Category: Member News

MHA Monday Report Feb. 2, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

State Legislative Weekly Recap: House Appropriations Committee Continues RHTP Testimony

The Michigan House Appropriations Committee continued testimony during the week of Jan. 26 on federal funding awarded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and on legislation related to the 340B program and next-of-kin designations. …

MHA Events2026 MHA Human Resources Conference Registration Open

The 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 24 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, will convene human resources leaders and professionals who are shaping the future of the healthcare workforce. In an evolving healthcare …

MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on December 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service …

New MHA Infographic Provides Overview of RHTP Program in Michigan

The MHA recently released a new infographic that provides an overview of the RHTP in Michigan. This infographic highlights the scope of the program, Michigan’s rural health landscape and the $173 million awarded to the …

Pediatric Vaccination Guidance: What Michigan Providers Need to Know

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published its 2026 immunization schedule for children and adolescents, recommending protection against 18 diseases including polio, measles, respiratory syncytial virus and meningococcal disease. This comprehensive schedule draws …

Deadline Approaching for MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy

The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy is Feb. 6. The cohort meets Feb. 25-27 and May 7-8 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos. The Healthcare Leadership Academy, in partnership with Executive Core, has …

Hospitals Help: Munson Healthcare, Community Partners Offer Free Family Support Program

Healthy Futures is a free family support program that helps answer questions and assists families in finding services and resources in the community. The program, which has no eligibility requirements, is a collaboration between Munson …

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — The Reality Behind a Hospital Ribbon-Cutting

Hospital ribbon-cutting ceremonies tend to spotlight the new and modern elements of a hospital expansion: bright windows, sleek patient rooms or advanced diagnostic technology. But what you don’t see is often more important than what …

New to Know

News to Know

  • The MHA recently created a dedicated newsroom webpage #HospitalsHelp, highlighting stories from member hospitals across Michigan and their community benefit efforts.
  • Stay connected with the MHA for the latest healthcare updates in Michigan across its social media platforms, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads.

MHA in the News

The Detroit News published a story Jan. 29 on two recent House Appropriations Committee hearings on the distribution of RHTP funds. The article details concern from House lawmakers and rural providers …

Media Recap: Rural Health Transformation Project Fund Distribution

Member News, MHA In The News, Rural Health Updates

The Detroit News published a story Jan. 29 on two recent House Appropriations Committee hearings on the distribution of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funds.

The article details concern from House lawmakers and rural providers surrounding the program, particularly the designation of Wayne and Oakland counties as partially rural in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) RHTP application.

Lauren LaPineLauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH, MPH, vice president, policy and rural health, MHA, is quoted in the story clarifying the department’s commitment expressed to the MHA to ensure rural communities benefit from the funding.

“The state is juggling varying state and federal definitions of rural as it applies for and administers the program,” LaPine-Ray said.

“I can say, very transparently, in our conversations with MDHHS, they did not intend to define a rural community as being one within Wayne or Oakland County,” she said. “They were very specific and intentional in making sure the definition that they used really focused on rural community and rural populations.”

The MHA also received coverage from MIRS and Bridge on 340B and medical debt collection legislation.

Members with questions regarding media requests should contact Elise Gonzales at the MHA.

 

MHA CEO Report — The Reality Behind a Hospital Ribbon-Cutting

Member News, MHA Rounds
MHA Rounds graphic of Brian Peters

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian Peters

Hospital ribbon-cutting ceremonies tend to spotlight the new and modern elements of a hospital expansion: bright windows, sleek patient rooms or advanced diagnostic technology. But what you don’t see is often more important than what you do.

Behind nearly every new facility is a story of aging infrastructure, outdated equipment and community needs that have outgrown what a hospital’s existing buildings can provide. Many hospitals operate buildings that are decades old – some built long before today’s medical technology, infection control standards or patient-centered design principles even existed.

Aging facilities often have electrical systems that can’t support modern equipment, rooms that limit the physical safety and efficiency of frontline workers, HVAC systems not suitable for infection control, or layouts that slow down emergency response or patient flow. Hospitals replace facilities because community needs can no longer be met with outdated structures, not because they want something new.

Expansion of facilities or technology, also referred to as capital projects, are funded through a mix of sources. These often include donors and philanthropic gifts, grants from foundations or government programs, bond financing, occasional state or federal appropriations and hospital capital budgets, which are built from small operating margins over the course of multiple years. These new facilities are not paid for directly from patient bills.

Even in years when hospitals have positive margins, these average margins are typically around only one to three percent and are reinvested directly back into patient care, safety improvements and facility upgrades. These reinvestments in new construction are about preserving access and modernizing care; not profit.

New buildings or service lines often emerge because patients travel long distances for essential care, equipment is too outdated to repair, demand for services like cancer care, imaging or behavioral health has grown, or because safety standards require major updates. A hospital that upgrades its cancer center or brings 3D digital mammography closer to home is reducing travel burdens, improving outcomes and keeping care local.

Behind Every Ribbon are Years of Work and Analysis

Before any groundbreaking, hospitals spend years evaluating whether renovation is possible or if replacement is more cost-effective. Hospitals also consider how to minimize disruption to patient care and what community health data shows about long-term needs. Finally, with all those factors considered, hospitals and health systems then determine how to secure funding without burdening patients.

The result may look like a brand-new facility, but it represents years of planning, prudent budgeting and community-focused decision-making.

In an era when headlines move fast, communities may question why hospitals announce expansions at the same time they face workforce shortages or reimbursement challenges. The answer is simple: capital investments and operational budgets are not the same.

A hospital can be financially strained day to day while still needing to replace unsafe or outdated infrastructure. So next time you see your local hospital celebrating the grand opening or ribbon cutting of a new facility or technology, you can join in the celebration by knowing that your community, family and friends are receiving high-quality, modern care for decades to come, all close to home.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

News to Know – Feb. 1, 2026

Member News

New to Know

  • The MHA recently created a dedicated newsroom webpage Hospitals Help, highlighting stories from member hospitals across Michigan and their community benefit efforts. The collection showcases how hospitals support patients, families and communities through programs, partnerships and services that advance care, wellness and quality of life statewide. Members with questions or who would like to submit stories may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
  • Stay connected with the MHA for the latest healthcare updates in Michigan across its social media platforms, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads.

 

2026 MHA Human Resources Conference Registration Open

Member News
MHA Events

The 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 24 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, will convene human resources leaders and professionals who are shaping the future of the healthcare workforce.

In an evolving healthcare environment, people remain hospitals’ most critical resource. From workforce shortages to employee engagement and leadership development, healthcare human resources professionals are navigating complex challenges that require practical strategies and strong peer collaboration. The conference will highlight Michigan hospitals that have taken unique approaches to recruitment and retention in their local communities that have deepened community trust and elevated organizational reputation.

Registration is $259 and members are encouraged to register. Members with questions about registration should contact Ellie Droste at the MHA. Members with questions about the conference should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

Deadline Approaching for MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy

Member News

The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy is Feb. 6. The cohort meets Feb. 25-27 and May 7-8 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos.

The Healthcare Leadership Academy, in partnership with Executive Core, has been a staple of the MHA, with more than 150 physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals completing the academy. The two power-packed modules featured in the coursework provide participants with Leadership 360° feedback with personalized executive coaching, exploration of best practices balanced with patient outcomes, on-camera media and public relations training and intimate discussions with senior healthcare leaders.

Members with questions should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

New MHA Infographic Provides Overview of RHTP Program in Michigan

Member News

The MHA recently released a new infographic that provides an overview of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in Michigan. This infographic highlights the scope of the program, Michigan’s rural health landscape and the $173 million awarded to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to support rural health initiatives across the state.  

The infographic also provides demographic and access-related data to help contextualize the need for targeted rural health investment, including information on rural population distribution, Medicaid coverage, distance to care, workforce shortages and the reliance of rural communities on local hospitals as critical access points. 

Timely updates, resources and additional information about the program are available on the MHA RHTP webpage. Members with questions may contact the MHA policy team. 

MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

Member News

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on December 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and managed care organization. Just over 25% of Michigan’s total population is enrolled in Medicaid and 23% is enrolled in Medicare.

Roughly two-thirds of Michigan’s 2.5 million Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in one of nine managed care plans.

Total Medicare enrollment is 2.3 million, with 63% of beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicaid Advantage (MA) plan and only two counties having less than 50% of total Medicare enrollment in MA plans. MA enrollment by county ranges from 47% to 79%, with 71 counties having 55% or more of their Medicare population enrolled in an MA plan, as highlighted below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

December enrollment is spread across 45 MA plans, with up to 29 covering beneficiaries in several Michigan counties and a minimum of five plans available in each county.

Members with enrollment questions should contact the MHA health finance team.

State Legislative Weekly Recap: House Appropriations Committee Continues RHTP Testimony

Member News

The Michigan House Appropriations Committee continued testimony during the week of Jan. 26 on federal funding awarded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and on legislation related to the 340B program and next-of-kin designations.

Michigan hospitals testified before the House Appropriations Committee on funding allocated to the state through the RHTP. Michigan was awarded $173 million in RHTP funding in December 2025 to support rural communities and address access-to-care challenges. MHA members testifying in front of the committee included Tonya Darner, CEO, UP Health System; Andrew Raymond, CEO, Kalkaska Memorial Health Center; and Peter Marinoff, president and CEO, Munson South Region. Lauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH, MPH, vice president of policy and rural health, MHA, and Gabe Schneider, director, government relations, Munson Healthcare, also responded to committee questions and shared feedback in support of rural hospitals and the program.

The House Appropriations Committee heard testimony Jan. 28 from rural hospital leaders. Appearing (from left to right) are Tonya Darner (Zoom), Gabe Schneider, Peter Marinoff, Andrew Raymond and Lauren LaPine-Ray.

During testimony, members highlighted challenges facing rural healthcare, including access to maternity care, EMS transportation, behavioral health services, and workforce recruitment and retention. Members noted that 22% of counties are considered maternity deserts and at least 11 hospital labor and delivery units have closed since 2010. Testimony also underscored the role rural hospitals play in supporting overextended EMS systems by holding patients when transport is unavailable, coordinating complex transfers and absorbing unreimbursed costs.

Members emphasized that RHTP funding should be targeted toward these challenges to better serve rural communities and maintain access to care.

The House Health Policy Committee voted Jan. 28 to advance House Bill (HB) 4878, sponsored by Rep. Curtis VanderWall (R-Ludington). HB 4878 protects hospitals’ contract pharmacy arrangements under the federal 340B program and includes state-level drug price transparency and hospital community benefit reporting requirements. The legislation allows eligible 340B hospitals to continue stretching limited resources to support care for vulnerable patients and communities across the state, without using state or federal taxpayer dollars. The MHA and its 340B member hospitals support the integral program protections this legislation affords, both for maintaining access to community-based care and improving affordability across Michigan communities. HB 4878 now heads to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.

The Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety voted in favor of HB 4418 and HB 4419, which update next of kin designations in a healthcare setting. The bills, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown Township) and Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township), seek to reduce barriers in the process of designating a next of kin to inform medical decisions for a patient who is unable to make those decisions themselves. Current law requires families to pursue guardianship, a process that can be lengthy and burdensome during medical emergencies. The MHA worked with bill sponsors and stakeholders to clarify language in HB 4418 based on member hospital feedback. The bills have been referred to the full Senate for further consideration.

Lastly, the Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony on Senate Bills (SB) 701 and 702, which make changes to medical debt collection processes in the state. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater) and Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), make changes to how and when medical debt is collected from patients. The MHA is reviewing the legislation and remains committed to working with lawmakers on opportunities to improve healthcare affordability.

Members with questions may contact the MHA advocacy team.

 

Pediatric Vaccination Guidance: What Michigan Providers Need to Know

Member News, Top Issues - Healthcare

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published its 2026 immunization schedule for children and adolescents, recommending protection against 18 diseases including polio, measles, respiratory syncytial virus and meningococcal disease. This comprehensive schedule draws on decades of evidence-based research and expert consensus and differs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Jan. 6 update, which covers 11 diseases.

“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents of this country,” said AAP President Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP.

The schedule is supported by 12 major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Medical Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Michigan’s Position

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a standing recommendation on Dec. 18, 2025, encouraging providers to follow the AAP’s evidence-based immunization schedules. MDHHS reaffirmed this position Jan. 6, 2026, underscoring its commitment to science-based public health recommendations.

The MHA encourages hospital leaders to connect with their local public health department to discuss shared strategies for promoting evidence-based vaccine information.

Supporting Patient Communication

As families encounter vaccine information from multiple sources, questions may arise. Healthcare providers play a key role in delivering clear, evidence-based guidance grounded in science.

To assist with this effort, MDHHS has partnered with the Michigan Association of Local Public Health to launch the Michigan Health Communications Initiative. The initiative offers a monthly provider newsletter and ready-to-use materials suitable for emails, social media or printed displays to help educate patients about the importance of vaccines.

Vaccines are an important tool for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The MHA supports the state’s standing recommendation to follow the AAP immunization schedules as evidence-based guidance that protects Michigan’s children. Additional information is available on the MDHHS Immunization Recommendations for Michigan webpage.

Members with questions about vaccines may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.