Tag: Adam Carlson

Mental Health Awareness Month Highlights Week of Media Coverage

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare
Lauren LaPine

The MHA received news coverage during the week of May 19 highlighted by stories related to Mental Health Awareness Month and the need to expand state psychiatric bed capacity.

Lauren LaPine, senior director, legislative and public policy, MHA, speaks during a May 21 press conference on Mental Health Awareness Month, addressing long emergency department waits for psychiatric beds among Medicaid patients.

Lauren LaPine, senior director, legislative and public policy, MHA, joined state lawmakers and University of Michigan Health-Sparrow clinicians during a press conference May 21 about Mental Health Awareness Month. LaPine focused her comments on the high number of patients waiting in emergency departments across the state for an inpatient psychiatric bed. Many of these patients are Medicaid beneficiaries and experience further delays awaiting a clinical assessment.

WILX News 10 and WLNS 6 News attended the press event and aired stories during their evening news broadcasts.

“Last year, for over 18 months, we collected data from our hospitals and health systems that told us that on any given day, there are more than 155 patients that are stuck in emergency departments across the state that are looking for behavioral health services,” said LaPine.

Other speakers included:

  • Chandu Vemuri, MD, chief medical officer, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow
  • Dominic Barberio, MD, psychiatrist, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow
  • Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township)
  • Rep. Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar)

The MHA also provided comment to several stories related to a hospital drug pricing study released by the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition. The study uses a limited data set of claims data in an attempt to show pricing variances across hospitals for three prescription drugs. MHA Executive Vice President spoke with Crain’s Grand Rapids and WLNS News 6, explaining the differences between hospital charges and what hospitals actually receive as reimbursement, as well as the myriad of factors that determine hospital financing, including legacy contract agreements, mergers and acquisitions, the presence of group purchasing agreements, patient acuity, and labor and overhead costs.

“There are a lot of drugs out there. Picking and choosing a few of them probably doesn’t tell the whole story about the expensive pharmaceuticals in our health care system,” said Appel to Crain’s. “Everybody in the system is trying to do their best. There’s lots of room for improvement, but I don’t think identifying a few items and saying, ‘look at this’ is a way to get us to solving some of the affordability needs that we have for our system for patients.”

Adam Carlson speaks at a Protect MI Care press conference.
Adam Carlson speaks at a Protect MI Care press conference.

Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA, also spoke at a Protect MI Care coalition press conference May 21 in Lansing about federal Medicaid cuts. Carlson was quoted in an article by Gongwer discussing how the cuts will impact all Michigan residents.

“It’s going to lead to millions of people losing their health insurance coverage, and these funding cuts to Medicaid, they’ll impact access to care for all Michiganders, not just those with Medicaid as their insurance coverage,” said Carlson. “It’s an important program across all state hospitals, but especially for the 65 rural hospitals that depend on it to keep their doors open.”

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

 

MHA Testifies in House Oversight Subcommittee, IMLC and AOT Legislation Passes Senate

Member News

The MHA provided testimony May 21 to the House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health & Food Security on certain challenges related to behavioral health patients and the need for inpatient psychiatric beds across the state.

The House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health & Food Security heard about patients facing behavioral health crises and their experiences with emergency department boarding based on insurance status. Taylor Alpert, government relations manager, advocacy, MHA shared data the association began collecting in 2023 on emergency department length of stay for patients with a behavioral health diagnosis. The data revealed more than 155 patients with a behavioral health diagnosis waiting in a hospital emergency department daily. Patients with Medicaid coverage experience longer wait times than those with commercial insurance, with one in three Medicaid patients spending more than 48 hours in the emergency department before being admitted or discharged.

Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA outlined the process of the current preadmission screening assessment completed by providers for patients with a behavioral health diagnosis and illustrated for the committee how the process is unnecessarily complicated for those with Medicaid coverage. Carlson provided information on how member hospitals in the state are actively trying to expand or undergo capacity improvement projects to address this growing issue, but federal Medicaid threats, staffing gaps and state behavioral health beds per capita remain a challenge.

The MHA has been exploring opportunities to address this issue at the state level and has been working with the legislature on changing the statutory requirements for preadmissions screening timelines. Senate Bill (SB) 316, sponsored by Sen. Roger Hauck (R-Mount Pleasant), enforces a three week timeline for completing a preadmission screening requirement for patients covered by Medicaid and was introduced earlier this week. The MHA will continue to educate legislators on this issue and support SB 316 to expand the assessment responsibility to improve the delivery of care for behavioral health patients in Michigan.

Additional behavioral health legislation advanced in the Senate this week:

  • SB 303, also sponsored by Sen. Roger Hauck, renews Michigan’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. It passed unanimously in the Senate and now moves to the House Health Policy Committee.
  • SBs 219–222, introduced by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), update procedures for Assisted Outpatient Treatment to improve care for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

In the House, the Rules Committee passed House Bill 4246, sponsored by Rep. Phil Green (R-Millington), which would establish a nurse licensure compact agreement in Michigan. The MHA has expressed support for each of these legislative efforts.

Members with additional questions should contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report May 19, 2025

Monday Report, Member News

Healthcare Legislation Advances in House, Senate

Numerous healthcare bills including the Nurse Licensure Compact, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) budget advanced in the Michigan Legislature during the week of May 12. …

Legislative Policy Panel Acts on Advocacy Priorities for Michigan Hospitals

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met May 14 at the MHA Capital Advocacy Center to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. MHA Capitol Advocacy Center staff provided …

Healthcare Makes $100+ Billion Impact to Michigan’s Economy

The MHA published results from the 2025 Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report as part of National Hospital Week (May 11-17), demonstrating a $106 billion total economic impact healthcare had in fiscal year 2023, the most recent data available. …

Deadline Approaching to Register for MHA Annual Membership Meeting

The deadline to register for the 2025 MHA Annual Membership Meeting is Friday, May 23. The event will be held June 25 through 27 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The annual meeting offers …

LARA Finalizes Osteopathic Licensing and Practice Rules

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) recently finalized administrative rules that update licensing and practice standards for osteopathic medicine and surgery in Michigan, effective May 8, 2025. The revised rules, issued through the …

Members Discuss Cyberattack Preparedness in MHA Virtual Forum

More than 80 information systems, clinical and administrative leaders joined the MHA’s virtual member forum May 9 to discuss strategies for preparing for and responding to cyberattacks. Leaders shared insights and lessons learned from real-world …

MDHHS Updates MMR Vaccine Guidance Amid Measles Outbreaks

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated guidance May 9 on the administration and reimbursement of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The bulletin outlines how providers may administer and receive …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines Fundraising as a Growth Strategy

The May edition of Trustee Insights, a monthly digital publication from the American Hospital Association, explores how fundraising can serve as a low-risk growth strategy for hospitals and health systems. One article focuses on the …

Nurses Share Insights on Balance, Technology and the Future of the Profession in New Survey

The MHA has endorsed AMN Healthcare as a national leader in workforce solutions. AMN Healthcare’s 2025 Survey of Registered Nurses measures the insights and direction of the nursing profession using responses from more than 12,000 nurses. MHA …

The Reality for Medicaid Patients Entering the ED With a Behavioral Health Crisis

Imagine this: You enter a hospital emergency department for chest pain. The clinicians onsite confirm you’re having a heart attack, but before can receive lifesaving care, you must wait for a second pre-admission screening from an agency outside of the hospital. …

Keckley Report

The Value-based Care Agenda in Trump 2.0 Healthcare

“Central to both efforts is the administration’s mandate to reduce federal spending which it deems achievable, in part, by replacing fee for services with value-based payments to providers from the government’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is the government’s primary vehicle to test and implement alternative payment programs that reduce federal spending and improve the quality and effectiveness of services simultaneously. ….

Recent efforts by the Trump Healthcare 2.0 team and its leadership appointments in CMS and CMMI point to a value-agenda will change significantly. Alternative payment models will be fewer and participation by provider groups will be mandated for several. Measures of quality and savings will be fewer, more easily measured and and standardized across more episodes of care. Financial risks and shared savings will be higher and regulatory compliance will be simplified in tandem with restructuring in HHS, CMS and CMMI to improve responsiveness and consistency across federal agencies and programs. …

Trump Healthcare 2.0 value-based care is a take-no prisoners strategy in which private insurers in Medicare Advantage have a seat at their table alongside hospitals that sponsor ACOs and distribute the majority of shared savings to the practicing physicians. But the agenda will be set, and re-set by the administration and link-minded physician organizations like America’s Physician Groups and others that welcome financial risk-sharing with Medicare and beyond.”

Paul Keckley, May 12, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

MHA Endorsed Business Partner Medical Solutions, will host the free webinar Workforce Wellness: Effective Approaches to Foster Well-being and Retention in Healthcare from 1 to 2 p.m. ET May 19.

MHA in the News

Laura Appel

The MHA received news coverage during the week of May 12 related to federal Medicaid funding cuts and the release of the hospital economic and workforce impact data. …

Legislative Policy Panel Acts on Advocacy Priorities for Michigan Hospitals

Member News

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met May 14 at the MHA Capital Advocacy Center to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. MHA Capitol Advocacy Center staff provided important updates to the panel on healthcare activities at both the federal and state levels.

Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, provided a federal update covering a range of topics, including federal funding, tariffs, the 340B program and more. John Karasinski, senior director, communications, shared updates on the association’s Medicaid communications strategies, highlighting efforts to promote the vitality of the program in Michigan. Karasinski also detailed MHA activities related to media engagement, action alerts, advocacy campaigns and recent public polling released by the Protect MI Care Coalition.

In addition, the panel received presentations on nurse practitioner scope of practice legislation and insurance coverage for annual mental health exams.

The panel acted on one issue, making the recommendation that the MHA to firmly oppose any site-neutral payment policies proposed in Michigan.

For more information on the MHA Legislative Policy Panel, contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

Wellpath Supplemental Testimony Highlights Week of Advocacy Efforts

Member News, Issues in Healthcare

The MHA provided testimony April 30 to the House Appropriations Committee about healthcare services provided to prisoners by Michigan hospitals that have not been reimbursed by Wellpath, a third-party private vendor.

The House Appropriations Committee heard from several key stakeholders, including the MHA, on issues related to Wellpath and their failure to reimburse hospitals and EMS providers for delivering healthcare services to prisoners. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, Advocacy, discussed how hospitals are required by federal EMTALA law to provide healthcare to any person who seeks care, regardless of insurance status or residency – including the prisoner population in the state of Michigan. Further, it was shared that hospitals provided more than $35 million in healthcare services to prisoners from January 2022 through May 2024 that have not been reimbursed from Wellpath, and that the vendor has since filed for bankruptcy.

Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA provided testimony on a Well Path supplemental appropriation.

Helen Johnson, CEO, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, followed with her testimony and shared a unique example of how her hospital serves 6,000 residents and 1,100 prisoners in the region, indicating that nearly one-sixth of the hospital’s patient mix are from the nearby correctional facility. As a result, she explained that Helen Newberry Joy Hospital is still owed $800,000 from Wellpath, which represents wages for approximately 25% of the hospital’s nursing staff. This is only one example of several from member hospitals currently experiencing this financial issue with the previously contracted third-party vendor. The MHA will continue efforts to strongly advocate for a state supplemental appropriation of $35 million to offset outstanding payments owed to all member hospitals from Wellpath.

Multiple compact bills supported by the MHA also received a hearing in the new House Rules Committee, which evaluates legislation before it is considered for a full House chamber vote. House Bill 4103, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), would add Michigan to the occupational therapist licensure compact agreement. Additionally, House Bill 4309, sponsored by Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River), would create a licensure compact for physician’s assistants in the state. The MHA will continue to support these bills as they move forward in the legislative process.

Also, the Senate MDHHS Appropriations Subcommittee reported its budget recommendation for fiscal year 25-26. Key MHA priorities were protected, including funding for Medicaid, the rural and obstetrical stabilization pools, peer recovery coaches and maternal health. The MHA will continue to support these funding proposals and advocate for more resources dedicated to behavioral health and access.

Members with questions should contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

Legislative Policy Panel Acts on Opioid Treatment Policies

Member News

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met virtually March 12 to develop recommendations on legislative and policy issues impacting Michigan hospitals. The MHA advocacy team provided important updates to the panel on healthcare activities at both the federal and state levels.

Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, shared the federal update, recapping the activities of the Trump administration since inauguration. Topics included a review of several healthcare-related executive orders, federal agency appointments and proposed Medicaid funding cuts.

Elizabeth Kutter, senior director, advocacy, then provided the panel with a state legislative update, recapping the recent passage of 340B contract pharmacy legislation in the Senate and the recently revised Earned Sick Time Act. Senate Bill (SB) 94, sponsored by Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), passed the Senate 33-3, with overwhelming bipartisan support, on March 6, which safeguards the 340B program in Michigan, ensuring cost savings and preserving access to affordable healthcare services in both urban and rural Michigan communities. The bill is paired with SB 95, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen), which requires hospital compliance with federal cost transparency laws.

John Karasinski, senior director, communications, discussed the public communications strategies supporting Medicaid and 340B efforts. Panel members were encouraged to visit the MHA’s Legislative Action Center and to use the action alerts for both topics.

The Panel chose to act on two issues, making recommendations related to opioid treatments. The first recommendation directs the MHA to support efforts to eliminate prior authorization requirements for buprenorphine. The second recommendation is for the MHA to work with state agencies on state regulatory requirements for opioid treatment programs.

For more information on the MHA Legislative Policy Panel, members may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

Senate Introduces 340B Hospital Protections; MHA Testifies on IMLC

Member News

The Senate introduced MHA-driven legislation protecting the 340B program and the House Health Policy Committee heard testimony on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) legislation during the week of Feb. 17.

The Senate introduced Senate Bill (SB) 94, sponsored by Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), on Feb. 20. This legislation ensures protections from drug manufacturer overreach for hospitals and community health clinics participating in the 340B program in Michigan. The bill is vital for hospitals that serve vulnerable populations, helping them stretch scarce resources to care for more patients. SB 94 safeguards the program, ensuring cost savings and preserving access to affordable healthcare services in both urban and rural Michigan communities. Further, this legislation adds first-of-its-kind pharmaceutical manufacturer transparency requirements, making Michigan’s legislation the strongest in the nation.

The Senate paired SB 94 with SB 95, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen), which requires hospital compliance with federal cost transparency laws. The MHA continues to advocate for the 340B program and support Michigan hospitals’ efforts to expand access to quality, community-based care. Members are encouraged to contact their lawmakers in support of this legislation.

In addition, the House Health Policy Committee heard testimony on House Bill (HB) 4032, introduced by Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile), during the committee’s first meeting of the new session. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, Advocacy, MHA, testified in support of the legislation to eliminate the sunset on the interstate medical licensure compact, which streamlines the licensing process and allows physicians licensed in one state to practice in multiple, participating states.

By removing additional licensing requirements for physicians seeking to practice across state lines, patients experience increased access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas, by physicians included in the compact. States involved in the compact can share disciplinary and investigative information through the state medical board to strengthen public protection for patients and the program. Michigan’s participation in the compact is currently set to expire March 28, 2025. The MHA supports this legislation and is working quickly with legislators to move it through the legislative process before the compact’s current expiration date.

Members with questions may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

Earned Sick Time Act & Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Advance in Senate

Issues in Healthcare, Member News

Two key pieces of legislation related to the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact advanced in the Michigan State during the week of Feb. 10.

The Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee narrowly voted Feb. 12 to move Senate Bill (SB) 15 (S-1), introduced by Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), to the Senate floor. This bill seeks to address the voter initiative petition on earned sick time that is scheduled to go into effect Feb. 21, 2025.

The ESTA, as enacted Public Act 338 of 2018, applies to all employers and requires that an employee be provided one (1) hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked. That sick time may carry over year-to-year and allows increased usage of paid earned sick time for an employee of up to 72 hours per year.

SB 15 (S-1) is an alternative proposal to House Bill (HB) 4002, sponsored by Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay). The MHA supports HB 4002 because it provides vital clarifications regarding time accruals, employee notice provisions, sick time pay rates and exempts independent contractors and part time employees. The MHA continues to work with the Senate on necessary refinements to SB 15 and with legislators in both the House and Senate as they negotiate to ensure important changes to the ESTA are made before it is slated to go into effect.

Furthermore, SB 60 passed the Senate on Feb. 13. This bill removes the sunset on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which streamlines the licensing process and allows physicians licensed in one state to practice in multiple, participating states. With the compact set to expire March 28, the MHA is working quickly with legislators to pass this important legislation to maintain the agreement.

Members with questions may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Feb. 10, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

IMLC Moves Through Committee & Executive Budget Recommendation Presented

Several noteworthy healthcare issues saw attention the week of Feb. 3 by state lawmakers and policymakers, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) moving through the Senate Health Policy Committee, a reintroduction of the Momnibus …

The Joint Commission President and CEO Addresses MHA Board

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed The Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD to its Feb. 3 meeting. In his guest presentation, Dr. Perlin shared The Joint Commission’s mission to work …

Workforce Support and Growth Addressed by MHASC Board and HR Council

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board focused its Feb. 5 meeting on supporting the MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities to address workforce support, protecting access, mental and behavioral health, creating healthy communities, strengthening cybercrime/cybersecurity policy …

speak upCorewell Health Trenton Hospital Nurse Honored with Q4 MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award

The MHA Keystone Center celebrates Courtney Baumann, RN at Corewell Health Trenton Hospital, as its quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recipient for February. The Speak-up! Award celebrates individuals or …

MHA Keystone Center Launches Infection Control Quality Improvement Cohort

The MHA Keystone Center is launching an infection control quality improvement cohort, providing high-touch technical assistance to ten long-term care facilities. The Strengthening Long-term Care Infection Prevention and Control Practices to Address Emerging Pathogens …

MHA Rounds image of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — The Realities of the Earned Sick Time Act

Healthcare continues to be the leading private-sector employer in Michigan. Our latest Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report shows healthcare provided nearly 572,000 direct jobs in Michigan in 2022, with roughly 217,000 of those jobs in hospitals. …

Keckley Report

Is health insurance reform the key to affordability and lower costs?

“For most Americans, having health insurance is still considered a hedge against unexpected or otherwise unaffordable medical bills.

For most elected officials in Congress and state legislatures, Medicare and Medicaid are insurance programs that consume a large and growing piece of public funding, squeezing out other areas of need.

For virtually all hospitals, physicians, ancillary and long-term care providers, insurance is still the unwelcome front door through which all must go to get paid but their administrative hassles and low reimbursement rates are ruining the system for everyone.

And large majorities in each of these groups are unhappy with insurers for a myriad of reasons well-documented in trade publications and polling. …

The blame and shame game to which insiders in healthcare are addicted is a zero-sum game: blaming any single sector for the cumulative deficiencies in affordability and costs is misleading and does not serve the greater good.

Is health insurance reform the key to health system affordability and lower costs? It plays a role but not alone.”

Paul Keckley, Feb. 3, 2025

News to Know

In order to continue sharing with key stakeholders the important impact hospitals make to their communities, the MHA invites members to share examples of strong community impact programming through a brief survey.

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA in the News

A MHA media statement published Feb. 5 was included in stories by Michigan news outlets covering the fiscal year 2026 executive budget recommendation. The statement, attributed to MHA CEO Brian Peters, was mentioned by WLNS-TV …

IMLC Moves Through Committee & Executive Budget Recommendation Presented

Member News

Several noteworthy healthcare issues saw attention the week of Feb. 3 by state lawmakers and policymakers, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) moving through the Senate Health Policy Committee, a reintroduction of the Momnibus bill package and Gov. Whitmer presenting her executive budget recommendation.

The Senate Health Policy Committee heard testimony and voted unanimously in support of Senate Bill (SB) 60 on Feb. 5. SB 60 removes the sunset on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which streamlines the licensing process and allows physicians licensed in one state to practice in multiple, participating states. With the compact set to expire on March 28, the MHA is working quickly with legislators to re-introduce and pass this important legislation to maintain the agreement.

Also, the Michigan Senate reintroduced the Momnibus, a group of bills designed to improve health outcomes and accountability in prenatal and maternal healthcare during the week of Feb. 3. The legislation includes SBs 29–39, which focus on addressing access barriers, improving access to care and ensuring better patient outcomes for all birthing individuals, particularly those from African American and Brown communities.

The Momnibus makes several changes aimed at improving maternal healthcare, including creating opportunities for patients to directly engage in their treatment experience, implementing policies that support patient rights and provide coverage for certain perinatal and gynecological services. The bills also expand midwifery services, improve data transparency about maternal health outcomes and protect patient rights related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The bills have been referred to respective Senate committees. The MHA worked closely with the bill sponsors to improve access to maternal care and support SBs 29, 30, 31, 36, 38 and 39.

The final and major highlight of the week was the executive budget recommendation released by Gov. Whitmer and Budget Director Jen Flood on Feb. 5 for fiscal year 2026. The governor’s budget expands on essential funding for Medicaid, behavioral health services and substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs. The expansion of Medicaid funding allows more elderly and disabled beneficiaries to meet eligibility requirements without having to spend down their own assets to do so. In addition, it includes continued funding and resources dedicated to maternal and infant health.

MHA CEO Brian Peters released a media statement in support of the executive budget recommendation, applauding Gov. Whitmer’s commitment to being a healthcare champion.

Members with questions may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.