Category: News Releases

Report: Access, Affordability & Community Health Improved by Hospital Programming, Investments

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2025 MHA Community Impact Report

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) released today its 2025 Community Impact Report highlighting community programming and investments from Michigan hospitals that are improving access to care, addressing affordability and advancing the health of communities across every region of the state.

The report showcases 12 hospital-led programs that go beyond the traditional care setting to address community health needs across the state. It also outlines investments totaling more than $4.5 billion in community benefit activities in fiscal year (FY) 2023, from education and prevention services to clinical research, healthcare workforce support and more.

“Michigan hospitals continue to redefine care delivery and create new, innovative access points across the state,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “The MHA Community Impact Report is a strong reminder that our hospitals are committed to listening – and responding – to the needs of their communities.”

Programs featured in the report include University of Michigan Health-Sparrow’s mobile health clinic; Henry Ford Health’s hospital-based doula program; Corewell Health Gerber Hospital’s vaping cessation initiative; Mackinac Straits Health System’s retail pharmacy; and efforts by Bronson Battle Creek Hospital to address food insecurity; among many others. This work is a result of strategic investments, local partnerships and support from state and federal healthcare champions.

“Improving community health goes beyond the bedside,” said MHA Board Chair Bill Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare. “When we invest in programs that address socioeconomic challenges like food insecurity, we’re helping people overcome the barriers that stand between them and a healthier life.”

The full report and community impact stories from hospitals across the state can be accessed on the MHA website.

Based in Greater Lansing, the MHA is the statewide leader representing all community hospitals in Michigan. Established in 1919, the MHA represents the interests of its member hospitals and health systems in both the legislative and regulatory arenas on key issues and supports their efforts to provide quality, cost-effective and accessible care. The MHA’s mission is to advance the health of individuals and communities.

Michigan Rural Health Transformation Program Application Diminishes Potential Impact

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

We are disappointed the Michigan Rural Health Transformation Program application submitted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services does not include explicit support for Michigan’s 73 rural hospitals.

The application lists four initiatives, none of which include recommendations from Michigan’s rural hospital leaders, who know rural healthcare needs best. Michigan hospitals are set to lose more than $6 billion over the next 10 years due to the federal H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. It’s unfortunate Michigan’s application ignored this impact and the intent of Congress to assist rural hospitals most impacted by these federal changes through this program.

This application provided an opportunity to maximize the healthcare impact for rural communities by providing the resources needed by rural Michigan’s leading healthcare providers. While the four initiatives are well intended, the application as submitted fails to maintain access to care in the most meaningful way.

Bipartisan State Budget Protects Healthcare

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Michigan’s elected officials demonstrated today a strong, bipartisan commitment to protecting healthcare funding in the state budget. We thank all of those who worked together when it mattered most, especially Gov. Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Brinks and Speaker of the House Hall for their leadership in agreeing to a budget that will continue to advance the health of individuals and communities throughout the state. Hospitals, healthcare workers and patients have secure state funding for another year, maintaining access to care and protecting important service lines.

Michigan Hospital Collaboratives Launch to Improve Community Health

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More than 50 Michigan hospitals are coming together to improve outcomes in maternal health, behavioral health and chronic disease across the state through new community benefit collaboratives launched by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA). The goal is to leverage community impact programming to maximize statewide improvements in these three areas.

The MHA will lead participating hospitals in implementing multi-year, scalable projects focused on enhancing group prenatal care, improving perinatal mood disorder screening and support, preventing postpartum depression and expanding food access and nutrition education. The collaborative topics were selected based on a review of all Community Health Needs Assessments completed by Michigan hospitals. Each collaborative is modeled after existing programs at Michigan hospitals and healthcare organizations designed to address healthcare barriers and improve health outcomes.

“This work reflects Michigan hospitals’ commitment to investing in their communities far beyond their four walls to improve population health,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “These collaboratives are designed to scale local success into making a statewide impact that advances the health and well-being of Michiganders where they live, work and grow.”

Each collaborative has various components that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of a hospital, depending on size, available resources and patient populations. The implementation of the collaboratives is supported by funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Public Policy Associates will facilitate program evaluations.

The list of participating hospitals for each collaborative is available below.

Behavioral Health Collaborative  

  • Henry Ford Health
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Alma
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Clare
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Gladwin
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Midland
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Mt. Pleasant
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Sault
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Standish
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas
  • MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch
  • ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital
  • ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital
  • Trinity Health Ann Arbor
  • University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing
  • University of Michigan Health-West

Chronic Disease Collaborative

  • Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics
  • Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital & Clinics
  • Aspire Rural Health System Deckerville Community Hospital
  • Aspire Rural Health System Hills & Dales Healthcare
  • Aspire Rural Health System
  • Beacon Kalamazoo (formerly Borgess Hospital)
  • Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
  • Henry Ford Health
  • Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
  • Munson Medical Center
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Alma
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Clare
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Gladwin
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Midland
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Mt. Pleasant
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Sault
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Standish
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas
  • MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch
  • Scheurer Health
  • Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital

Maternal Health Collaborative  

  • Bronson Methodist Hospital
  • Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals – St. Joseph Hospital
  • Henry Ford Health
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Alma
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Clare
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Gladwin
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Midland
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Mt. Pleasant
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Sault
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Standish
  • MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas
  • MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch
  • Three Rivers Health Hospital (Beacon Health System)

To learn more about community benefit efforts across the state, visit the MHA Community Benefit webpage.

Based in Greater Lansing, the MHA is the statewide leader representing all community hospitals in Michigan. Established in 1919, the MHA represents the interests of its member hospitals and health systems in both the legislative and regulatory arenas on key issues and supports their efforts to provide quality, cost-effective and accessible care. The MHA’s mission is to advance the health of individuals and communities.

Peters Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Healthcare Access Throughout Michigan

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The Speaker is wasting Michiganders’ time and resources doubling down on defending these disastrous budget cuts and resorting to personal attacks. Attacking me does not change the real cuts his budget threatens to make against patients, healthcare workers and hospitals. I’m happy to be the target of his outrage and criticism if that distracts him from cutting funding for those who report to work every day to save lives.

The fact is the Rural Health Transformation funding is a lottery ticket that pales in comparison to the more than $8.5 billion hospitals would lose from state and federal cuts. State lawmakers have no influence on when or how much federal rural money is distributed. At best, it would only make up for 3% of these cuts, if it comes to fruition.

We will not be bullied away from defending our patients. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting healthcare access throughout Michigan.

House Budget Endangers 20,000 Hospital Jobs and $4.9 Billion Economic Loss

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An estimated 20,000 hospital jobs could be lost in Michigan and lead to a $4.9 billion loss to the state’s economy if the House version of the state budget ultimately is signed into law, according to new estimates from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA).

The estimates consider the more than $2.5 billion in potential hospital funding cuts included in House Bill 4706. The impact on jobs would be particularly profound, as on average, 60% of a hospital’s budget is due to labor. Such a cut could have an additional estimated induced and indirect economic loss of $2.4 billion on the economy. More than one million jobs are directly, indirectly or induced by healthcare in the state.

“Healthcare is the largest private-sector employer in the state, with hospitals employing the most direct jobs within the sector with approximately 222,000 employees,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “Our calculations show the House version of the state budget could ultimately lead to a 9% reduction in the direct hospital workforce. Hospitals are one of the largest employers in each of their communities, meaning job losses to this magnitude would be felt in every corner of Michigan.”

Provisions of the budget bill that would lead to losses include:

  • New language that places $2.5 billion of hospital provider-tax funded payments in contingency line, requiring unnecessary administrative and legislative actions that could jeopardize timely hospital payments.
  • Elimination of at least $100 million of funding from the Specialty Network Access Fee (SNAF), which provides reimbursement to physicians caring for patients with Medicaid coverage.
  • Elimination of $10 million to support the Maternal Levels of Care verification and MI-AIM safety program for birthing hospitals.

Hospitals depend on stable funding, predictable reimbursements and policies that reflect the real costs of care. This is necessary from all healthcare payors, including the state. Eroding established funding levels and risking both the certainty and the timeliness of payments prevents hospitals from making needed investments in the hospital workforce, patient care and capital improvements.

House Budget Guts Hospital Funding

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The proposed state budget from the Michigan House of Representatives guts hospital funding and would be disastrous if even a semblance of the cuts eventually makes it into the state budget. Michigan hospitals already stand to lose more than $6 billion over the next ten years due to federal budget cuts. Slashing more funding that supports delivering healthcare services and the nurses, physicians and other staff employed by hospitals harms Michigan and our more than 10 million residents.

Hospitals are already bracing for busier emergency departments, sicker patients and higher rates of uncompensated care. We are extremely disappointed in the message being sent to healthcare providers to do more with less. Hospitals can only stretch resources so far before it impacts their ability to provide the care our communities need.

Hospitals need a real budget by Sept. 30 that supports healthcare and those who show up to work every day to care for Michiganders. It is time to stop playing political games and get to the table with real solutions that give our state the basic support that it needs.

Medicare & Medicaid Improve Michigan’s Health for 60 Years

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid making a monumental difference in improving the health of Michiganders and supporting healthcare providers.

This anniversary reminds all of us about the value these programs bring to the health of our citizens and access to care throughout Michigan. At a time when the federal government has taken steps to limit these programs that will result in Michigan hospitals losing $6 billion over the next ten years, healthcare providers will continue to do everything in our power to protect these vital programs and the people they serve.

Nearly half of Michigan residents receive health coverage from these two insurance programs, and 40% of all babies born in the state every year are covered by Medicaid, demonstrating the reliance our state has on publicly available health insurance coverage. These programs help vulnerable Michiganders receive preventative care, cancer treatment, and important hospital and post-acute services during their time of need.

Our message to lawmakers is clear: act now to protect these programs before it is too late. If the harmful policies signed into law earlier this month come to pass, we will see less healthcare services offered in all areas of the state, more uninsured and sicker patients, and longer wait times in emergency departments.

The creation of these programs was a huge step forward for the health of our country. We can’t afford to go backwards by undermining Medicare and Medicaid and what they do for millions of Michiganders.

New PwC Report Warns of Rising Hospital Costs and Mounting Financial Pressure on U.S. Healthcare System

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The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) is drawing attention to a new national report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) that outlines the severe financial challenges facing hospitals across the country that could soon jeopardize patient care if urgent policy action is not taken.

The report, Inflator: Hospital Costs, from Wages to Hospital Gowns, highlights the mounting pressures on hospitals due to surging costs, workforce shortages and skyrocketing demand for behavioral health services, all while proposed tax cuts and Medicaid funding reductions threaten to widen the gap between costs and revenue.

“This report confirms what hospitals in Michigan and across the country are living every day: skyrocketing costs, growing demand and shrinking margins,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “We cannot afford policies that slash Medicaid funding or shift more financial burden to hospitals and patients. Without sustainable support, hospitals – especially those in rural and underserved areas – face real threats of closure.”

Key findings from the PwC report include:

  • Hospital margins have plummeted, dropping from an average of 7% in 2019 to just 2.1% in 2024, with additional declines reported in early 2025.
  • Drug spending surged by $50 billion (11.4%) in 2024, more than double the increase seen in 2023, largely driven by high-cost therapeutics in chronic disease areas like oncology, obesity and diabetes.
  • Behavioral health claims soared, with inpatient claims increasing by 80% and outpatient claims by 40% over a two-year span, reflecting the intensifying behavioral health crisis.
  • Tariffs and supply chain challenges continue to drive up the cost of everyday medical supplies, compounding inflationary pressures.
  • Medicaid cuts and federal tax policies could force the closure of service lines at facilities that rely heavily on government payers, impacting access to care for all residents.

The report also outlines how hospitals are working to offset financial pressures by investing in revenue cycle improvements and value-based payment models. Still, the report emphasizes that system-wide stability will require collaboration between payers, providers, policymakers and employers, especially as rural hospitals face ongoing threats of closure.

The MHA is supporting Michigan hospitals facing these mounting challenges through the following actions:

  • Advocating to preserve and strengthen the federal 340B program, which enables hospitals to purchase outpatient medications at discounted rates, freeing up resources to serve low-income and uninsured patients.
  • Working with state policymakers to expand access to mental health and substance use treatment, reduce emergency department (ED) strain and support hospitals’ efforts to meet growing behavioral health needs. This includes Senate Bill 806, which expands the three-hour assessment responsibility by allowing clinically-qualified staff to conduct pre-admission screenings for behavioral health patients seeking care in the ED.
  • Leading efforts to expand the healthcare workforce pipeline through partnerships with post-secondary educators, awareness campaigns and recruitment and retention initiatives to help hospitals manage staffing costs while maintaining high-quality care.
  • Working to add Michigan to the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses to practice across state lines without the burden of obtaining additional licenses.
  • Advocating against Medicaid cuts and pushing for reimbursement rates that reflect the true cost of care, especially for safety net and rural hospitals that disproportionately rely on public payers.

The full report is available on the PwC website.

Medicaid Funding Cuts Are Disastrous for Michigan Healthcare

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The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress is disastrous for access to care for Michiganders and the healthcare providers who care for them.

Cuts to funding are cuts to care. Limiting how states can fund their Medicaid programs puts Michigan in an extremely difficult position. If the state can no longer provide the same reimbursement, hospitals will be faced with difficult choices that will include eliminating service lines or even entire facilities. The added bureaucratic requirements for Michiganders to maintain their health insurance will also take away health insurance benefits from our neighbors, friends and family, resulting in increased uncompensated care for healthcare providers. In total, this bill will cost Michigan hospitals more than $6 billion in total Medicaid funding over the next ten years.

This bill is an attack on Medicaid, expanded health insurance coverage and healthcare access. We are extremely disappointed with the actions taken by Congress. Today is an extremely large step backwards for making and keeping our communities healthier.