Category: Member News

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack Addresses MHA Board

Member News
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and MHA CEO Brian Peters pictured during a fireside chat during the April 9 MHA Board of Trustees Meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing.

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack to its April 9 meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing. The board meeting primarily focused on how to effectively advocate with state and federal lawmakers to preserve access to vital community healthcare services currently facing steep proposed funding cuts.

In a ‘fireside chat’ format moderated by MHA CEO Brian Peters, Pollack shared the political insights he’s gleaned from more than forty years of federal healthcare advocacy to provide his perspective on the current Congressional budget process, key drivers of the current administration and Congressional leadership, and the most effective messaging to help lawmakers understand how their community hospitals will be affected by the budget proposals.

Pollack shared recent public messaging from the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, showing the faces of Medicaid and urging lawmakers to protect funding. “If lawmakers don’t hear from you, they think there’s no problem. Hospitals are not a single-issue group,” said Pollack. “Reach out to your lawmakers because we have the opportunity to be objective teachers. Bring them into your hospitals and tell your story.”

At the state level, the board affirmed its support for efforts to address medical debt relief, providing direction for the association to continue working with policymakers on this important issue. The board also discussed ongoing advocacy in support of state legislation to protect 340B contract pharmacies. In addition, the board affirmed the work of the Advisory Panel on Community Benefit Collaboration, with a focus on voluntary collaboratives to improve prenatal care and help address perinatal mood disorder.

The MHA Health PAC campaign remains on target to reach its $400,000 goal. Lastly, the board approved the Type 3 membership application of Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Virtual Member Forum on Cybersecurity and Cyberattack Response

Member News

The MHA, in conjunction with its statewide Health Information Technology Strategy Committee, is hosting the virtual member forum Cybersecurity and Cyberattack Response from 9:30 to 11 a.m. May 9 as an ongoing effort to strengthen cybercrime and cybersecurity policy for Michigan hospitals.

This free, members-only event will feature six experts involved in their hospital’s cyberattack incident response, who will discuss detection, containment, eradication and recovery, and crisis communication.

Additionally, panelists will share how they:

  • Detected a cybersecurity incident.
  • Engaged with law enforcement and government entities.
  • Reported data breaches to regulatory bodies.
  • Partnered with vendors to recover data and restore systems.
  • Worked with payers to navigate financial losses.
  • Enabled alternate care protocols for the disabled electronic health record.
  • Communicated with internal staff, stakeholders, patients and the media.

Attendees will also hear more about collaboration with payers and other stakeholders to mitigate disruptions and ensure continuity of care.

Chief executive officers, chief information and security officers, health information leaders, chief financial officers, chief medical and nurse officers, directors of communications, public relations and media relations, and financial and data leaders are encouraged to register.

Members with questions about MHA membership or webinar registration may contact Brenda Carr at the MHA.

U.S. House Advances Budget Resolution, Sets Up Potential Medicaid Cuts

Member News

The United States House of Representatives advanced a Senate budget resolution April 10 that calls for a minimum of $1.5 trillion in federal spending reductions. A separate budget resolution previously passed by the House in February had specifically targeted $880 billion in cuts from the Energy and Commerce committee, which has jurisdiction over the Medicaid program.

Leadership and committee chairs from both chambers will now begin writing and seeking support for an omnibus budget bill, which could contain cuts to providers in the Medicaid program. The MHA remains strongly opposed to cuts that will limit access to care for Michigan residents and will work with members to advocate against reductions over the next several weeks.

Members may use the MHA’s Medicaid action alert to contact their congressperson and advocate for protecting Medicaid from funding cuts.

Members with questions may contact Laura Appel at the MHA.

Excellence in Governance Fellowship Offers Meaningful Dialogue Among Trustees and Experts

Member News

EIGFApplications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 the MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship. Launched more than 20 years ago, is a rigorous and comprehensive program delivering tools and knowledge in effective governance, improving quality and patient safety, building collaborative medical staff partnerships, and strengthening relationships with the community and stakeholders.

Between October 2025 and June 2026, fellows will meet three times in-person at the MHA headquarters in Okemos and through virtual sessions. More than 100 trustees have graduated from this one-of-a-kind offering and all offer high praise, one graduate stating “The fellowship changed how I operated and functioned as a leader and as an individual.”

Hospital and health system governing board members who enroll in the MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship will engage in dialogue with healthcare experts to gain skills to effectively consider strategies and make decisions and share each other’s experiences with other trustees.

Questions about the fellowship can be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.

MI AIM Spring Regional Training Approaching

Patient Safety and Quality, Member News

The Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) is offering regional training sessions for inpatient maternal health providers focused on implementing the hypertension safety bundle and addressing common challenges with implementation.

The one-hour virtual sessions will include time for discussion and collaboration among regional hospital teams following the presentation. Nurses, physicians and other maternal health inpatient clinicians are encouraged to attend and may choose from either a morning session from 8 to 9 a.m. or an evening session from 5 to 6 p.m. on April 23, 2025. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required with the links provided.

These sessions are funded by the HRSA AIM grant (A30MC49987) as a continuation of the regional trainings conducted in Fall 2024. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of MyMichigan Health and Michigan Health & Hospital Association. MyMichigan Health is accredited by the Michigan State Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. MyMichigan Health designates this activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Members may contact the MHA Keystone Center for registration questions. Dominique Abram and Meagan Chuey at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are available for event related questions.

MHA Shares Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

Member News

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on February 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 27% of Michigan’s total population is enrolled in Medicaid and 23% is enrolled in Medicare.

Roughly two-thirds of Michigan’s 2.66 million Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in one of nine managed care plans.

Total Medicare enrollment is 2.26 million with 63% of beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicaid Advantage (MA) plan with only two counties having less than 50% of total Medicare enrollment in MA plans. MA enrollment by county ranges from 46% to 78%, with 72 counties having 55% or more of their Medicare population enrolled in an MA plan.

February enrollment is spread across 47 MA plans with up to 26 plans covering beneficiaries in several Michigan counties, with a minimum of six plans available in each county.

Members with enrollment questions should contact the Health Finance team at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report April 7, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

Deadline Nearing to Register for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium

The April 18 registration deadline is quickly approaching for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, scheduled for April 28 –29, 2025, at the Kellogg Conference Center & Hotel, East Lansing. Multiple breakout sessions, …

New Resources for Patient Rights in Psychiatric Hospitals

The MHA recently collaborated with the Mental Health Association of Michigan and Disability Rights Michigan to develop resources outlining patient rights in psychiatric hospitals across Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio. These assets are modeled after …

Michigan HR Professionals Gather at the MHA Human Resources Conference

More than 100 healthcare human resources (HR) professionals from across the state gathered at the MHA Human Resources Conference March 25 in Lansing. Attendees participated in small group discussions that developed innovative ideas focused on …

MiCare Champion Cast Header PhotoHow Could Medicaid Cuts Impact Michigan?

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring how proposed reductions to Medicaid could disrupt access to care and harm Michigan hospitals, patients and communities. Laura Appel, executive vice president of …

MHA Rounds image of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — Prioritizing Rural Health

While snow continues to fall in northern Michigan, spring is officially here, and for many, that means our weekend travel plans shift from skiing and snowmobiling to camping, hiking and boating. Rural Michigan is an amazing travel destination for many, …

Keckley Report

Healthcare is Low Hanging Fruit for Trump: Disruption is the Aim

“The health system is low hanging fruit for federal spending hawks and government reformers. It’s increasingly evident the Trump administration’s well aware. …

This week, Congress returns to DC to continue its budget reconciliation deliberations against a backdrop of growing anxiety about an economic downturn and potential recession.  The stock market is down 10% from its February 19 high and consumer sentiment about the economy hit a 12-year low last week. Notably, households of low and middle-income means are experiencing record levels of debt and unpaid bills: these include 4 million in lower-paying healthcare jobs and 3 million unpaid family caregivers who can’t afford to pay for outside care. And physicians, now 3 months into their fifth-year without a Medicare reimbursement increase, are simply mad and burnt-out.

Today, every healthcare organization (public/private) is operating in limbo: leaders are worried, lenders are more cautious, researchers and public health agencies are paralyzed, state and local health officials are preparing for the worst and hospitals, medical practices, ancillary and long-term care providers face an insecure, disgruntled workforce.

The playbook for everyone in U.S. healthcare—payers, providers, suppliers and advisors—is being re-written.”

Paul Keckley, March 30, 2025

News to Know

  • The MHA was recently awarded $2.5 million to expand hospital-based peer recovery coach (PRC) services and is requesting members complete a brief survey by April 11 to assess current use and interest in PRC programs.
  • The Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) is offering regional training sessions April 23 for inpatient maternal health providers focused on implementing the hypertension safety bundle and addressing common challenges with implementation.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare will host the free webinar Balancing the Complexities of the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Markets from 11 a.m. to noon ET April 10.

MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks during a virtual media roundtable about Medicaid.

MHA in the News

A virtual media roundtable hosted April 3 by the Michigan League for Public Policy included MHA CEO Brian Peters as a panelist, where he discussed the consequences for potential Medicaid funding cuts by Congress. Crain’s …

News to Know – April 7, 2025

Member News
New to Know
  • New to KnowThe MHA was recently awarded $2.5 million to expand hospital-based peer recovery coach (PRC) services and is requesting members complete a brief survey by April 11 to assess current use and interest in PRC programs. Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.
  • The Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) is offering regional training sessions April 23 for inpatient maternal health providers focused on implementing the hypertension safety bundle and addressing common challenges with implementation. The one-hour sessions will include time for discussion and collaboration among regional hospital teams following the presentation. Nurses, physicians and other maternal health inpatient clinicians are encouraged to attend and may choose from either a morning session from 8 to 9 a.m.or an evening session from 5 to 6 p.m.. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required with the links provided. Members may contact the MHA Keystone Center for registration questions. Dominique Abram and Meagan Chuey at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are available for event related questions.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare will host the free webinar Balancing the Complexities of the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Markets from 11 a.m. to noon ET April 10. Speakers John Higgins, vice president of talent management at Essentia Health, and Steven Endsley, vice president of Workforce Solutions at AMN Healthcare, will provide valuable insights to MHA members on workforce challenges and innovative talent strategies. The webinar will highlight effective approaches to talent acquisition, retention and workforce transformation – in rural healthcare settings and beyond. To learn more, visit the AMN Healthcare page or contact Steven Endsley at AMN Healthcare.

Deadline Nearing to Register for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The April 18 registration deadline is quickly approaching for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, scheduled for April 28 –29, 2025, at the Kellogg Conference Center & Hotel, East Lansing.

Multiple breakout sessions, led by clinical teams researching and implementing best practices, will address key quality and safety priorities such as creating a zero-harm culture, situational awareness, reducing mental health sigma, building wellbeing, supporting family caregivers and improving data.

Kara Heck, MHA, BSN, RN-BC, CCRN, chair of the MHA Safety & Quality Committee, provides a testimonial about her decision to attend and her recommendation that colleagues do the same. The online detailed agenda outlines the numerous learning opportunities.

Numerous networking opportunities, whether in the exhibit hall, during structured lunch discussions or during evening dine-arounds, give members the chance to reconnect with leaders and build new relationships.

The symposium offers continuing education credits for physicians, nursing and social workers*. For more information about the symposium, members may contact Erica Leyko at the MHA. Questions about event registration should be directed to Janice Jones at the MHA.

*For more details, please visit the online Continuing Education Accreditation Statement.

The Power of Patient-Centered Care

Member News, MHA Rounds

Tammy Allen, Region Director, Patient Experience and Relations, Trinity Health

It’s no secret that patient experience within hospitals and health systems has evolved over the years – especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. In honor of Patient Experience Week (PX Week), it’s a good time to recognize the strong, positive impact of patient-centered care. Now more than ever, healthcare leaders must consider these collaborative, compassionate approaches that not only benefit patients and providers, but also enhance a hospital’s culture, reputation and viability.

What is the philosophy and impact of patient-centered care?

While the terminology often varies across organizations, the foundational concept of any patient-centered care model is to put patients and their caregiver(s) at the center of all decision-making. Oftentimes, these efforts are referred to as Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) or Person and Family Engagement (PFE).

Regardless of what it goes by, the primary goal is to foster collaboration between patients, families and healthcare staff. I can confirm both first-hand and from sources including the National Library of Medicine that implementing patient-centered care can result in better health outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, safer and more desirable workplaces and reduced costs.

Recent changes to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey help reflect the evolution of patient-centered care, aiming to better capture the complexities of the modern patient experience. These measures focus on:

  • Patient-Centered Communication: Ensuring patients and their caregiver(s) are given clear explanations of diagnoses, treatment and medication instructions.
  • Patient and Family Involvement: Ensuring patients and their caregiver(s) feel well-informed and involved in the decision-making process for every step of the care plan, from intake to discharge.
  • Seamless, Compassionate Care: Ensuring hospital and healthcare teams collaborate and communicate effectively to create a seamless patient experience and prevent lapses in care. This principle also places emphasis on delivering compassionate, personalized care to meet every patient’s unique needs.

What is required to make a patient-centered care model successful and sustainable?

There are few key elements necessary to implement and maintain patient-centered care within a hospital or health system. This includes:

  • Leadership buy-in to access the necessary resources and tools to implement, enhance and sustain a patient-centered care model.
  • Education and training to help healthcare teams understand the value of patient-centered care and effectively implement new practices.
  • Employee engagement to foster a culture that embraces patient-centered care practices and maintains collaboration across teams.

What tools exist for hospitals and health systems looking to adopt a patient-centered care model (especially those with limited resources)?

The MHA Person & Family Engagement (PFE) Roadmap is a great tool that offers guidance on how to introduce or re-engage patient-centered care practices. The roadmap provides standardized definitions, policies and actionable steps for healthcare teams. Later this Spring, members of the MHA PFE Advisory Council will share how to integrate the roadmap in two PFE Improvement Sprint webinars, which are free of charge to MHA members:

What wisdom would you pass along to healthcare teams implementing or re-engaging patient-centered care practices?

If you are a patient experience leader like me, use your voice and expertise to share the far-reaching benefits of patient-centered care. In addition to enhancing the overall clinical experience, these efforts help ensure those who walk through your doors feel valued, involved and understood.