Speech-Language Pathologist Medicaid Coverage and Critical Incident Stress Management Services Legislation Advances
Legislation improving coverage policies for speech-language pathologists and broadening those included under Critical Incident Stress Management services advanced in the Michigan House of Representatives during the week of Oct. 20. House Bill …
CMS Releases Updated Guidance During Federal Government Shutdown
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors to lift the hold and begin processing fee-for-service claims dated Oct. 1 and after. The action follows the hold on …
Webinar to Review MHA 2025-26 Strategic Action Plan
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 (SAP) approved by the MHA Board of Trustees. The 2025-26 SAP maintains …
MHASC Board Engages in Strategic Planning Retreat
The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board met Oct. 21 to discuss healthcare market strategies to identify, diversify and grow solutions for MHA members and clients. The board’s strategic planning retreat focused on creative ideation and …
MHA Hosts Conversation on Strengthening Michigan’s Healthcare Workforce
The MHA convened more than 90 individuals on Oct. 16 for a Healthcare Careers Conversation event. Human resources professionals, clinical leaders, education and workforce partners gathered to explore ideas for growing the healthcare pipeline. As part …
MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis
The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on September 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and …
Strengthening Health Literacy Through Better Communication
In healthcare, words can be as powerful as medicine. A patient’s ability to understand their diagnosis, treatment options or discharge instructions can directly influence their recovery and long-term health. Yet too often, communication between clinical experts …
Keckley Report
Will Healthcare’s Big Tents Pivot?
“As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, U.S. healthcare is in the crosshairs.
The federal government U.S. spent 27% of its total spending on healthcare last year and projects to spend at least 5.5% more every year through 2035. In that period, it will grow from 18% of the U.S. GDP to 21%. It’s labor intense, capital intense, fragmented, highly regulated and high profile. Its growth is the result of increased demand, clinical and technologic innovations and higher unit prices for hospital care, specialty drugs and insurance premium increases. Thus, when the U.S. economy is doing well, healthcare does even better. And when the U.S. economy slumps, it does well producing job growth and earnings above peer industries.
Healthcare spending is not insulated from broader economic forces requiring messaging by ‘Big Four’ and by each member to be more clear, more accurate and less misleading. The big question each must ask Members and Boards is this: ‘are we prepared to pivot from the status quo to a better system of health might require uncomfortable changes necessary to serve the greater good?
The erosion of public trust and confidence in our political system is instructive. Healthcare can (and must) do better.
That effort is urgently needed. The Big Four should take the lead together!”
MHA in the News
The Detroit Free Press published an op-ed Oct. 21 from MHA CEO Brian Peters that affirms the commitment of hospitals to patients and shares the actions hospitals are taking to keep costs low for patients. …