Tag: Bill Manns

Michigan Hospitals Express Unified Opposition to Legislation Threatening Access to Care

Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases
Brian Peters testifying in the House Health Policy committee.

The MHA published a letter today on behalf of all Michigan hospitals and health systems signifying their unified opposition to proposed House Bills 4550-4552, which threaten to put patient care at risk across Michigan. MHA CEO Brian Peters announced the letter during his testimony in the House Health Policy Committee, which contains the names of leaders from all Michigan hospitals and health systems.

“Our hospitals are prepared to serve you and your loved ones on your worst day with high-quality, safe care,” said Peters. “We can’t risk losing experienced clinical judgment and local access to care. It is for these reasons that our membership is publishing a letter today signed by every hospital leader indicating our complete unified opposition to these bills.”

The proposed bills would mandate one-size-fits-all nurse staffing ratios for all Michigan hospitals, which do not create more nurses nor solve staffing shortages, as evidenced in other states that have tried this policy. California has a shortage of 40,000 registered nurses, despite the presence of mandated staffing ratios for 25 years. Michigan hospitals are currently trying to hire more than 8,400 nurses for vacant positions despite a national staffing shortage. Data from the Michigan Public Health Institute and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 85% of all licensed Michigan registered nurses currently living in the state below the age of 65 continue to work as nurses from a pool of 119,714 RNs.

Peters was joined for testimony by Beth Charlton, president and CEO, Covenant HealthCare; Doug Dascenzo, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer, Trinity Health Michigan; and Bonnie Kruszka, DNP, FNP-C, ENP-BC, RN, VP & chief nursing officer ambulatory services, Munson Healthcare.

A representative from American Nurses Association – Michigan also testified in opposition. The committee hearing included approximately 60 hospital representatives in attendance.

The testimony opposition follows the announcement earlier this week of a comprehensive coalition of healthcare, business and advocacy organizations opposing the bills.

To learn more about the impact of the proposed legislation on care in Michigan, visit www.mha.org/issues-advocacy/key-issues/nurse-staffing-ratios.

Health & Hospital Association Elects 2023-2024 Officers and Board Members

Member News, News Releases
2023-24 MHA Board Chair Shannon Striebich.
2023-24 MHA Board Chair Shannon Striebich.

Members of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) elected new officers and appointed board members during the association’s Annual Membership Meeting June 29. Officers of the 2023-2024 MHA Board of Trustees include Shannon Striebich, chair; Julie Yaroch, DO, chair-elect; and Bill Manns, treasurer. In addition, Brian Peters was reappointed to serve an indefinite term of office as CEO of the association. The board directs the greater Lansing-based association’s statewide representation of hospitals and healthcare providers.

Striebich, ministry president and senior vice president, Operations, Trinity Health Michigan, will serve as chair during the association’s 2023-2024 program year beginning July 1. The terms of service of Yaroch, president, ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital, Adrian; and Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare Group, Kalamazoo, will also span the 2023-2024 program year. T. Anthony Denton, senior vice president and chief ESG officer, University of Michigan Health/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, will serve as immediate past chair.

Brian Peters
MHA CEO Brian Peters.

“On behalf of the full MHA membership, I want to thank Tony Denton for his terrific leadership of the MHA Board through a year of challenges that included the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency, workforce shortages and more,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “We are grateful for Tony’s service. We are also excited to welcome Shannon Striebich as our incoming chair. There is no questioning Shannon’s commitment to advancing the health of individuals and communities throughout our state.”

Lydia Watson, MD, president and CEO, MyMichigan Health, Midland, was appointed as trustee at-large for a three-year term.

Reappointed for three-year terms on the 2023-2024 MHA Board of Trustees as trustees at-large were Denton, Manns, Gar Atchison, chief executive officer, UP Health System – Marquette, and market president, UP Health System; Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids; and Ed Ness, president and CEO, Munson Healthcare, Traverse City.

Continuing to serve their current terms of service as trustees at-large are Douglas Apple, MD, MS, FHM, chief clinical officer, Ascension Michigan, Warren, and interim president & CEO, Ascension Genesys Hospital, Grand Blanc; Beth Charlton, president and CEO, Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw; Karen Cheeseman, president and CEO, Mackinac Straits Health System, St. Ignace; Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids and Southfield; Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital; Gregory R. Lane, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, McLaren Health Care, Grand Blanc; Brittany Lavis, CEO, Detroit Medical Center; Hunter Nostrant, president and CEO, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center, Newberry; Kent Riddle, CEO, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids; and Bob Riney, president and CEO, Henry Ford Health, Detroit.

MHA Service Corporation Board Celebrates Partnerships and Successes

Member News

At its June 29 meeting, the MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board focused on supporting MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities to address workforce challenges, behavioral health improvements, redesigning care, insurance market solutions and more. The board considered strategies to leverage partnerships and meet the pressing needs of MHA members with short- and long-term solutions.

The board was joined by Alex Herbison, vice president, AMN Leadership Solutions, for an overview of services offered through B.E. Smith and AMN Language Services, which include executive recruitment, interpretation services and more. These companies are among those being considered as new Endorsed Business Partners in the coming weeks.

The board celebrated the “2022 Outstanding Performance” award given to the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (MHA-UCP) by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. This award recognizes the MHA-UCP’s timeliness and thoroughness in responses to new unemployment claims. More importantly, the award reflects the MHA-UCP’s commitment to reducing its clients’ unemployment liability exposure and its efforts to prevent unemployment fraud.

The MHASC board recognized Gwen MacKenzie, senior advisor, McKinsey and Company, for her leadership as the inaugural chair and expressed appreciation for her strategic and thoughtful guidance through the pandemic. The board also recognized incoming chair Kent Riddle, CEO, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids, and appointed incoming vice-chair, Bill Manns, CEO, Bronson Healthcare Group, Kalamazoo, and wished them well in their leadership roles. Mackenzie was reappointed to a three-year term on the MHASC board.

The MHASC provides critical support to the MHA in the form of nondues revenue through its Data Services, Unemployment Compensation Program and Endorsed Business Partner program to address workforce, financial and other business needs. Visit the MHA Business Services webpage to learn more about resources available. Questions regarding the MHASC Board should be directed to Peter Schonfeld at the MHA.