The Michigan House of Representatives did not advance House Bill (HB) 5770, which would ban the collection of facility fees for most outpatient hospital…

Michigan healthcare communications professionals will gather Oct. 21 at MSU Federal Credit Union Headquarters Building 2 in East Lansing for the 2026 MHA Communications Retreat. …

The MHA recently submitted a letter to leadership at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) requesting a delay of the Oct. 1, 2026 provider requirements under the Mental Health…

The MHA is partnering with the Michigan Healthcare Cybersecurity Council, MHA Endorsed Business Partner CyberForce|Q and leading cybersecurity experts to offer a free, in-person UP Fall Healthcare Cyb…

The MHA submitted comments on Sept. 18 in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Request for Information regarding immunization recommendations and clinical implementation. The c…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated guidance for healthcare personnel exposed to or infected with common respiratory viruses, establishing a more consistent …

The MHA’s Race of the Week series provides Michigan healthcare champions with the information they need to make informed decisions ahead of the 2026 General Election. The weekly series will feature ba…

Breastfeeding can be one of the most profound parts of early parenthood, but can also bring questions, worries and unexpected challenges — from latching difficulties to concerns about milk supply. For…

Is AHA Right to be Concerned?

“Last week, the American Hospital Association released a study by Kaufman Hall, its preferred data vendor, that took issue with methodologies used by critics of hospital consolidation. The report discusses how hospital merger reviews should look beyond the potential impact on commercial insurance prices and consider what proposed transactions mean for all patients, particularly the nearly 60% of hospital patient days attributable to Medicare, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries whose payment rates are largely set by government programs…

Not for profit and public hospitals are at a disadvantage in managing their finances because they’re obligated to serve entire communities without regard to local economies or population health. Investor-owned hospitals and insurance companies have fewer restrictions and can exit markets at will. And almost every hospital is dependent on reimbursement from commercially insured patients to offset what is the widely-accepted calculus that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement doesn’t cover the total cost of care provided enrollees. While Kaufman Hall raises legitimate questions about current methodologies used by state and federal regulators to assess consolidation, it does not answer the bigger question: what role should hospitals play in the U.S. system as AI-derived clinical innovation proliferates, labor and supply costs accelerate and fewer people can afford services?”

Paul Keckley, Sept. 21, 2026

• Explore community partnerships: The MHA will host a webinar at 11 a.m. Sept. 29 exploring how Community Information Exchanges can strengthen collaboration between healthcare and community-based organizations to better address community needs.
• Advance safety and quality: Registration is open until Oct. 2 for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, scheduled for Oct. 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lansing.
• Uplift community impact: The American Hospital Association (AHA) is accepting applications for the 2027 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award, recognizing hospital-community partnerships that improve community health.
• Share quality improvement priorities: The MHA Keystone Center recently launched hospital engagement calls to connect directly with member hospitals about quality improvement priorities, patient safety initiatives, challenges and successes.