Category: News Releases

New 340B Study Contains Serious Flaws

News Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, which represents 129 hospitals and health systems across Michigan:

“This latest release from the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition is yet another entry in their long and troubling pattern of advocacy dressed as research, with predetermined conclusions in search of supporting data. MIHPC is a secretive special interest group, hiding behind the veil of claiming to represent the employer community at large. The report they are citing is not peer-reviewed and, by its own admission, fails to account for major health system variables – variables so significant that their omission alone disqualifies any direct causal claim between 340B participation and pricing differences. If MIHPC and its members are genuinely concerned about affordability, I invite them to direct some of that energy toward drug companies, whose profit margins dwarf those of any hospital system in this state and who spent years deploying every available legal mechanism to delay competition and protect their revenues. These drug companies have the power to make drugs affordable for all Michiganders today.

The MHA and our members remain, as we always have been, ready to engage with anyone willing to have an honest, evidence-based conversation about addressing the real drivers behind rising healthcare costs – all while caring for all Michiganders across the state 24/7.”

Rural Hospital Leaders Appointed to MHA Center of Rural Excellence Board of Trustees

Member News, News Releases, Rural Health Updates

Seven rural Michigan hospital leaders were recently appointed as inaugural board members to the newly established MHA Center of Rural Excellence by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Board of Trustees. These members are responsible for providing formal governance for the new organization.

Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer, Hillsdale Hospital, will serve as the center’s chair and the MHA Board of Trustees representative for a three-year term.

In addition to Hodshire, the MHA Board of Trustees approved the appointment of six rural healthcare leaders to serve on the MHA Center of Rural Excellence Board:

  • Thomas Kurtz, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Memorial Healthcare, will serve a three-year term. Andrew Raymond, chief executive officer, Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, represents Michigan’s independent hospitals alongside Kurtz and will serve a two-year term.
  • Amanda Shelast, Marshfield Clinic Network President, Michigan and South, will serve a one-year term. Wendy Frush, RN, chief executive officer, Munising Memorial Hospital will serve a two-year term. Shelast and Frush represent the association’s rural members in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
  • Peter Marinoff, chief executive officer, Munson Healthcare Southern Region, will serve a one-year term and represent the state’s critical access hospitals.
  • Ross Ramsey, MD, chief executive officer, Scheurer Health, will serve a three-year term as the board’s physician representative.

“This board brings together rural healthcare leaders from across the state who share a commitment to preserving care close to home for Michiganders,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “Under their leadership, the MHA Center of Rural Excellence will prioritize policies and initiatives that allow rural hospitals to remain resilient and responsive to the needs of their communities.”

The MHA Center of Rural Excellence, a 501(c)(6) organization, was created to formalize and strengthen the collective voice of rural hospitals through support tailored to the unique challenges of Michigan’s rural providers.

Senate Healthcare Affordability Bill Package Preserves Access

Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases

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

The MHA appreciates the Senate Majority Leader and Sen. Hertel for bringing forth legislation that is focused on improving healthcare affordability without jeopardizing access to care. This bill package will expand coverage options, strengthen continuity of care and address the real pressures driving healthcare costs for patients.

We are grateful that Sen. Brinks and her colleagues also recognize the importance of fully funding Medicaid in the state budget to ensure Michigan families can receive care when and where they need it. Michigan hospitals will continue to collaborate with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to push forward solutions that reduce out-of-pocket costs and preserve access to care for patients across the state.

Michigan Health & Hospital Association Establishes MHA Center of Rural Excellence

News Releases, Rural Health Updates

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) today announced the establishment of the MHA Center of Rural Excellence, a 501(c)(6) organization created to formalize and strengthen the collective voice of rural hospitals through support tailored to the unique challenges of Michigan’s rural providers, including targeted advocacy efforts on their behalf.

“Rural hospitals are navigating increasing financial strain, workforce shortages and complex funding structures that were not developed with rural realities in mind,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “The MHA Center of Rural Excellence is designed to provide dedicated advocacy and governance to give rural hospitals the support needed to manage these challenges and continue caring for their communities.”

Michigan ranks fourth for the number of residents living in rural counties with a full or partial primary care workforce shortage and sixth for residents living in rural counties with a shortage of mental health professionals, according to the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation.

The MHA Center of Rural Excellence will elevate rural‑specific perspectives to policymakers, ensuring rural hospitals’ distinct challenges receive the attention they deserve. This approach will position rural hospital leaders at the center of state policy decisions that directly affect the communities they serve.

The MHA Center of Rural Excellence will also have a specific focus on Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding, including efforts to maximize the amount of available resources that can be dedicated to rural Michigan hospitals.

Lauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH, MPH, will serve as executive director of the MHA Center of Rural Excellence. Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer, Hillsdale Hospital, will chair the member-led board.

For more information, visit the MHA Center of Rural Excellence webpage.

IMLC Bill Protects Healthcare Access

Patient Safety and Quality, Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases

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

The MHA thanks state lawmakers for reaching a deal on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Leadership in both chambers identified and prioritized protecting Michigan patients and preserving care in our communities. We’re eager to see this important piece of legislation advance to Gov. Whitmer and look forward to her swift signature.

The Compact streamlines the licensing process for qualified physicians, strengthening Michigan’s ability to recruit top talent and fill critical staffing gaps more quickly, while maintaining strong patient safety standards and regulatory oversight.

For many hospitals, especially those serving rural or border communities, the Compact supports access to care in high-demand specialties such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and primary care. We appreciate the legislature’s commitment to preserving a tool that enhances workforce flexibility and protects access to timely care.

Michigan Health & Hospital Association Reacts to Executive Budget Recommendations

Member News, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases

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

While we are still reviewing the proposed executive budget, we are encouraged to hear that access to affordable healthcare is a top priority for Gov. Whitmer. We look forward to working alongside the governor and legislative leaders to ensure the 2027 budget mirrors the commitment they made in last year’s budget to fully fund Medicaid. Because of their actions, 1 in 4 Michiganders kept their health insurance through Medicaid, while many others maintained access to important healthcare services with state funding, such as the rural access pool and obstetrical stabilization fund.

MHA Chief Medical Officer Expresses Support for AAP Immunization Schedule

News Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Gary Roth, DO, MBA, FACOS, FCCM, FACS, chief medical officer of the MHA. 

The MHA supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) evidence-based 2026 immunization schedule and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ standing guidance for adherence to this schedule. The AAP schedule recommends vaccination against 18 diseases based on decades of rigorous scientific research and clinical consensus.

This position reflects input from hospital chief medical officers and chief nursing officers across the state, whose extensive expertise caring for vaccine-preventable illnesses reinforces our commitment to science-based care that protects Michigan’s children and families.

Vaccines remain among medicine’s most effective tools to keep people healthy and out of the hospital with severe illness. We encourage Michigan families to speak with their medical provider with questions about immunizations.

Peters Extends Condolences to Whitmer Family

Member News, News Releases

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

On behalf of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, I want to extend my sincere condolences to Governor Whitmer and her family on the passing of her father, Mr. Whitmer.

Mr. Whitmer was a respected leader and trusted partner in the Michigan healthcare community. As the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, he worked with providers to tackle the state’s most complex healthcare challenges, always emphasizing collaboration and innovation. His commitment to improving care has left a lasting impact that will inspire healthcare leaders for years to come.

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

Member News, News Releases
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

Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases

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.