Category: Member News

MHA Keystone Center Launches Infection Control Quality Improvement Cohort

Member News

The MHA Keystone Center is launching an infection control quality improvement cohort, providing high-touch technical assistance to ten long-term care (LTC) facilities. The Strengthening Long-term Care Infection Prevention and Control Practices to Address Emerging Pathogens project aims to enhance infection prevention strategies, equipping LTC facilities to effectively manage Candida auris (C. auris) and other emerging pathogens.

The MHA Keystone Center will enroll 10 LTC facilities in the cohort and engage with their frontline staff to increase knowledge and understanding of infection prevention and control best practices. Each participating LTC will have an on-site infection control assessment response visit and on-site and remote technical assistance.

Since its first identified case in 2021, C. auris has rapidly spread across Michigan. As of Feb. 3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reported 1,390 confirmed cases of C. auris detected across 12 Michigan counties, heavily concentrated in Southeast Michigan.

C. auris is a highly resistant yeast that spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities and causes infections ranging from superficial skin infections to life-threatening bloodstream infections. Many LTC facilities have expressed concern about caring for residents infected or colonized with C. auris. This project aims to increase facility comfort and confidence in admitting and caring for residents on enhanced barrier precautions, particularly C. auris.

Members interested in enrolling in the cohort or have questions about the program can contact Kristy Shafer at the MHA Keystone Center.

MHA Monday Report Feb. 3, 2025

Monday Report, Member News

Important Healthcare Workforce Bills Reintroduced & Committee Assignments Announced

Important healthcare workforce bills related to the interstate medical licensure compact prohibitions on non-compete agreements were reintroduced from the past legislative session by the Michigan Legislature during the week of Jan. 27. In addition, committee …

MHA Webinar to Review 2025 MI-AIM Eligibility Requirements

The MHA will host an informational webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 to review 2025 eligibility requirements for hospital birthing units to receive maternal health quality payments through the Michigan Department of Health and …

BEAD Program Opens to Support Broadband Access in Michigan

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program recently opened its two-step application process through 4 p.m. April 9, 2025, with pre-applications required for submission by 4 p.m. March 10. The program is part of …

Speaking Health Care™ Guide Assists with Understanding Language

Orientating new trustees extends far beyond a single session. New members usually require months to get fully up-to-speed on strategic priorities and the basic expectations for trustees. A daunting challenge is interpreting language about operations, clinical care, …

Keckley Report

Bill Maher Rant is Shared by Most

“Last Friday (January 24), comedian Bill Maher offered a perspective on the murder of UnitedHealth Executive Brian Thompson on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. With characteristic profanity-laced sarcasm, he assailed insurers, hospitals, drug companies, doctors and enablers as complicit in BT’s death because “the system” has abandoned any semblance of concern about caring for people. …

Healthcare insiders now face an unwelcome reality: outsiders aren’t happy and they’re acting on their discontent. Outsiders–employers, consumers, community leaders, state and federal elected officials, news organizations and even volunteer members of non-profit healthcare organizations– believe systemic reform is needed. Recent polling by Hart and KFF indicate increased transparency about healthcare prices is their starting point: they’re worried about affordability but don’t think insiders care. …

Like Bill Maher and the majority of outsiders, they think the system stinks. Healthcare—every sector– needs to fresh start with outsiders. Transparency means more than posting charges, discounted prices, out-of-pocket estimates and premiums. It about underlying direct and indirect costs, margins, how leaders are compensated, how clinical processes and clinical decisions are made, how clinician performance is measured, how denials are adjudicated, how consumers are heard, how non-financial results matter to the organization and much more. That’s a start.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 27, 2025

News to Know

  • The Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management is now accepting nominations for the Paul Venzke Award for Outstanding Performance in the field of Healthcare Risk Management.
  • The MHA is hosting a series of free webinars focused on healthcare workforce challenges, featuring insights from MHA Endorsed Business Partners.

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA in the News

MHA CEO Brian Peters was quoted by media outlets the week of Jan. 27 discussing federal healthcare issues. Bridge published an article Jan. 27 about the temporary pause of external communications from federal health agencies. …

News to Know – Feb. 3, 2025

Member News
New to Know
  • The Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management is now accepting nominations for the Paul Venzke Award for Outstanding Performance in the field of Healthcare Risk Management. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 26. Members with questions about the nomination requirements may reach out to the MHA Keystone Center.
  • The MHA is hosting a series of free webinars focused on healthcare workforce challenges, featuring insights from MHA Endorsed Business Partners. Salary.com specialists will address workforce recruitment, retention and compensation strategies during the Michigan Workforce Webinar Feb. 6 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET. Rich Thompson chief human resources officer at Medical Solutions will present Leading with Purpose: Strategies for Building a Retention-Driven Culture Feb. 10 from 1 – 2p.m. ET, offering strategies for fostering a retention-driven culture. Members with questions about the EBP program may contact Rob Wood, senior director of partnerships at the MHA.

BEAD Program Opens to Support Broadband Access in Michigan

Member News

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program recently opened its two-step application process through 4 p.m. April 9, 2025, with pre-applications required for submission by 4 p.m. March 10. The program is part of the $42.45 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated $1.5 billion to expand broadband access in Michigan. Hospitals and healthcare providers are encouraged to apply for funding to improve telehealth services, enhance patient care and support digital tools.

Hospitals must identify as community anchor institutions and are eligible for funding if they lack broadband speeds of one (1) Gbps for both uploads and downlands with latency under 100 milliseconds. Funds can be used for broadband deployment, telehealth expansion and digital infrastructure improvements.

For more details, visit the BEAD Application page on the EGrAMs grant site or contact the Michigan High Speed Internet Office.

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.

MHA Webinar to Review 2025 MI-AIM Eligibility Requirements

Member News

The MHA will host an informational webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 to review 2025 eligibility requirements for hospital birthing units to receive maternal health quality payments through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is geared to members that are fully participating in the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI-AIM) collaborative and have committed to participating in The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program.

The webinar will provide time to answer questions and outline ongoing technical support being provided by the MHA Keystone Center. All birthing hospitals interested in pursuing the 2025 state funding opportunity are encouraged to register.

Additional information can also be found on the MHA’s Maternal Levels of Care webpage.

Members with questions may contact MHA Keystone Center.

Speaking Health Care™ Guide Assists with Understanding Language

Member News

Orientating new trustees extends far beyond a single session. New members usually require months to get fully up-to-speed on strategic priorities and the basic expectations for trustees. A daunting challenge is interpreting language about operations, clinical care, insurance and regulation.

The MHA, other state hospital associations and governWell™ have collaborated to create the guide Speaking Health Care™, in efforts to help hospital and health system trustees better understand the complex and often confusing language that is used in healthcare. The glossary includes over 1,000 words with acronyms that are often used in briefings, documents and discussions in the boardroom.

The MHA encourages members to share this resource with governing board members, new employees and others who could benefit. Members with questions about the Speaking Health Care™ guide may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Important Healthcare Workforce Bills Reintroduced & Committee Assignments Announced

Member News

Important healthcare workforce bills related to the interstate medical licensure compact and prohibitions on non-compete agreements were reintroduced from the past legislative session by the Michigan Legislature during the week of Jan. 27. In addition, committee assignments were announced for the Michigan House of Representations.

House Bill 4032, sponsored by Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile), was introduced and referred to the Health Policy Committee. This legislation is a re-introduction from last term to eliminate the sunset on the interstate medical licensure compact, which streamlines the licensing process and allows physicians licensed in one state to practice in multiple, participating states.

By removing additional licensing requirements for physicians seeking to practice across state lines, patients experience increased access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas, by physicians included in the compact. In addition, states involved in the compact can share disciplinary and investigative information through the state medical board to strengthen public protection for patients and the program itself. Michigan’s participation in the compact is currently set to expire on March 28, 2025. The MHA supports this legislation and is working quickly with legislators to move it through the legislative process before the compact’s current expiration date.

Also, House Bill 4040 was reintroduced by Rep. Denise Mentzer (D-Mount Clemens) to prohibit employers from requiring employees agree to certain noncompete agreements. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Economic Competitiveness. The MHA is opposed to this legislation.

Another key legislative update from the week was the announcement of full House committee assignments. There are 18 Standing Committees this term, with notable committees including Appropriations, Education and Workforce, Health Policy, Insurance, Oversight and Regulatory Reform.

New to this term are the subcommittees on Oversight and traditional MDHHS appropriations. Both committees now include specific subcommittees addressing items like public health, while the Appropriations subcommittee is divided into three separate subcommittees on Human Services, Medicaid and Behavioral Health, and Public Health. Finally, there is a newly created Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses. The MHA looks forward to working with legislators serving on these committees to best represent MHA members during the 2025-2026 legislative term.

Members with questions may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 27, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

Legislation on Maternal Healthcare Access and Preserving Healthy Michigan Plan Coverage Becomes Law

Gov. Whitmer signed several bills Jan. 21 aimed at improving maternal healthcare access, equity and outcomes, as well as preserving eligibility for those under the Healthy Michigan Plan. The MHA worked extensively with bill sponsors …

Legislative Policy Panel Acts on AI & Credentialing Policy

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met virtually Jan. 22 to develop recommendations on legislative and policy issues impacting Michigan hospitals. The meeting began with Carlos Jackson from The Cornerstone Group, the MHA’s Washington DC-based government …

Now Accepting Nominations for the 2025 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award

The MHA is now accepting nominations for its 2025 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award. Michigan hospitals and health systems have a long-standing commitment to offering a wide range of services that enhance the health and …

Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Update

The MHA updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on December 2024 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and …

Registration Open for 2025 Human Resources Conference

Registration is now open for the 2025 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Lansing. The event offers attendees an opportunity to expand their …

YesRx Hosts Cancer Medication Donation Drive

The MHA is committed to efforts that expand access to services and mitigate barriers to timely and effective treatments. YesRx is a statewide cancer drug repository program, accepting donations of unopened cancer medications through partnerships …

MHA Podcast Explores Strategies to Enhance Workplace Safety, Security

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring the latest on healthcare workplace safety with Brian Uridge, MPA, CPP, CHPA, CTM, senior director at the University of Michigan Department of Public …

Keckley Report

Game On: Team Trump aims to Shake up Healthcare with Rules, Laws, Appointments and Swagger

“Hovering over Team Trump’s agenda is the reality that Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction and trust in its institutions including the health system is at a historic low. Restoring confidence will be a gargantuan task.

Team Trump will use Executive Orders, personnel appointments, court challenges, and legislation to advance its healthcare agenda powered by its ‘take no prisoners’ operating mode whereby the ends are justified by means. Every sector in healthcare will be impacted, some more than others. … Reacting to changes in the current environment of U.S. healthcare resulting from Team Trump is necessary and time-consuming, but neglecting thoughtful consideration about the system’s long-term future and its role in “improving the state of the world” is fatalistic.  Both need attention.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 20, 2024

News to Know

The MHA will host the webinar How Federal Grant Funding Covers IT Department Costs Feb. 7 with Endorsed Business Partner Scaled Data Health to share how government funding, along with their innovative programs, can save hospitals significant dollars.

News to Know – Jan. 27, 2025

Member News
New to Know

The MHA will host the webinar How Federal Grant Funding Covers IT Department Costs Feb. 7 with Endorsed Business Partner Scaled Data Health to share how government funding, along with their innovative programs, can save hospitals significant dollars. Speakers will cover the brief grant submission process and timeline ahead of the April 1 deadline. There is no cost to attend and members can register online. Members with questions may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

Now Accepting Nominations for the 2025 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award

Member News

The MHA is now accepting nominations for its 2025 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award. Michigan hospitals and health systems have a long-standing commitment to offering a wide range of services that enhance the health and wellness of individuals and communities throughout the state. The MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award recognizes some of the outstanding ways Michigan hospitals are advancing the health and well-being of patients, the healthcare workforce and communities.

Examples of benefits provided by past award recipients include free or discounted services, health screenings, immunizations, family support services, meals, nutritional services and other assistance to the communities hospitals serve.

The 2025 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award will be presented during the MHA Annual Membership Meeting scheduled June 25-27, 2025.

Nominations will be accepted electronically until the close of business Feb. 19, 2025. Members seeking more information may contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.