learn more on the state’s COVID-19 volunteer webpage.
PPE Donations: During this difficult time, Michigan hospitals appreciate any and all assistance to help protect healthcare workers and prevent the further spread of the virus. Many Michigan hospitals have set up donation sites for those who wish to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies and funds to help their local facilities.
Below are the materials most needed at this time. This list will be updated as efforts continue to progress.
- Hospital Gowns.
- Ventilators.
- Sanitizer (Hand / Wipe).
- Gloves.
- Surgical Masks.
- Masks: NIOSH N95 or better.
- No-Touch Thermometer.
Resources for Healthcare Providers
Recent Updates
COVID-19 Communications Resources for Providers (January 13): The American Hospital Association (AHA) has shared several resources to assist hospitals and health systems in targeting and encouraging vaccination among healthcare workers. The Ad Council has launched an AHA-supported COVID-19 Vaccine Education Effort, a multichannel campaign with four videos. In addition to the Ad Council-developed videos, hospitals and health systems have access to a host of downloadable materials. To reach communities digitally, the AHA launched #MyWhy, a social media campaign that amplifies healthcare workers’ voices on the importance of getting vaccinated. Using the hashtag #MyWhy and tagging @AHAhospitals, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and others are encouraged to share videos, social posts or written testimonials when it’s their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
How mRNA Vaccines Work (January 6): MDHHS has created an infographic illustrating what mRNA vaccines are and how they are being used to combat COVID-19.
COVID-19 Billing Recommendations and Guidance Reference (August 12): The MHA has developed a reference tool for COVID-19 billing recommendations and guidance from published materials from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and the Michigan Association of Health Plans. Questions or updates regarding the document may be sent to Renée Smiddy. Please email specific payor questions to your payor liaison. This document will be updated as new information becomes available.
COVID-19 Impact Report (July 30) - The COVID-19 Impact Report, Michigan's Frontline of Defense, highlights how hospitals have responded to the pandemic and the severe COVID-19-related financial losses they’ve suffered.
Multi-lingual Mask-up Materials (July 23) – signage, fact sheets and EO overviews are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Burmese, French, American Sign Language, Swahili and Bangla at the State’s website.
Member Toolkit Available from the MHA (Updated July 13) - The MHA has released a toolkit for Michigan hospitals as they prepare for and respond to community questions related to COVID-19.
Updated Testing Prioritization Requirements (July 7): The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today it is greatly expanding testing criteria for COVID-19 to provide access to additional residents who do not have symptoms but are at risk. The new criteria includes asymptomatic patients who are preparing for surgery if testing is deemed necessary by the treating health professional. It also includes asymptomatic people who have known exposure to someone who has COVID-19 or symptoms, or who work in a profession that puts them at high risk of exposure due to close contact with the public, such as dental technicians, or to COVID-19 outbreaks in certain industries like at food processing facilities.The MHA continues to work on testing-related issues, especially as it relates to supplies and lab data processes.
Hospital to Post-Acute Transfer Guidance (March 25): Updated forms and guidance for hospitals completing post-acute care transfers. Additional information is available for members on the MHA Community Site.
Emergency Order from MDHHS (March 23): MDHHS issued an Emergency Order to healthcare providers, mandating reporting of bed capacity, PPE, ventilator quantities, staffing information and other data into EMResource, and testing data into the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS). The order also mandates that hospitals use the MDHHS-published testing priorities, and how those tests must be processed, labeled and reported to state authorities. Read more about this order.
Vaccine Updates
Moving to Vaccination Priority Group 1B (January 6): The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced in a press conference this afternoon that starting Monday, Jan. 11, additional Michiganders can be vaccinated against COVID-19, including residents 65 and over and police officers, first responders, frontline state and federal workers and jail and prison staff; and preK-12 teachers and childcare providers. In addition, they announced a modified 1B priority group that includes any resident 65 years and older in addition to essential workers. Previously, 1B included individuals 75 and older and essential workers.
Vaccination Priority Group Updates (January 4): MDHHS has updated the language regarding priority groups receiving the vaccine. The current priority groups are as follows:
- 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home, as well as residents of long-term care facilities.
- 1B: Frontline essential workers and individuals 75 years of age and older.
- 1C: Other essential workers, persons 65 to 74 years of age and individuals 16 to 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions.
- 2: All persons age 16 years or older.
First Shipments of COVID-19 Vaccine (December 20): Pfizer began shipping its COVID-19 vaccine from its global warehouse in Michigan Dec. 14 and continued to deliver it to hospitals across the country throughout the week. Healthcare providers began inoculating staff members soon after the vaccine arrived. The second vaccine was approved for emergency use the evening of Dec. 18, and initial shipments to hospitals began Dec. 20.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer COVID-19 Executive Orders
The Michigan Supreme Court issued Oct. 2 a split decision on the legality of two statutes providing authority to the Governor to enact emergency orders. A narrow majority of the court affirmed a previous decision that the Governor lacked authority after April 30, 2020 to declare a “state of emergency” or a “state of disaster” under the Emergency Management Act of 1976 based on the COVID-19 pandemic. The opinion further concluded that the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 violates the Michigan Constitution and cannot continue to provide a basis for the Governor to exercise emergency powers. The Governor has relied on the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act as the basis for her authority for all currently effective executive orders. It is anticipated that many of the healthcare-related orders will be implemented through state regulatory agencies and local forms of governments. More information will be provided as it is made available.
A list monitoring the successor statute, rule or order of all healthcare-related Executive Orders previously issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of the state's response to the COVID-19 outbreak is available. (Updated Oct. 20)
COVID-19 Testing Information and Resources
- Updated Testing Prioritization Requirements (July 7): The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today it is greatly expanding testing criteria for COVID-19 to provide access to additional residents who do not have symptoms but are at risk. The new criteria includes asymptomatic patients who are preparing for surgery if testing is deemed necessary by the treating health professional. It also includes asymptomatic people who have known exposure to someone who has COVID-19 or symptoms, or who work in a profession that puts them at high risk of exposure due to close contact with the public, such as dental technicians, or to COVID-19 outbreaks in certain industries like at food processing facilities.The MHA continues to work on testing-related issues, especially as it relates to supplies and lab data processes.
- MDHHS issued an Emergency Order to healthcare providers March 23 related to testing and reporting of data by hospitals. The order mandates that hospitals use the MDHHS-published testing priorities, and how those tests must be labeled and reported to authorities when they are sent through the state lab for processing and results.
- Michigan Interim 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Person Under Investigation (PUI)/Case Report Form Cover Sheet – This form must be submitted to the patient’s local health department when leveraging MDHHS Bureau of Laboratory testing facilities.
- Federal resources and information:
Healthcare Personnel Safety
Important Information Sources
Other Information for Providers
- The MHA launched a new online job board for sharing staffing needs among hospitals. The association encourages hospitals to use this site to broadcast needs to other facilities, and/or search for opportunities to allow staff to work elsewhere.
- New ICD-10-CM code for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus – Interim coding guidance is available for providers until a new ICD-10 diagnosis code becomes effective April 1, 2020.
- CMS Announces COVID-19 Actions (March 4) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced actions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. This includes guidance for hospitals and nursing homes, as well as an announcement that facility inspections will temporarily focus on issues related to infection control and other serious health and safety threats.
Resources for the Media
The MHA and Michigan hospitals are committed to keeping the public informed during the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Resources are available below to assist reporters as they gather information for stories.
Contact the MHA
MHA Statements: