Tag: behavioral health

MHA Monday Report May 27, 2024

Monday Report

Governor Signs Mental Health Parity Law and Other Legislative Updates

Gov. Whitmer signed Michigan’s first mental health parity law May 21. The bipartisan legislation requires insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatments at the same level as physical health services. Senate Bill …

Deadline Approaching for MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship

Applications for the 2024 – 2025 MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship, held from October 2024 through June 2025, are due June 28. Governing board members enrolled in the fellowship will learn how to frame problems …

MHA Webinar Reviews Workplace Safety and Privacy Laws

The MHA Health Foundation is hosting the Balancing Workplace Safety Privacy Laws webinar scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon, June 11. The webinar will address how hospitals balance the safety, security and privacy of patients, …

 

Collaborating to Address EMS Challenges

Following National EMS Week, it’s important to recognize how we can continue to support the dedicated teams providing lifesaving care every day to Michigan patients and communities. In my role as director of health policy …

Deadline to Register for MHA Workforce Recruitment Models Webinar

Registration closes May 29 for the MHA webinar Recruitment Models that Grow a Strong and Patient-Centered Workforce scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. May 30. The webinar highlights the MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap, …

The Keckley Report

Hospital Price Transparency: Is the Juice worth the Squeeze?

“Academic researchers and economists have concluded that hospital price transparency has not led to reduced heath spending overall nor lower hospital prices. Per a recent systematic review: “No evidence was found for impact on the outcomes volume, availability or affordability. The overall lack of evidence on policies promoting price transparency is a clear call for further research…  Price-aware patients chose less costly services that led to out-of-pocket cost savings and savings for health insurers; however, these savings did not translate into reductions in aggregate healthcare spending.  Disclosure of list prices had no effect, however disclosure of negotiated prices prompted supply-side competition which led to decreases in prices for shoppable services.”

Per Wall Street Journal actuaries, hospital price increases account for 23% of annual health spending increases but vary widely based on factors other than their underlying costs. Determining how hospital prices are set remains beyond the scope of conventional pricing models. …

Is the Juice worth the Squeeze for hospital price transparency efforts? To date, proponents say yes, opponents say no, and each side has valid concern about use by consumers. But unless one believes the role of consumers as purchasers and users of the system’s service will diminish in coming years, the safe bet is hospital price transparency will play a bigger role. …”

Paul Keckley, May 20, 2024

News to Know

MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled May 27 in honor of Memorial Day.

 

MHA Monday Report May 20, 2024

Monday Report

Legislature Advances MHA Supported Policy Bills; Budgets Moves Through Senate

The Michigan Senate advanced their chamber budgets for the upcoming fiscal year during the week of May 13. The Senate’s budget recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services continues vital funding for Medicaid, …

House Campaign Committee Chairs Address Legislative Policy Panel

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met at the MHA Capital Advocacy Center May 15 to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. The meeting was highlighted by presentations …

CDC Urges Hospitals to Complete mPINC Survey

The 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) will close June 10. The CDC seeks to assess maternity care practices that influence how …

Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act Introduced in the U.S. Senate

U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act May 14 to bolster rural healthcare. Senate Bill 4322 aims to address critical gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure by …

MHA Podcast Explores Benefits, Challenges of Virtual Care in Behavioral Health

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring how clinicians are navigating virtual care in the behavioral health space. The episode, released during Mental Health Awareness Month, features two providers from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. …

The Keckley Report

Hospitals at a Crossroad: Reactive Navigation or Proactive Orchestration?

“The U.S. economy is strong but growing numbers in the population face financial insecurity and economic despair. Increased out-of-pocket costs for food, fuel and housing (especially rent) have squeezed household budgets and contributed to increased medical debt—a problem in 41% of U.S. households today. Hospital bills are a factor. …

For most hospitals, a decision to invest and behave as if the future is a repeat of the past is a calculated risk. Others with less stake in community health and wellbeing and greater access to capital will seize this opportunity and, in the process, disable hospitals might play in the process.

Near-term reactive navigation vs. long-term proactive orchestration–that’s the crossroad in front of hospitals today. Hopefully, during National Hospital Week, it will get the attention it needs in every hospital board room and C suite. …”

Paul Keckley, May 12, 2024

News to Know

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is requesting feedback to understand the challenges of obtaining a license.

MHA CEO Brian PetersMHA in the News

Crain’s Grand Rapids published an article May 16 on the release of Rand Corp. study on hospital pricing. Michigan reportedly has the third lowest hospital care costs relative to Medicare in the country, although the …

MHA Podcast Explores Benefits, Challenges of Virtual Care in Behavioral Health

Member News, MiCare Champion Cast

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring how clinicians are navigating virtual care in the behavioral health space.

The episode, released during Mental Health Awareness Month, features two providers from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Dr. Heide Rollings, M.D., child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship director and Dr. Lisa Vroman Stokes, Ph.D., manager of Forest Hills Clinic and child and adolescent project coordinator, joined to share insights about the advantages and challenges of telemedicine in the behavioral health setting.

“We know that for children and adolescents – especially in rural communities – it can be really wonderful to have [telehealth] as an option,” said Dr. Rollings, who also serves as an assistant clinical professor in the division of psychiatry at Michigan State University.

Flexibility plays a big part in the new normal. Although virtual options have helped improve access, both Rollings and Stokes noted that it can’t always substitute in-person screenings and treatment. In many cases, clinicians must communicate expectations to patients early on to develop effective treatment plans within virtual and hybrid formats.

“We’re finding ourselves in a position as providers of re-educating and acclimating our patients to how they can most effectively engage and benefit from treatment,” said Dr. Stokes, who also oversees predoctoral psychology interns at Pine Rest.

As demand for behavioral healthcare services increases, staffing shortages continue to impact the workforce. In an effort to grow the talent pipeline, Pine Rest offers a variety of educational opportunities to those entering the field. This includes:

As the third-largest non-profit mental health care provider in the country, Pine Rest offers a full continuum of care for mental health and substance use disorders in West Michigan. In addition to their outpatient locations and psychiatric urgent care, the health system is also building a pediatric behavioral health center slated to open in 2026. Pine Rest was one of six organizations to receive grant funding following a $50 million appropriation from the Michigan legislature as part of the 2023 State Budget, which aimed at increasing the number of inpatient beds available for pediatric psychiatric patients across the state.


The episode is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and YouTube. Those interest in learning more about the services, Questions or idea submissions for future MiCare Champion Cast episodes can be sent to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.