Congressman Bergman Co-Sponsors Critical Access Hospital Relief Act
U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) recently co-sponsored HR. 538, the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2025, which would remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for inpatient services at critical access hospitals. The bill, introduced in January 2025, would amend …
State and Medical Partners Urge Michiganders to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
To help ensure access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all residents, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Department of Insurance and Financial Services …
MMMS and FIMR Aligned Recommendations to Improve Maternal and Infant Health
The Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance (MMMS) and Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) programs recently released aligned recommendations at improving outcomes across the maternal and infant health continuum. MMMS reviews cases of maternal deaths that occur …
Honoring Veterans Through Improved Access & Care Coordination
When observing Veterans Day, it’s important to recognize how healthcare organizations can meaningfully work together to improve health outcomes and address the unique needs of service members and their families. …
Key Findings from the Michigan Interpreter Needs Assessment Report
Understanding the critical role interpreters play in hospitals, the MHA Health Foundation recently contributed funding to support the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in conducting a needs assessment of Michigan’s interpreter landscape. …
MHA CEO Report — Streamlining Medicaid Work Requirements
As states work toward establishing Medicaid work requirements that are a core element of H.R. 1, it’s more important than ever that we reduce the administrative burden associated with verification for beneficiaries. …
Keckley Report
The Structural Flaws that Must be Fixed to Transform the U.S. Health System
“Such is the case for health insurance coverage for millions in the U.S. as the federal government shutdown enters Week 6. Democrats are holding out for continuation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance subsidies that enable 22 million to “buy” insurance cheaper, and Republicans are holding out for federal spending cuts reflected in the One Big Beautiful Act (July 2025) that included almost a trillion reduction in Medicaid appropriations thru 2036.
ACA subsidies at the heart of the shutdown successfully expanded coverage in tandem with Medicaid expansion but added to its costs and set in motion corporatization and consolidation in every sector of the health system. The pandemic exposed the structural divide between public health programs and local health systems, and insurance premium increases and prior authorization protocols precipitated hostility toward insurers and blame games between hospitals, insurers and drug companies for perpetual cost increases. …
Sixteen years later, healthcare is once again the eye of the economic storm. Insiders blame inconsistent regulatory enforcement and lack of adequate funding as root causes. Outsiders blame lack of cost controls. consolidation and disregard for affordability. Thus, while attention to subsidized insurance coverage and SNAP benefits might temporarily calm public waters, they’re not the solution. …
Healthcare’s the same. Outside forces seen or not will impact its future dramatically. Plans have to be made though Black Swans like the pandemic are inevitable. But long-term planning built on plausible bets are necessary to every healthcare organization’s future.”
News to Know
- MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day.
- The MHA will host a virtual member forum from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 7 to outline the MHA 2025-26 Strategic Action Plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees.
- Amy Brown, chief nursing officer, MHA, recently joined MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) AMN Healthcare on the episode “Empowering Nurses Through Advocacy and Innovation” of the Elevate Care Podcast.
- MHA EBP SunRx is continuing a webinar series about 340B Rebate Model Briefings on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20.
MHA in the News
Bridge published a story Nov. 5 sharing five reasons why health insurance rates are rising at increasing rates in the state, which included workforce challenges, expiring enhanced premium tax credits, inflation and drug prices. …