Tag: executive budget recommendation

MHA Monday Report Feb. 16, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

State Legislative Weekly Recap: Executive Budget Recommendations, Nurse Mandatory Overtime Testimony

The House and Senate Appropriations committees held a joint hearing for Gov. Whitmer’s executive budget recommendation for fiscal year 2027, and the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee heard testimony on nurse mandatory overtime legislation during the …

MHA Service Corporation Welcomes New Board Member and Explores Innovations

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board met Feb. 4 to advance and promote current and future business services of the MHASC and its Endorsed Business Partner program. The board also welcomed incoming board member

Hospitals Help: Trinity Health Initiative Expands Access to Lifesaving Narcan Vending Machines

In response to the opioid epidemic, four Trinity Health hospitals — Livonia, Oakland, Livingston and Ann Arbor — launched a regional initiative to expand access to Narcan (naloxone), a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. …

Stay Engaged with MHA Education and Events

Having knowledgeable and well-skilled teams is vital to deliver exceptional care and the MHA offers a robust lineup of meetings, webinars and collaborative opportunities to support hospital leaders and clinicians throughout the year. From major …

The Keckley Report

States should Play a Bigger Role in Healthcare Transformation

“2026 will be a transition year for the U.S. economy: the impact of the Fed’s monetary policies and Trump tariffs will be widely debated as state and Congressional primary campaigns begin next month. If affordability is the top concern to voters as pollsters predict, every candidate will be forced to express their views on solutions. While political rhetoric lends to opaque solutions and evasive answers to direct questions, voters are tired of BS. They associate it with both major parties and their luminary incumbents, and want straight talk. 2026 will be a transition year for the economy because voters will be paying closer attention to the economy and the prices they pay for essentials including healthcare.

And 2026 is a transition year for the healthcare economy: Major changes in regulatory policies impacting healthcare will originate in states either in response to federal directives or fiscal pressures. Federal policies will be directional but state responses and implementation will be more important. …

Voters think the health system is wasteful and self-serving. A Bipartisan majority in Congress share the view. The majority of voters believe it is more closely associated with Big Business than Community Health and Wellbeing. Distinctions between Big Not for Profits and Investor Ownership are blurry and industry opposition to price transparency, site neutral payments and cost-controls are seen as evidence of self-protection. So, if positioned appropriately, greater systemic reform of the health system would be welcomed. Leadership by states is, after all, a core tenet of federalism.”

Paul Keckley, Feb. 8, 2026

New to KnowNews to Know

  • The deadline to submit a request for proposals to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity Workforce Development for the State Apprenticeship Expansion 2026 Grant Program is Feb. 18.
  • The MHA Keystone Center and MHA Endorsed Business Partner Tarian will host the webinar, The Four Myths of Workplace Violence and the Aggression Cycle You Can’t Afford to Ignore 11 a.m. – noon ET on March 4.
  • MHA offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 16 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

State Legislative Weekly Recap: Executive Budget Recommendations, Nurse Mandatory Overtime Testimony

Member News

The House and Senate Appropriations Committee held a joint hearing for Gov. Whitmer’s executive budget recommendation for fiscal year (FY) 2027, and the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee heard testimony on nurse mandatory overtime legislation during the week of Feb. 9.

State Budget Director Jen Flood presented Feb. 11 Gov. Whitmer’s executive budget recommendation, which includes full funding for Medicaid and hospitals. The recommendation totals $88.1 billion, including $13.6 billion from the state general fund. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services budget accounts for $41 billion of total state spending.

The budget responds to federal changes following the passage of H.R. 1 last year. The proposal recommends hiring 589 new full-time employees to implement Medicaid work requirements. The state estimates 200,000 Michiganders could lose Medicaid coverage in FY 27 due to work requirements and redeterminations.

The proposal also calls for $804.4 million in new revenue from taxes and assessments that would be deposited into the Medicaid Benefits Trust Fund for Medicaid programs and services, including:

  • $327 million from new taxes on tobacco and vape products.
  • $282 million from a new digital advertising tax.
  • $195.4 million from online gambling and casino taxes.

Outside of healthcare, the budget calls for new investments in programs such as third grade reading and property tax credits for seniors.

MHA CEO Brian Peters released a media statement that reiterates the importance of the governor and legislative leaders passing a budget that protects Medicaid and hospitals. The association will work closely with legislative leadership moving forward to ensure MHA priorities are fully funded.

The Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bills 296 and 297, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), which would prohibit mandatory hospital overtime in certain circumstances. The bills would establish arbitrary one-size-fits-all staffing requirements that may limit patient-focused clinical decision-making, and individual team-based approaches should be prioritized. The MHA does not support legislation that curtails hospital leaders’ decision-making authority and instead supports empowering local healthcare professionals to make decisions that best serve patients and reflect clinical expertise. The MHA will continue to monitor the legislation and work with lawmakers and healthcare stakeholders to ensure that care teams have the tools they need and that Michiganders maintain access to timely, high-quality care.

Members with questions may contact the MHA advocacy team.

Executive Budget Recommendation News Coverage

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News

MHA CEO Brian Peters

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 and Gongwer. The WLNS article includes the reactions from numerous leaders, while the Gongwer story focuses specifically on the budget recommendation for the Department of Health and Human Services.

“This budget presented by the Whitmer administration today maintains stability for health care providers across Michigan,” said Peters. “We appreciate the continued protection of funding pools that preserve access to care for Michiganders, whether they require obstetrical services, care at rural and critical access hospitals or coverage from the Healthy Michigan Plan and Michigan’s Medicaid health plans. We are also encouraged to see continued attention towards issues that impact Michigan’s talent pipeline and remove barriers towards pursuing health care careers.”

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