Category: Member News

Deadline Approaching for Advancing Safe Care Award

Member News
MHA Advancing Safe Care Award

mha advancing safe care awardThe MHA is currently accepting nominations for its annual Advancing Safe Care Award, which recognizes hospitals that tackle issues daily to make care safer and more dependable. Eligible nominees include teams from hospitals across the state dedicated to transparency regarding the quality of care provided to patients and providing unmatched care to different patient populations.

Nominations for the 2025 award will be accepted through Jan. 31 and will be presented at the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2025 in East Lansing.

For more information on nominating a team for the Advancing Safe Care Award, contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines Trends for Industry and Governance

Member News

The January edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), highlights the podcasts, videos, webinar and other resources available on today’s most pressing issues. The AHA released its 2025 Environmental Scan, which contains data, surveys, trends, thought leadership and educational resources, illustrating some of the top issues facing healthcare.

James Liggins, JD, chair of the 2025 AHA Committee on Governance and board chair for the Bronson Healthcare system in southwest Michigan, speaks about areas of focus for governing boards, including artificial intelligence, health equity and health disparity data collection to support community health improvement. Another article outlines why it is important healthcare trustees craft meaningful ways to address burnout and solutions to addressing burnout in the work environment.

For information about MHA trustee resources or webinars, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Newly Expanded Mobile Crisis Services Grant Application Opens

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced a new grant opportunity to expand mobile crisis intervention services across the state. The expansion of mobile crisis services aims to increase access to behavioral health services statewide, irrespective of someone’s location, insurance coverage or other social factors.

The grant can be used to establish an array of mobile crisis response services, such as a two-person mobile crisis team, as long as services are offered 24/7. Services can include health screenings, de-escalation, stabilization and coordination of referrals to other services for a continuum of care.

Any public organization, including federally recognized tribal governments and local health departments, can apply for this grant. MDHHS plans to issue up to seven grants. The initial grant period will run from April 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025, and approved applicants can be awarded up to $225,000. The second period will grant up to $775,000 in continuation awards per applicant from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2027.

Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS system by 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Webinar Promoting Effective Peer Recovery Coaching Programs

Member News

The MHA will host a webinar Building Effective Peer Recovery Coaching Programs in Hospitals Feb. 12 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. to help hospitals create hospital-based peer recovery coach (PRC) programs, providing background information and insights from hospitals currently doing the work.

The webinar will explore the critical role of PRCs in a hospital setting, focusing on how improving care for patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Hospital staff, administrators and healthcare leaders will learn about the value of integrating PRCs into their teams, how to start and scale a PRC program and funding mechanisms available to support this work.

Registration is free and open to MHA members. Members working closely with patients who have a substance use disorder, manage emergency department operations or a clinical practice, or support patient’s needs at the time of discharge, are encouraged to register.

Members with questions about the webinar should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA. Members with questions about the MHA’s PRC efforts and programming should contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Jan.13, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

103rd Legislature Begins With Introduction of Earned Sick Time Bills

The Michigan Legislature officially commenced their 103rd session on Wednesday, Jan. 8, including the introduction of legislation to amend Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act . The session brings a new partisan divide with the Senate …

HHS Submits New HIPAA Security Proposed Rule

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently submitted a proposed rule to update the HIPAA Security Rule and enhance the protection of electronic protected health information. The changes aim to address the …

Healthcare Leadership Academy Enrollment Deadline Approaches

The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy is Feb. 3. The cohort meets Feb. 19 – 21 and April 10 and 11 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos. The Healthcare Leadership Academy, in partnership …

Applications Open for New Medicare Funded Rural Residency Slots

Qualifying rural hospitals may now apply for new residency positions created by Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and Section 4122 of the CAA of 2023, which allow hospitals to expand …

HRSA Announces Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced the establishment of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program, which trains physicians to become addiction medicine specialists. The program aims to expand the number of fellows at …

Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program Application Released

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering the Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program, a key initiative aimed at increasing Michigan’s behavioral health workforce. Now in its second year, the program provides up …

Nominations Open for 2025 Hometown Health Hero Award

The Michigan Public Health Week Partnership is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Hometown Health Hero Award. This award recognizes individuals and organizations that made a meaningful impact on improving the health of their community.

MHA Rounds image of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — Impacting Communities

As we turn the page on 2024 (and celebrate our success in preventing harmful government-mandated nurse staffing ratio legislation, as well as harmful changes to our medical liability system, during the lame-duck session of the legislature), …

Keckley Report

The Two Events that Changed U.S. Healthcare for Everyone

In late 2025, two events reset the U.S. health system’s future at least through 2026 and possibly beyond…

Transforming the U.S. health system is a bodacious ambition for the incoming Trump team. Early wins will be key—like expanding price transparency in every healthcare sector, softening restrictions on private equity investments, targeted cuts in Medicaid and Medicare funding and annulment of the Inflation Reduction Act. In tandem, it has promised to cut Federal government spending by $2 trillion and lower prices on everything including housing and healthcare—the two spending categories of highest concern to the working class. Healthcare will figure prominently in Team Trump’s agenda for 2025 and posturing for its 2026 mid-term campaign. And equally important, healthcare costs also figure prominently in quarterly earnings reports for companies that provide employee health benefits forecast to be 8% higher this year following a 7% spike the year prior. Last year’s 23% S&P growth is not expected to repeat this year raising shareholder anxiety and the economy’s long-term resilience and the large roles housing and healthcare play in its performance.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 6, 2025Lauren LaPine

MHA in the News

Second Wave Michigan published a story Jan. 7 on how state officials, healthcare providers and community organizations are focusing on expanding the continuum of care for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Lauren LaPine, senior …

 

Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program Application Released

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is offering the Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program, a key initiative aimed at increasing Michigan’s behavioral health workforce. Now in its second year, the program provides up to $15,000 per student to cover costs such as tuition, fees, books and living expenses, helping address the growing need for mental health services across the state.

Eligible students must be enrolled in accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree programs that prepare them for behavioral health professions, such as:

  • Marriage or family therapy
  • Behavioral analysis
  • Social Work
  • Professional counseling
  • Psychology

MDHHS allocated $1 million for the program, which is expected to benefit approximately 100 interns, depending on individual funding needs.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the stipend, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in an accredited behavioral health degree program within the United States.
  • Have an approved unpaid internship in Michigan that meets the programs requirements.
  • Participate in program surveys and evaluation activities.
  • Commit to seeking employment in Michigan’s behavioral health sector after graduation (encouraged but not required).

Stipend Distribution

The stipend is a one-time award distributed in two payments, based on the total hours required by the internship site. Only hours accrued on or after Oct. 1, 2024 are eligible for stipend calculation. The tiered scale is as follows:

  • 80-200 Hours: $5,000
  • 201-400 Hours: $10,000
  • 401-600 Hours: $15,000

Applications must be completed by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 22, 2025. Students should fill out the online application form and submit all required documentation to MDHHS. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status within three weeks of the application deadline.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

HRSA Announces Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program

Member News

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced the establishment of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program, which trains physicians to become addiction medicine specialists.

The program aims to expand the number of fellows at accredited Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF) and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship (APF) programs. Program participants will be trained to work in underserved, community-based settings that provide primary care services, along with mental health disorder and substance use disorder services.

$23 million will be awarded to 28 fellows over a five-year period through this program. Applicants must be based at an accredited AMF or APF program. The sponsoring institution must be accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education.

For more information and to access the application, members are encouraged to visit the HRSA website.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

HHS Submits New HIPAA Security Proposed Rule

Member News

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently submitted a proposed rule to update the HIPAA Security Rule and enhance the protection of electronic protected health information. The changes aim to address the growing number of breaches and cyberattacks in healthcare, as well as common deficiencies identified during Security Rule investigations.

The HIPAA Security Rule currently allows entities to bypass “addressable” implementation specifications, if deemed unreasonable due to factors such as risk or cost. The proposed modifications will require entities to meet all standards and implementation specifications and not allow an entity to avoid an addressable implementation specification. The proposed rules also seek to clarify existing standards and provide detailed guidance on compliance.

The MHA is reviewing the proposed changes and will submit comments to HHS. Public comments are open until March 7, 2025. Members with questions may contact Jim Lee at the MHA.

Applications Open for New Medicare Funded Rural Residency Slots

Member News

Qualifying rural hospitals may now apply for new residency positions created by Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 and Section 4122 of the CAA of 2023, which allow hospitals to expand their resident physician programs, particularly in rural and healthcare provider shortage areas.

Sec. 126 of the CAA created 1,000 new Medicare funded residency slots to train physicians. Hospitals that qualify for these slots include:

  • Hospitals in rural areas (or treated as such legally).
  • Hospitals training a number of residents that exceeds their current GME cap.
  • Hospitals located in states with new medical schools and/or campuses.
  • Hospitals in areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

Under Sec. 126, at least 10 percent of the slots must be awarded to hospitals in each of the four categories, and each hospital can receive a maximum of 25 resident cap slots. The new residency slots available through Section 126 can be applied for residencies of any specialty, based on their need.

Sec. 4122 of the CAA, 2023 created 200 new Medicare funded residency slots. A minimum of 100 slots must be psychiatry or psychiatry subspecialty residency programs. Each qualifying hospital will receive one slot before any hospital receives additional slots. CMS will then distribute remaining slots by HPSA score. The criterion for qualification is the same as that outlined above. Section 4122 requires that at least 10% of the cap slots go to hospitals in each of the four categories.

The Rural Residency Planning and Development Technical Assistance Center will also host a webinar on how to apply for Sec. 126 and 4122 residency positions Jan. 16 from 1 – 2 p.m. ET.

The application deadline for these programs is March 31, 2025. Hospitals must apply through the Medicare Electronic Application Request Information System. Members are encouraged to apply for slots under Sec. 126 and residency spots under Sec. 4122.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

Nominations Open for 2025 Hometown Health Hero Award

Member News

The Michigan Public Health Week Partnership is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Hometown Health Hero Award. This award recognizes individuals and organizations that made a meaningful impact on improving the health of their community.

Members are encouraged to nominate individuals by completing the nomination form and submit it by email or fax to 517-335-8392. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2025.

Award recipients will be honored April 9 during Public Health Week in Michigan, which coincides with National Public Health Week. This year’s theme is “Public Health Week: It Starts Here.”

Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.