Michigan Maternal Health Quality Improvement Support

Michigan Maternal Health Quality Improvement Support

Through the advocacy of Governor Whitmer’s administration, the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) and the MHA, Michigan birthing hospitals were provided an opportunity to receive quality improvement payments aimed at enhancing care and improving maternal health outcomes for birthing people.

Pursuing The Joint Commission MLC Verification

The deadline to apply for maternal quality payments has passed; however, birthing hospitals interested in pursuing MLC verification through the JC can still qualify for verification cost coverage. Please review the MLC Verification Cost flyer for more details.

Below are MLC resources and ongoing support opportunities for hospitals pursuing the JC MLC verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the verification be linked to any other reporting entity (e.g., Leapfrog, US News and World Report)?

The Joint Commission does not link its accreditation, certification or verification sites to any rating/ranking organizations such as Leapfrog or US News and World Report.  The Joint Commission is not aware of any ranking entities that use MLC verification in their methodologies.

What are the benefits of participating in The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program?

This program provides birthing hospital leaders with an independent, external evaluation of their organization’s maternal health expertise, equipment and resources. The assessment determines the facility’s ability to care for many obstetric events, ranging from low- to moderate-risk pregnancies, as well as complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions.

Is my birthing hospital eligible to participate in The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program?

Yes, all birthing hospitals in the state of Michigan are eligible, regardless of The Joint Commission certification status.

What MLC fees are covered?

MLC cost coverage includes the annual fee for three years, plus the one-time, on-site visit fee during the three-year verification period. See the MLC Cost flyer for more details. Michigan hospitals pursing MLC verification should NOT pay invoices automatically generated on the hospital’s The Joint Commission Connect portal.

What is the MHA Keystone Center’s role?

Supported through funding from MDHHS, the MHA Keystone Center is directly covering hospital payments for completing The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program. See the MLC Cost flyer for more details. Additionally, the Keystone Center is providing technical support for hospitals pursing The Joint Commission MLC verification.

When should birthing hospitals apply to The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program to be eligible for this quality payment opportunity?

Michigan birthing hospitals should apply by July 31, 2025, to maximize available state funding. A hospital will then be surveyed four to six months after application to The Joint Commission. To begin the process, birthing hospitals should complete an application:

  • Birthing hospitals accredited through The Joint Commission may apply using The Joint Commission’s Connect Portal. Please contact your accreditation department to connect with the primary accreditation contact for this resource.
  • Birthing hospitals accredited through another regulatory body should contact The Joint Commission to be granted access to the Connect Portal.

Is The Joint Commission’s MLC Designation patient/public facing?

Yes. The Joint Commission does include the names of all organizations that achieve MLC verification on The Joint Commission’s website. There is a search feature that allows the public to search for verified organizations, by type of award, state and zip code. This is the same process for hospitals and all other organizations that achieve accreditation and/or certification awards.

Will the verification be linked to any other reporting entity (e.g., Leapfrog, U.S. News & World Report, etc.)?

The Joint Commission does not link its accreditation, certification or verification sites to any rating/ranking organizations such as Leapfrog or U.S. News & World Report.  The Joint Commission is not aware of any ranking entities that use MLC verification in their methodologies.

How long are funds available to birthing hospitals?

Funds are available in state Fiscal Year 2025 (ending Sept. 30, 2025) for hospitals that fully participate with MI AIM and have applied and/or been verified for MLC through The Joint Commission by July 31, 2025.

How do birthing hospitals receive the maternal quality payments?

Hospital payments will be released to eligible birthing hospitals in September for their full participation in both programs. Payments will be issued directly from Michigan Medicaid.

What is the amount of hospital quality payment?

Hospitals will receive a quality payment calculated based on the number of Medicaid-covered deliveries, severe maternal morbidity rate and inclusive of $50,000 in base funding.

Note that The Joint Commission fees for participating in the MLC Verification Program are being covered by MDHHS via the MHA Keystone Center.

Can my birthing hospital still participate with MI AIM, even though the 2025 Commitment Form is past due?

Yes, every birthing hospital in Michigan is eligible to participate in the MI AIM Collaborative. Generally, the program year begins in January and runs for an entire calendar year. However, a birthing hospital is eligible to join the collaborative at any time.

For more details, please visit the 2025 MI-AIM Designation Criteria page.

MHA Maternal Levels of Care Toolkit

The MLC toolkit was designed to provide step-by-step guidance to assist hospitals through the JC’s MLC application and verification process.

The MHA Keystone Center would like to thank the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC) and Michigan hospitals for sharing the resources outlined in this toolkit. Please note that the resources and information outlined below reflect the experiences of hospitals that have completed the JC’s MLC Verification process. These resources and sample tools should be used as a guide for consideration, but members are strongly encouraged to modify policies and processes based on their unique organizational structure and experience.

MHA MLC Technical Support Opportunities

The MHA Keystone Center is here to support Michigan hospitals pursuing MLC verification. Additional technical support resources to assist hospitals through the MLC verification process are outlined below. The MHA Keystone Center will provide additional information as it becomes available via its monthly newsletter.

  • MHA MLC Kick-Off Webinar – MHA will host a kick-off webinar on Feb. 5, 2026, at 2 p.m. to launch the 2026 MLC program year. Verified hospitals and hospitals pursuing verification in 2026 are encouraged to register.
  • MHA MLC Office Hours – Open office hours are available on the last Thursday of every month, starting Jan. 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. Past recordings and resources from the 2024-25 office hour sessions are available on the MHA Community site. The calls, supported by representatives from the JC, provided an opportunity for hospitals to collaborate and seek clarification throughout the MLC application and verification process.
  • Master MLC Q&A Document– This resource is also available on the MHA Community site, compiling questions and answers from the 2024-25 MHA MLC Office Hour Sessions.
  • 1-on-1 The Joint Commission MLC Support – Hospitals can schedule a meeting with the JC’s Michigan point-of-contact. The JC representative can provide technical support with the application and verification process. They are also available to support with navigating the JC Connect portal.
  • MI MLC Advocate – Naomi Rosner, MHA
    • Hospitals with MLC and/or MDHHS maternal health payment questions can contact Naomi Rosner at the MHA.
    • General MIAIM collaborative questions should be directed to the MHA Keystone Center.