The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
Michigan’s elected officials demonstrated today a strong, bipartisan commitment to protecting healthcare funding in the state budget. We thank all of those who worked together when it mattered most, especially Gov. Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Brinks and Speaker of the House Hall for their leadership in agreeing to a budget that will continue to advance the health of individuals and communities throughout the state. Hospitals, healthcare workers and patients have secure state funding for another year, maintaining access to care and protecting important service lines.
As part of the program lineup, Appel spoke with Gordon and Jackson about the state of hospitals and the many changes they face, including the healthcare workforce, the 340B program and protecting Medicaid from federal funding cuts. Other notable interviewees during the event included Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) and Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Richland Township).
Relevant healthcare topics included in the State of the State address included expanded attention towards recruiting males to pursue post-secondary education opportunities and increased state support for forgiving patient medical debt.
Additional media stories published during the week of Feb. 24 included an article picked up by both Bridge and MIRS on the challenges of behavioral health transport services for providers in the Upper Peninsula. Lauren LaPine, senior director of Legislative & Public Policy, MHA, was quoted in the article discussing efforts with the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to implement and fund behavioral health transportation services at hospitals across the state.
“We believe that a patient shouldn’t have to be transported via police transport for behavioral health needs,” said LaPine.
In addition, the MHA received mention in a Feb. 27 article from MIRS recapping a House Health Policy Committee hearing about the 340B program.
Members with questions should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
State funding is critical to the health and viability of Michigan hospitals and their patients. This budget presented by the Whitmer administration today maintains stability for healthcare providers across Michigan. 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 healthcare careers.
Healthcare touches us all, regardless of political affiliation, and we look forward to working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle during the budget process to make sure Michiganders, their communities and healthcare providers receive the funding support they need.
The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
Members of the Senate Oversight Committee put patients over pharmaceutical profits by reporting out Senate Bill 1179 to the full Senate, which adds state-level protections to the 340B drug pricing program and the affordable, community-based care it supports.
The 340B program is an essential safety net program that supports vulnerable patients and the providers that care for them. It allows eligible Michigan hospitals to stretch incredibly scarce resources to provide care for more patients in their communities, increasing access to care.
These protections prevent manufacturers from arbitrarily restricting program participation that threatens access to care by cutting program savings. Such harmful actions by these companies risk the closure of birthing units, nursing homes and even critical access hospitals.
We look forward to the full Senate passing this bill and will continue to work with our partners in the House to make sure this important piece of legislation reaches Gov. Whitmer’s desk before the end of the year.
The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
The Michigan Legislature passed a state budget that champions crucial healthcare funding and protects access to vital healthcare services across Michigan communities.
The fiscal year 2025 state budget and fiscal year 2024 supplemental proposals continue funding pools that support rural and critical access hospitals, obstetrical services, the Healthy Michigan Plan and Michigan’s Medicaid populations. Each of these pools help maintain access to care for underserved populations throughout the state.
The budget also includes new funding to support peer recovery coaches in hospitals to enhance substance use disorder services. These individuals are specifically trained to provide advanced peer recovery support services and are proven to help patients overcome obstacles in their substance use disorder recovery. Michigan joins the more than 38 other states in supporting this model of providing needed care.
We look forward to Gov. Whitmer signing this budget, which protects access to care and ensures hospitals can continue to advance the health of individuals and communities.
The MHA received media coverage the week of June 3 that includes coverage on the 340B drug pricing program and from the Mackinac Policy Conference on the healthcare workforce.
Michigan Advance published an article June 6 recapping the Michigan House Insurance and Financial Services Committee meeting June 5 on House Bill 5350, which would protect access to affordable prescription drugs and healthcare services through the 340B Prescription Drug Pricing Program. The article specifically references an infographic submitted to the committee by the MHA, which describes the value of the 340B program and how it supports vulnerable patients and the providers that care for them.
“[MHA] says the program allows hospitals flexibility to invest savings back into local healthcare needs through programs such as mobile health clinics, financial assistance programs for low-income patients, supporting high-cost lines of service needed within a community, or providing access to low-cost drugs.”
In addition, the article references the additional MHA-members who testified in support of the bill. MIRS and Gongwer also published stories on the testimony.
Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA.
Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA, also appeared in two podcast episodes published the week of June 3 that were recorded at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference.
Sudderth joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s A Healthier Michigan podcast to speak about the long-standing partnership between BCBSM and the MHA on a variety of issues, including the history of the MHA Keystone Center and addressing healthcare workforce needs.
Sudderth appeared on The Michigan Opportunity as well, a podcast produced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to discuss the healthcare workforce. Also appearing in the episode is Gov. Whitmer.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The Michigan House of Representatives advanced its state fiscal year (FY) 2025 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) budget recommendations during the week of May 5.
Importantly, the chamber’s budget recommendation continues vital funding for Medicaid, rural and critical access hospitals, obstetrical services and the Healthy Michigan Plan. Supporting Michigan’s Medicaid program will help maintain access to care for underserved populations throughout Michigan. Additionally, the budget proposal includes funding to provide reimbursement for peer recovery coaches in the hospital setting to enhance substance use disorder services. The Senate is expected to advance its FY 25 MDHHS budget recommendation next week.
The House also gave final approval to two MHA supported bills. House Bill (HB) 5096, sponsored by Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids), makes important changes to the state’s Renaissance Zone Act. These changes allow for more local governments to take advantage of the benefits of a renaissance zone designation and increase flexibility around those designations. Renaissance zones support economic development opportunities and allow for important economic drivers, like hospitals, to thrive in a variety of circumstances. Without these alterations, hospitals who may benefit from their locality being designated as a renaissance zone would be unable to realize significant opportunity to maintain or increase access to care in vulnerable communities. The MHA supported this legislation because of the positive impact this could have on Michigan hospitals and health systems. HB 5096 passed the House and is on its way to Gov. Whitmer’s desk to be signed into law.
The House also gave final approval to Senate Bill (SB) 227, sponsored by Sen. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway). SB 227 will update the state’s child caring institution licensing laws to align with emergency intervention language used in the Mental Health Code. Specifically, this legislation is important to any facility interested in becoming licensed as a Pediatric Residential Treatment Facility and creates additional alignment between the Mental Health Code and the licensing structure for child caring institutions. SB 227 is now headed to the governor’s desk for her signature.
Members with any questions may contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.
The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
