The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
Michigan hospitals made clear in testimony this morning in the House Government Operations Committee that House Bills 6116–6119 would act as an accelerant toward the affordability crisis and harm healthcare access throughout the state. If enacted, these bills will increase costs and threaten access to care by forcing service cuts, workforce reductions and hospital closures, especially in rural communities.
Michigan hospitals are already under severe financial strain, with nearly a quarter operating at a loss and several at risk of closing. This legislation would double the number of hospitals operating in the red to a total of 54. Existing cuts to Medicaid reimbursement and reductions in enrollment are already projected to slash more than $6.5 billion from hospitals in the next six years. Adding duplicative government price controls and administrative burdens will only intensify these challenges, while removing an additional $2.3 billion from Michigan hospitals every year. This translates into an estimated loss of 21,600 hospital jobs, including 9,000 fewer than expected registered nurses.
The shareholders of Michigan hospitals are their communities. Reinvestment is measured in quality and access. We urge lawmakers to reject House Bills 6116–6119 and prioritize working with providers on solutions that lower costs without putting patient care and local economies at risk.