“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill.
Skyrocketing healthcare costs are impacting families and communities across the state. No one is more committed to addressing this problem than those providing care around the clock.
Despite being on the frontlines, hospitals are under fire. What’s worse is that conversations around healthcare affordability often involve those who don’t understand how policy decisions will play out in practice. When legislators listen to hospital voices, they gain firsthand insight on the needs of Michigan communities while better understanding the barriers that providers face.
Addressing healthcare affordability starts with taking a closer look at the largest cost drivers, many of which are beyond hospitals’ control. While they are often blamed, hospitals do not manufacture or determine drug prices. Similarly, reimbursement rates are ultimately determined by public and private insurers. Although the figures are often taken out of context, hospitals only collect a fraction of what is listed on publicly posted pricing files.
At the end of the day, nobody feels the impact of rising costs quite like hospitals do. Their teams deliver care 24/7 to anyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. They do this while facing acute workforce shortages, rising labor costs, mounting regulatory pressures, cybersecurity threats and more.
Our MHA affordability webpage does a great job outlining cost drivers, visualizing hospital spending and proposing meaningful solutions.
In order to keep putting communities first, hospitals need our state and federal leaders to confront the external pressures dictating how much cost they can realistically absorb. We applaud Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Sen. Hertel for bringing forth legislation last month focused on expanding coverage options, strengthening continuity of care and addressing costs drivers. Passing this bill package would be an important step toward lowering costs, but it must be part of an ongoing commitment from our lawmakers to collaborate with hospitals on strategies that keep patients at the center of every solution.
During National Hospital Week, we’re asking lawmakers who are serious about addressing healthcare affordability to give local hospitals a seat at the table to help inform decisions, identify solutions and avoid outcomes that ultimately harm Michigan patients and communities.
As always, I welcome your thoughts.