COVID-19 Resources for Michigan Hospitals, Media and the Public
Updated August 12
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.
In order to ensure the supplies are distributed efficiently and to the areas of greatest need, donations can be directed to the Michigan Community Service Commission at COVID19donations@michigan.gov or (517) 335-4295.
Visitors in Hospitals/Healthcare Facilities
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an Executive Order that restricts visitors in healthcare facilities, including hospitals. Effective immediately, all healthcare facilities and residential care facilities must restrict visitors to their facilities, with few exceptions. Learn more in the FAQs.
Facilities must assess all persons entering their facilities who are not under the care of the facility for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors. Healthcare facilities must deny entry to any individual with symptoms or risk factors.
The public is asked to be patient as hospitals screen visitors and staff entering their buildings. These additional processes make it even more critical that people who do not absolutely need to be at the hospital do not go there.
Resources for Healthcare Providers
Recent Updates
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.
Visitor Restrictions (Updated June 26): To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to provide essential protections to vulnerable Michiganders and to this state’s health care system and other critical infrastructure, the state has ordered temporary restrictions on the entry of individuals into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities. Hospitals, outpatient clinics or doctor’s office may permit entry of visitors if they follow the guidance provided by MDHHS. Read the Executive Order. Official FAQs are available for hospitals implementing the order.
Emergency Certificate of Need (CON) Guidance (Updated April 13) - The MDHHS has provided information for hospitals requesting Emergency CON at this time for adding additional beds. Forms are available below:
Whether an Emergency CON is required or not, a state licensed hospital must submit an application to the State Licensing Section, Bureau of Community Health Systems (BCHS). In an effort to get beds online quickly, BCHS and the Bureau of Fire Services jointly issued a “standing” temporary license for all hospitals that plan to expand bed capacity or modify bed designations in existing licensed hospital space in response to the COVID-19 emergency. This waiver will allow hospitals to stand up operations immediately, and then seek formal state licensing approval within 72 hours of start of operations of the additional capacity. This waiver does not apply to proposed projects that involve significant renovations, changes to fire safety equipment and systems, and alternative care locations not within the existing licensed hospital space.
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.
Exemption of Michigan Licensure During Time of Disaster/State of Emergency (March 16) - The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued guidance to assist hospitals’ staffing needs. The guidance includes:
- The following individuals are not required to have a license issued under Article 15 of the Public Health Code for practice of a health profession in Michigan during the COVID-19 state of emergency:
- Individuals who are properly licensed as health professionals in another state or country (i.e. Canada).
- Individuals who were licensed in Michigan as health professionals but have retired in five years or less.
- Individuals who by education, training, or experience substantially meet the qualifications of licensure under Article 15 of the Public Health Code.
- Each hospital’s compliance team will be responsible for keeping track of these individuals and the MHA issued guidance to assist members on the MHA Community Site. Members with questions or who need assistance may contact Paige Fults at the MHA.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer COVID-19 Executive Orders
The MHA has compiled a list of healthcare-related Executive Orders issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of the state's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. View the complete list of Executive Orders. (Updated August 10)
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: