MHA Monday Report April 3, 2023

MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingMichigan Joins Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

Michigan officially joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact March 29, creating an expedited pathway to licensure for psychologists who wish to practice telemedicine services across state lines. To date, 36 states are authorized to join …


Student Debt Relief Offered to Behavioral Health Providers

The MI Kids Now Loan Repayment Program will offer educational loan repayment for eligible behavioral health medical providers in Michigan. The program is available to behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, …


Governance Webinar Series Outlines Trends and Advocacy Tactics

Board members must understand the issues tied directly to hospital and health system planning and performance, identify opportunities for improvement and support the leadership in advocating for mission-driven, patient-centered policies with key stakeholders. The MHA …


Required Occupational Survey Due June 30

Completed 2022 occupational mix surveys must be submitted by hospitals to the Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30, 2023. Hospitals are required to complete the survey every three years, with results from the 2022 survey …


MHA Rounds Report - Brian Peters, MHA CEOMHA CEO Report — A Healthy Michigan is an Insured Michigan

The United States celebrated last month the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Simply put, when then-President Obama signed the legislation March 23, 2010, it was one of the most monumental healthcare policy changes in our lifetime. …


The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyNot for Profit Health Systems are Soft Targets: Here’s Why

“There are no easy answers for not-for-profit hospitals/heath systems. The issue is about more than messaging and PR. It’s about more than Medicare reimbursement (7.5% below cost), protecting programs like 340B, keeping tax exemptions and maintaining barriers against physician-owned hospitals. The issue is NOT about operating income vs. investment income: in every business, both are essential and in each, economic cycles impact gains/losses. Each of these is important but only band-aids on an open wound in U.S. healthcare.

Near-term (the next 2 years), opportunities for not-for-profit hospitals involve administrative simplification to reduce costs and improve the efficiencies and effectiveness of the workforce. Clinical documentation using ChatGPT/Bard-like tools can have a massive positive impact—that’s just a start. Advocacy, public education and Board preparedness require bigger investments of time and resources. But that’s true for every hospital, regardless of ownership. These are table stakes to stay afloat. …”

Paul Keckley, March 27, 2023


News to Know

  • Registration is now open for the MHA Keystone Center Safe Patient Handling Conference.
  • The MHA is issuing a request for proposal for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services.
  • The MHA will host an in-person Human Resources Member Forum at the MHA Headquarters in Okemos from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 26, with a virtual option available as well.
  • The Root Cause Coalition is accepting requests for proposals to present at the 8th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health Dec. 3-5 in Kansas City.

MHA Monday Report March 27, 2023

MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingMHA-supported Bills See Action Before Break

The Michigan House of Representatives acted on a pair of MHA-supported bills during the week of March 20. In the House Health Policy Committee, members voted to report legislation to strengthen Michigan’s Healthy Michigan statute. …


Speakers of the Protect Our Care press conference.MHA Celebrates ACA Anniversary with Congresswoman Slotkin

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel joined U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and other healthcare advocates March 23 as part of a virtual press conference organized by Protect Our Care to celebrate the 13th anniversary of …


As individuals and families across the state and country continue to face food insecurity, Michigan’s hospitals, health systems and community leaders are engaged in creating collaborative solutions. MHA CEO Brian Peters joined fellow food security …

Expanding Advocacy Roots with the Next Generation

The MHA collaborated with Wayne State University for the first-ever student-led advocacy day March 22. Science Policy Network-Detroit is a student organization at Wayne State that aims to advocate for science-related issues in …


March 30 Webinar Outlines Considerations for the End of the Public Health Emergency

The Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 public health emergency expires May 11, 2023, which may significantly decrease the flexibility providers have become accustomed to. The MHA will host The End of the …


Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination Webinar Recording Available

The Michigan Medicaid program has grown to nearly 3.2 million Michiganders, an increase of more than 700,000 when compared to pre-pandemic levels, due to federal statutory limitations on states’ abilities to remove people from the …


MHA Webinar Explores PACE Program Partnerships

With the closure of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, hospitals and health systems need options to care for seniors. Dually eligible frail seniors are one of the most complex cohorts with multiple co-morbidities, frequent …


Applications Open for Excellence in Governance Fellowship, Prepares Trustees to Lead

The MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship is now available to healthcare board members looking for innovative, effective ways to lead their organizations as hospitals and health systems navigate financial strain and labor challenges. Applications are …


The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyAffordable Care Act 2.0: New Trends and Issues, New Urgency

“Thursday marks the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act– perhaps the most consequential healthcare legislation since LBJ’s passage of the Medicare Act in 1965. Except in healthcare circles, it will probably go unnoticed. …

Complicating matters, the political environment today is more complicated than in 2010 when the ACA became law. The economic environment is more challenging: the pandemic, inflation and economic downturn have taken their toll. Intramural tensions in key sectors have spiked as each fights for control and autonomy i.e. primary care vs. specialty medicine, investor-owned vs. not-for-profit hospitals, retail medicine & virtual vs. office-based services, carve-outs, direct contracting et al . Consolidation has widened capabilities and resources distancing big organizations from others. Today’s media attention to healthcare is more sophisticated. Employers are more frustrated. And the public’s confidence in the health system is at an all-time low. …“

Paul Keckley, March 19, 2023


News to Know

  • Registration is now open for the MHA Keystone Center Safe Patient Handling Conference.
  • The MHA is issuing a request for proposal for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services.
  • The MHA Health Foundation will host a four-part webinar series MHA Board Governance Education that outlines the trends affecting current and future strategic plans, techniques for effectively communicating with stakeholders on key issues and ways to build trust, drive engagement and develop relationships.
  • The MHA will host an in-person Human Resources Member Forumat the MHA Headquarters in Okemos from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 26, with a virtual option available as well.
  • The Root Cause Coalition is accepting requests for proposals to present at the 8th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health Dec. 3-5 in Kansas City.