Approximately 100 healthcare communicators and marketers from hospitals and health systems across Michigan gathered Oct. 21 in East Lansing for the 2026 MHA Communications Retreat. The daylong event focused on building…

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel participated in a panel discussion on healthcare affordability on Oct. 21 at the Bridge Issues Summit at Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit. In addition to exp…

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) recently launched the Michigan Work and Exemptions Screening Tool to help individuals navigate new federally required Medicaid work requi…

Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, chief medical executive, State of Michigan, issued a standing recommendation Oct. 15 advising healthcare providers to use the American Medical Association’s respiratory virus immuniza…

The MHA updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on September 2026 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the sp…

The Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), in partnership with The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), released a grant funding opportunity to improve cardiovascular health dur…

MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare recently released the 2026 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives, outlining national trends shaping physician and advanced pr…

The MHA’s Race of the Week series provides Michigan healthcare champions with the information they need to make an informed vote in the 2026 General Election. The weekly series features background on …

For those working in Michigan hospitals, caring for the community doesn’t stop when a shift ends. Across the state, hospital teams volunteer their time to make a difference in the communities they ser…

Health System Reform: The Two Areas where Support is Strongest 

“As campaign 2026 nears its end, polls show the potential for some surprising results and political pundits are already speculating about what to expect in the lame duck session and 120th Congress that convenes in January. 

There’s no doubt healthcare will significantly impact the results of the November 3 vote. There’s no doubt it will be a major focus in the 120th Congress. The major unknowns are (1) how states and federal policymakers will address the realities noted above, (2) how large employers and community leaders will participate (or not) in the design of a reformed system of health and (3) how voters will decipher reforms that promise offer accessibility, affordability and effectiveness.” 

Paul Keckley, Oct. 19, 2026   

• Early in-person voting for the General Election begins Oct. 24. 

• The UP Fall Healthcare Cybersecurity Summit will be held Oct. 27 at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. 

• The Michigan Public Health Week Partnership is accepting nominations for the 2026 Hometown Health Hero Award by 5 p.m. Nov. 6.    

• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is accepting applications for the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Scholarship Program through Nov. 9.  

• The Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are encouraging hospitals to take the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge to promote nutrition, healing and disease prevention.