The MHA received media coverage since July 15 from Crain’s Detroit Business on new investments for behavioral health funding and the healthcare workforce in the fiscal year 2023 state budget.
Crain’s first published an article July 15 on the state’s higher education budget, which includes $56 million to fund the Michigan Associate Degree in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at community colleges across the state. Included was a quote from MHA CEO Brian Peters in support of the funding.
“Staffing shortages are impacting Michigan hospitals throughout the state, particularly in the areas of nursing,” said Peters. “This plan will help us get more highly-skilled professionals into the field quickly and increase access to nursing education in more communities across the state.”
Crain’s also published an editorial July 22 focusing on the investments being made to improve mental health treatment, particularly among children and teens. The editorial also included a quote from Peters from an op-ed Crain’s published in February from Peters.
“While we do have a small number of outstanding facilities dedicated entirely to mental health care services, and acute-care hospitals have dedicated resources and units to these services, it is simply not enough,” said Peters.