Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a supplemental appropriation bill on March 8 that includes $75 million for hospital recruitment, retention and training of healthcare workers. The funding was included as a part of House Bill (HB) 4016, now Public Act 5 of 2023.
Laura Appel, executive vice president of Government Relations and Policy at the MHA, provided testimony to the Senate’s Health Policy Committee. Appel provided a general overview of the role hospitals play in the healthcare continuum, the continuing post-pandemic patient transfer issues and potential solutions to address these challenges and the workforce crisis.
“The cost of maintaining standby trauma resources is millions of dollars for each level I and II trauma designated hospital location and those costs are incurred regardless of the number of patients that need those services every day,” said Appel.
Lastly, a new bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives would make improvements to Michigan’s Healthy Michigan statute. HB 4224, introduced by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), would remove Michigan’s Medicaid work requirements. The work requirement is currently disallowed by the courts. The MHA supports HB 4224 and expects additional legislation to make improvements to the Healthy Michigan statute in the coming weeks.
Members with questions about workforce funding or other state legislative action may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.
On behalf of Michigan hospitals and health systems, we value the work of the Michigan Legislature to pass a budget that protect MHA priorities that include fully funding the Healthy Michigan plan, the rural access pool, the obstetrical stabilization fund, and maintaining rate increases for Medicaid and critical access hospitals. We also commend the legislature for expanding postpartum coverage to a full year for mothers on Healthy Michigan. However, more work remains, particularly to address the behavioral health crisis in Michigan. We look forward to working with the legislature through the supplemental appropriations process to secure transformational behavioral health solutions.