MHA Monday Report Feb. 2, 2026

State Legislative Weekly Recap: House Appropriations Committee Continues RHTP Testimony

The Michigan House Appropriations Committee continued testimony during the week of Jan. 26 on federal funding awarded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and on legislation related to the 340B program and next-of-kin designations. …


MHA Events2026 MHA Human Resources Conference Registration Open

The 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 24 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, will convene human resources leaders and professionals who are shaping the future of the healthcare workforce. In an evolving healthcare …


MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on December 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service …


New MHA Infographic Provides Overview of RHTP Program in Michigan

The MHA recently released a new infographic that provides an overview of the RHTP in Michigan. This infographic highlights the scope of the program, Michigan’s rural health landscape and the $173 million awarded to the …


Pediatric Vaccination Guidance: What Michigan Providers Need to Know

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published its 2026 immunization schedule for children and adolescents, recommending protection against 18 diseases including polio, measles, respiratory syncytial virus and meningococcal disease. This comprehensive schedule draws …


Deadline Approaching for MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy

The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy is Feb. 6. The cohort meets Feb. 25-27 and May 7-8 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos. The Healthcare Leadership Academy, in partnership with Executive Core, has …


Hospitals Help: Munson Healthcare, Community Partners Offer Free Family Support Program

Healthy Futures is a free family support program that helps answer questions and assists families in finding services and resources in the community. The program, which has no eligibility requirements, is a collaboration between Munson …


MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — The Reality Behind a Hospital Ribbon-Cutting

Hospital ribbon-cutting ceremonies tend to spotlight the new and modern elements of a hospital expansion: bright windows, sleek patient rooms or advanced diagnostic technology. But what you don’t see is often more important than what …

New to Know


News to Know

  • The MHA recently created a dedicated newsroom webpage #HospitalsHelp, highlighting stories from member hospitals across Michigan and their community benefit efforts.
  • Stay connected with the MHA for the latest healthcare updates in Michigan across its social media platforms, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and Threads.

MHA in the News

The Detroit News published a story Jan. 29 on two recent House Appropriations Committee hearings on the distribution of RHTP funds. The article details concern from House lawmakers and rural providers …

MHA Monday Report Jan. 19, 2026

Michigan Legislature Resumes Session, International Medical Graduate Bills Clear House Rules

The 103rd Michigan Legislature resumed session for the 2025-26 term during the week of Jan. 12, with the MHA continuing to work with lawmakers on initiatives that prioritize patients, providers, and hospitals and improve the health of …


MHA EventsRegistration is Now Open for the 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference

Registration is now open for the upcoming MHA Human Resources Conference scheduled from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. March 24 at the Crowne Plaza, Lansing, a must-attend event for HR leaders, talent professionals and executives …


MDHHS Opens Applications for RHT Advisory Council

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is accepting applications to serve on the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Advisory Council, which will support implementation of Michigan’s RHT Program to improve rural health. The …


HHS Updates Childhood Immunization Schedule

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed Jan. 5 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise the U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule, reducing the number of universally recommended …


MDHHS Seeks Proposals for Children Trust Michigan Primary Prevention Program Grants

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released a grant funding opportunity to prevent child abuse and neglect. This funding opportunity aims to prevent child abuse and neglect by developing protective factors that promote healthier and resilient …


Speaking Health Care™: A Guide to Understanding Healthcare Language

Orienting new trustees extends far beyond a single session. New members usually require months to get fully up-to-speed on strategic priorities and the basic expectations for trustees. A daunting challenge is interpreting language about operations, …


Michigan State Loan Repayment Program 2026 Application Period Opens March 2

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced an updated application period for the 2026 Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP), which will be open from March 2 through April 30, 2026. …


Hospitals Help: MyMichigan Clinics Improve Access to Timely Care

MyMichigan Health established the Continuing Care Clinics in 2023 to serve residents across its 26-county service region who lack timely access to primary care physicians. These clinics are pivotal during critical health transitions, offering responsive …


Keckley Report

JPM Health Conference 2026: The Trump Effect

“This week, 8000 healthcare operators and investors will head west to the 44th Annual JP Morgan Health Conference in San Francisco. Per JPM: “The (invitation-only) conference serves as a vital platform for networking, deal-making, and discussing the latest innovations in healthcare, attracting global industry leaders, emerging companies, and members of the investment community.” Daily media coverage will be provided by Modern Healthcare and STAT and most of the agenda will be at the St. Francis Hotel at Union Square. …

It’s populism vs. corporatization. Healthcare’s proclivity for self-praise, addiction to “Best of…” recognition, celebrity CEOs and handsome executive compensation have postured it as “Big Business” in the eyes of most. Business practices associated with corporatization are fair game to the administration’s corrective agenda: hearings in the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committees will showcase the administration’s populist grievances. The administration will lavish advantages on private organizations that demonstrate support for its policies. …

The health system’s role in making matters better or worse for consumers will be front and center alongside housing and costs of living. That context will be key to discussions between health investors and companies seeking their funds, though subordinate to term sheets.

In 2026, the Trump effect on dealmaking in healthcare will be significant.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 11, 2026


New to KnowNews to Know

MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled Jan. 19, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.


MHA in the News

MHA CEO Brian Peters joined the Michigan Association of State Universities Jan. 13 in a media roundtable to discuss the economic impact of Michigan’s public universities, which generate nearly $45 billion in net new economic …

Accommodations Deadline Approaching for MHA Human Resources Conference

The Feb. 21 accommodations deadline is approaching for the highly anticipated 2025 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 25, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza, Lansing.

After a day of networking and peer-to-peer collaboration, attendees will hear insights from human resources guru Tim Sackett. In his closing remarks, Sackett will share the key elements of a high-performing culture and explain the connection between well-being and performance. Additionally, he will share strategies for creating a more supportive, inclusive and high-performing workplace.

The MHA Human Resources Conference is valid for 5.25 PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.

An overnight room rate of $152 for hotel guest rooms is available for MHA Human Resources Conference attendees (rooms subject to state and local taxes). Room reservations can be made by contacting the Crowne Plaza directly (877-322-5544) and mentioning the MHA to receive a discounted rate. Reservations can also be made online using “MHA” as a group access code. After the Feb. 21 deadline, room reservations and rates will be confirmed based on availability.

Members are encouraged to register now or contact Brenda Carr at the MHA for assistance. Questions about the conference should be directed to Erica Leyko at the MHA.

MHA Webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture and Performance

The MHA is hosting the webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement (PFE) to Culture and Performance from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20. The webinar will outline a process for structuring value-based employee competencies that are foundational to delivering patient-centered care, programs that uniformly train and support knowledge and application of PFE principles across the system and examples of how to establish clear expectations of behaviors and actions that support a patient-centered culture.

Pandemic recovery happened at many levels, but public perception of hospital quality and experience is declining, as shown through research by the Beryl Institute. Now is the time to re-establish programs and policies that place patients and their caregivers at the heart of planning and decision-making, empowering them to actively participate in their care.

The webinar will also highlight the MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap, which features research and tools supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care. These resources are proven to re-engage patients and improve PFE.

Registration is free of charge for MHA member organizations. Chief nurse and medical officers, patient experience, safety & quality, social work and human resources professionals are encouraged to register.

Members with questions about the webinar or MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.