Tag: Ewa Panetta

Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours Launch

Member News

The MHA Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours series kicked off Nov. 24 with a session highlighting 211 and its role in addressing food access amid ongoing challenges related to food insecurity. Sarah Kile, director of community and partner engagement, Michigan 211, provided an overview of the 211 system, available outreach tools and what hospitals can expect when coordinating with 211 on regional needs.

The session also included remarks from the Food Bank Council of Michigan, which provides regional food bank coordination, resource management, data trend tracking and direct support, including assistance with applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through its statewide helpline at 1-888-544-8773.

The MHA is working to schedule a follow-up session with 211 that will highlight regional data collected from recent calls, which have seen a 200% increase in the last few weeks.

Session slides, the recording and key resources are available on the MHA Member Forum. The office hours series supports hospital teams working to better connect healthcare and community services by sharing strategies, exchanging insights and collaborating on issues affecting community health.

Members with questions may contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.

 

Honoring Veterans Through Improved Access & Care Coordination

Member News

When observing Veterans Day, it’s important to recognize how healthcare organizations can meaningfully work together to improve health outcomes and address the unique needs of service members and their families.

The Battle Fought at Home

Veterans and active duty service members often return home and face challenges that directly impact their overall health and wellbeing. Faced with navigating fragmented healthcare systems while battling mental health struggles, physical injuries and/or chronic health issues – some of the most common including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, suicidal ideation, chronic pain and traumatic brain injuries. With this in mind, advocates are calling for recognition of military service as a health indicator considering the profound impact service experience and environments can have.

While Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare systems serve an important and specific purpose, approximately 50% of veterans seek medica care from non-VA facilities and less than 50% are connected to all of their earned benefits. Knowing this, health systems must work to improve identification and recognition of military service through integration of screening within electronic health records and coordination of care across VA and non-VA healthcare facilities.

Identifying & Supporting Veterans

Connecting veterans with the right resources starts with asking the right questions and understanding what resources exist across local communities.

  • Words Matter: “Have you or has someone close to you ever served in the military?” is the recommended screening question, as not all service members to identify as “veterans.” It also helps identify spouses and/or caregivers who may need access to resources or benefits of their own. Resource spotlight: Michigan Center for Rural Health I-REACH (Improving Veterans Access to Healthcare).
  • Integrate Standard Screening Tools: To ensure providers are asking the right questions, standardize the screening process for medical and social needs to ensure healthcare teams are equipped with an understanding of what signs and symptoms may indicate a service-related injury or health concern. Resource spotlight: PRAPARE.
  • Don’t Stop at Identification: Build awareness and education within the organization around best practices for providing care to veterans and service members. Staff trainings, local community partnerships and fostering strong relationships with local VA hospitals and networks can help connect patients to the necessary resources. Resource spotlight: Veteran Interoperability Pledge.

Additional Resources

Michigan hospitals are committed to serving the unique needs of all communities, including veterans. This is often demonstrated through tailored patient care, clinical research, strategic community benefit investments, financial assistance and tailored healthcare career pathways. Michigan hospitals have also joined the MHA in supporting legislation like the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020, which allows eligible veterans to receive emergent suicide care in any VA or non-VA facility at no cost.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and initiatives like the Michigan Center for Rural Health I-REACH (Improving Veterans Access to Healthcare) are additional resources to consider when looking to connect veterans and their families to lifesaving services and support.

Members with questions about resources and networks supporting service members are encouraged to contact Ewa Panetta, MHA.

FBCM Hosts Inaugural Michigan Food as Medicine Summit

Member News

The Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) brought together over 250 healthcare, community organization, government and other key industry leaders for the state’s inaugural Food as Medicine Summit. The two-day event aimed to build cross-sector coalitions and collective investment.

The MHA served as the platinum sponsor of the event, supporting representation of impactful Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, investments and partnerships led by Michigan hospitals. Improving access to nutritious food as a form of medicine is a strategic priority for the association, aligning with its mission to invest in the health and well-being of Michigan communities.

FIM interventions are gaining national attention as an effective approach to prevent and manage chronic diseases and address food insecurity, which contribute to poor health outcomes and rising healthcare costs. The following data highlights the importance of continued investment to scale FIM interventions:

  • Approximately one million Americans die each year from diet-related diseases, driving $1.1 trillion in healthcare costs — the same amount the country spends on food.
  • 90% of the $4.9 trillion the nation spends on healthcare goes to the management of chronic diseases.
  • Michigan has among the highest rates of chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Only one in 10 Michiganders consume the recommended amount of nutritious food, often impacted by lack of access to affordable options.

Although federal Medicaid spending cuts have impacted flexibility in Medicaid rules allowing states to cover services beyond traditional medications and therapies, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has implemented the In Lieu of Services provision, which allows Medicaid to pay for food and nutrition services that improve health.

Key takeaways from the summit include:

Design in Partnership with Community

FIM interventions vary in scope and should reflect community needs, assets and partnership. Although implementation guidance for healthcare settings remains limited, organizations can work with community stakeholders to initiate essential FIM interventions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a virtual toolkit with resources on community design and implementation strategies.

Integration is Key

As with other interventions and programs, investing in operational infrastructure is both challenging and a critical component to successfully implement FIM programs in healthcare settings. Common healthcare challenges include lack of electronic medical record integration for screening, referring and tracking FIM outcomes. At the community level, lack of standardized screening tools and closed-loop referral systems affects patient participation, follow-up, alignment with community stakeholders and outcome data tracking. A 2024 narrative review outlines the exploration, preparation, implementation and sustainment framework and checklist to guide improvements in FIM implementation for healthcare organizations.

Members with questions about the summit or opportunities to engage in FIM interventions may contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.

Deadline Approaching to Qualify for MDHHS Maternal Health Quality Payments

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

Birthing hospitals pursuing the 2025 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Maternal Health Quality Payments must meet all requirements by July 31 to receive payments. Eligibility requirements include full participation in the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) collaborative and The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification Program. Participating birthing hospitals will also have the costs associated with pursing MLC verification covered by the MHA Keystone Center through MDHHS funding.

The quality payments aim to strengthen maternal health quality improvement initiatives at Michigan birthing hospitals. Hospital payments will be based on the number of Medicaid-covered births and the hospital’s maternal morbidity rate. The payments will be released directly through MDHHS Medicaid to eligible birthing hospitals in September.

The MHA Keystone Center continues to offer technical support to all birthing hospitals interested in pursuing the funding. Members with questions should contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 20, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

House Committee Advances Earned Sick Time Act Changes

The House Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses voted unanimously to report House Bill 4002 during the week of Jan.13. The bill, introduced by Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), makes important clarifications …

2024 MHA Community Impact ReportReport: Michigan Hospital Programming, Investments Improve Health and Well-being of Residents

The MHA released the 2024 Community Impact Report Jan. 13 highlighting how Michigan hospitals are strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing access to care and building community health and wellness. This report …

Workforce Webinars Available for MHA Members

The MHA is pleased to announce a series of upcoming free webinars addressing healthcare workforce issues that leverage the expertise of MHA Endorsed Business Partners to provide guidance and thought leadership for members. Registration …

mha advancing safe care awardDeadline Approaching for Advancing Safe Care Award

The MHA is currently accepting nominations for its annual Advancing Safe Care Award, which recognizes hospitals that tackle issues daily to make care safer and more dependable. Eligible nominees include teams from hospitals across the …

Newly Expanded Mobile Crisis Services Grant Application Opens

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a new grant opportunity to expand mobile crisis intervention services across the state. The expansion of mobile crisis services aims to increase access to …

MHA Webinar Promoting Effective Peer Recovery Coaching Programs

The MHA will host a webinar Building Effective Peer Recovery Coaching Programs in Hospitals Feb. 12 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. to help hospitals create hospital-based peer recovery coach programs, providing background information and …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines Trends for Industry and Governance

The January edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), highlights the podcasts, videos, webinar and other resources available on today’s most pressing issues. The AHA released its 2025 Environmental …

Advancing Community Access to Health for All

Advancing community access to health for all Michiganders is a key focus of Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as Gov. Whitmer declared January Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Month. …

Keckley Report

Reality Check: Is Private Equity Ownership of Hospitals the Problem?

Last week, the Senate Budget Committee released a 171-page staff report about private equity (PE) ownership of hospitals—its second in two years. This report focused on Apollo Global Management’s ownership of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health, which runs the Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Iowa, and Leonard Green’s ownership of Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical, which has two Rhode Island hospitals in its portfolio. …

Attention to PE ownership of hospitals by the Senate Budget Committee is notable because it’s Bipartisan and part of a larger effort in Congress to rein in hospitals.  It’s understandable: hospitals account for 31% total healthcare spending—the biggest piece. Concern about healthcare affordability is increasing and trust in the U.S. system is sinking. Per Gallup, NORC, Pew and KFF polls, the majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the medical system and believe profit incentives are more important to insurers and hospitals than patient care. …

PE ownership is not the issue: how hospitals operate, how hospital services are designed and delivered to address clinical innovation and whole person care, and how they’re funded as many shift from traditional hospital to integrated systems of health. …

Paul Keckley, Jan. 13, 2025

News to Know

MHA offices will be closed, and no formal meetings will be scheduled Jan. 20, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Advancing Community Access to Health for All

MHA Rounds, Member News

Byline: Ewa Panetta, CPPS, Director of Health Equity and Experience, MHA 

Designing Community Access to Health Programs 

Advancing community health access for all Michiganders is a key focus of Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as Gov. Whitmer declared January Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Month. This opportunity recognizes the importance of addressing social and economic factors that have a greater impact on overall health than factors like biology, behavior or medical care. Successful community health access programs require considering the most impactful SDOH in the local communities to ultimately improve health.

Step one is understanding the factors and barriers that impact the way communities and individuals experience health and healthcare. At the community level, these are referred to as social determinants (drivers) of health (SDOH), while at the individual level, they are referred to as health-related social needs (HRSNs).

It is no surprise that accreditation and regulatory bodies are including requirements and quality measurements that call on hospitals to effectively assess and understand SDOH and HRSNs, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of care for all patients. By identifying these factors, hospitals can better understand what steps are needed to address patient level needs and inform investment in long-term solutions that improve health outcomes at the community level.

No single organization or sector has sole responsibility for addressing these factors – it takes authentic partnerships, long-term investment and designing programs that are intentional in addressing root causes of poor health outcomes. As we enter a new year, let January serve as a reflection of hospitals’ commitment to the MHA’s mission of advancing the health of all individuals and communities.

Below are resources available to help you and your organization address these factors.

Organizational Level

Assess patient and community social needs and integrate social care navigation into clinical workflows.

  • Use the Guide and Action Plan to Integrating CMS and TJC Health Equity Requirements to identify key data collection requirements across SDOH/HRSNs and design programs and interventions that address these factors. The exclusive MHA-member resource was developed to support hospitals and health systems with establishing and maintaining a program that meets The Joint Commission and CMS requirements and standards by centering quality improvement best practices to guide implementation.

Community Level

Build relationships to address local social, political and economic structures and conditions that affect health outcomes.

The MHA and the MHA Keystone Center remain committed to supporting member hospitals improve health access and to deliver safe, high-quality care! We look forward to sharing additional resources and association activities throughout the program year.

 

MHA and Partners Host Section 1557 Webinar Addressing Language Services

Member News

The MHA hosted the Section 1557 Readiness Workshop Dec. 10 with MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) AMN Language Services as part of the ongoing effort to advance the health of individuals and communities. This session was the first of a three-part series designed to provide essential tools and insights to ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s Section 1557.

Guest speakers Carla Fogaren, RN, national operations, equity and language access consultant, and Drew Stevens, Esq., legal counsel at Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs, guided participants through:

  • Key responsibilities of the newly required role of a Section 1557 Coordinator.
  • Posting of compliant nondiscrimination notices.
  • Implementing grievance procedures and document retention policies.
  • Legal implications and best practices.

“We must be explicit and intentional in removing barriers to care,” said Ewa Panetta, director, Community Health Impact and Engagement at the MHA. “The healthcare community plays a critical role. Evolving standards and regulatory requirements are calling for more action to address health outcomes and language access.”

Workshop attendees also received exclusive take-home resources, including a Section 1557 Coordinator requirements guide, Notice of Nondiscrimination example with fillable templates and samples of compliant written procedures.

With nearly 40 years of industry expertise, AMN provides a customized and tailored approach to meet organizations’ holistic workforce goals. Learn more about the MHA’s partnership with AMN Language Services from Eric Glaser, regional sales director.

Members with questions about additional resources and upcoming webinars may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

MDHHS Shares 2022 Maternal and Infant Health Statistics

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Section recently led a webinar on 2022 maternal and infant health statistics for the state.

Infant mortality refers to the death of an infant before their first birthday and is usually measured as a rate per 1,000 births. In 2022, the overall infant mortality rate in Michigan was 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Infant mortality rates during this time showed significant variation by race and ethnicity. In 2022, the infant mortality rate for Black non-Hispanic infants was the highest for all groups and 7.9 deaths more than the next group. This racial disparity has persisted over time, with data from 2013-2021 consistently showing a difference in infant mortality rates between Black and White infants. Below are the infant mortality rates for all racial and ethnic groups.

  1. Black non-Hispanic: 13.3 deaths per 1,000 live births
  2. Asian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic: 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births
  3. White non-Hispanic: 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births
  4. Hispanic: 4.0 deaths per 1,000 live births

Other data reported on infant mortality included stratification by maternal age and insurance type. Infants born to mothers under 20 years of age had the highest infant mortality rate at 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births more than the next highest age group. Below are the infant mortality rates by maternal age.

  1. Less than 20 years of age: 13.0 per 1,000 live births
  2. Ages 20 – 29: 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births
  3. Ages 30 and older: 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births

Infants covered by Medicaid had a 5.3 higher infant mortality rate (9.5 per 1,000 live births) compared to infants with private insurance (4.2).

The data also highlight common causes of infant death in 2022. Perinatal conditions were the leading cause, responsible for 49.5% of infant deaths. Sleep-related causes accounted for 17.2% and congenital anomalies made up 16.8% of infant deaths.

Members with questions may contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.

Three Key Takeaways from the MHA Webinar Featuring Health Equity Regulatory Requirements

Member News, MHA Rounds

Written by Ewa Panetta, Director, Community Health Impact and Engagement

Earlier this month, the MHA, in partnership with the MHA Keystone Center, hosted a member webinar highlighting the current and future state of health equity priorities and requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission (TJC) that impact acute care settings.

Accrediting and regulatory bodies are sending a clear message with the evolving requirements – health equity must be central to all quality improvement efforts. Simply put, high quality care is not attainable if care isn’t equitable.

Levering quality improvement as a tool for advancing health equity is a critical first step that helps hospitals meet the new regulatory standards, but we must move toward intentional actions that foster a culture of equity across healthcare systems.

The MHA Keystone Center created the Guide and Action Plan to Integrating CMS and TJC Health Equity and Health Disparities Requirements to provide guidance for implementing compliant health equity programming that goes above and beyond checking a box.

We collaborated with Julia Finken, senior vice president for accreditation and regulatory compliance, Patton Healthcare Consulting and Barrins & Associates, to facilitate the webinar. The purpose of the virtual meeting was to provide members with tools and resources needed to not only comply with the new quality improvement health equity requirements, but also implement robust health equity programming across their systems.

Here were the top three takeaways from the discussion:

  1. The MHA Keystone Center Health Equity Guide and Action Plan, along with supplemental modules, are valuable tools for implementing CMS/TJC compliant health equity programs. The action plan also provides hospitals with the tools necessary to track progress and document compliance across the regulatory and accrediting standards.
  2. Achieving the new health equity requirements requires embedding equity as a cornerstone of quality improvement efforts – from planning to goal development, design, interventions and measurement. Webinar participants expressed that demographic and social needs data collection and use are persistent challenges. We’ve created data resources to support members.
  3. As accreditation and regulatory requirements evolve, operationalizing the principles of health equity will require integrating equity into every aspect of care delivery and hospital operations.

I encourage members interested in learning more to watch the webinar recording.