Tag: Hurricane Helene

Baxter IV Solutions Shortage Updates

Member News

The MHA continues to support Michigan hospitals in response to the Baxter IV solutions shortage that began the week of Sept. 29. Baxter International Inc. temporarily closed its North Cove manufacturing plant in Marion, N.C., due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. As the largest IV solutions plant in the country, North Cove produces 1.5 million bags of IV solution per day and supplies 60% of the nation’s IV solutions, including critical products like saline, sterile water and peritoneal dialysis solutions.

The MHA continues to hold discussions with healthcare leaders across the state to address the ongoing shortage. These conversations allow hospitals to share insights on supply challenges and explore collaborative strategies for managing the shortage. The MHA continues to gather feedback from its members to advocate for solutions and provide updates on the evolving situation.

Baxter announced it is increasing allocation levels of its highest demand IV fluids for direct customers and distributors to 60%, effective Oct. 9. Baxter is also increasing allocation levels for high-concentration dextrose and sterile water and expects to make additional increases for certain products by early November.

The FDA issued a release Oct. 9 sharing information on temporary importation sources to help mitigate shortages for specific products. The release contains information on 19 products, with imports from Canada, China, Ireland and the UK.

The Baxter Hurricane Helene webpage continues to serve as a single source of information, providing the latest company updates about allocation plans. Updates will be provided on Mondays and Thursdays. Members are encouraged to contact Baxter for questions related to the IV solution situation, particularly if they are in dire need of product. The American Hospital Association is also maintaining a Baxter resource webpage too.

The MHA encourages Michigan residents to consult with their healthcare providers for updates on the shortage and its impact on hospital operations in their area.

Members with questions should contact Laura Appel at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: IV Solutions Shortage, Physician Retention & More

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare
Laura Appel
Laura Appel
MHA EVP Laura Appel spoke with WJR, Michigan Public and WILX during the week of Oct. 7, 2024.

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 7 that includes coverage on a potential national shortage of IV solutions products, physician retention and rural hospital funding.

The closure of a Baxter manufacturing facility in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene led to several media stories, as the plant manufactures approximately 60% of the IV solutions used every day in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Bridge Michigan published a story looking at physician retention while Michigan Radio published a story on the recently signed Senate Bill 701, which eliminates the definition of “critical access hospital” and modifies the definition of “rural hospital.” It also raises the population limit to be considered a “rural hospital” to include counties with 195,000 people or less for the rural hospital funding pool.

Several MHA representatives participated in the news coverage, including Brian Peters, CEO; Laura Appel, executive vice president, government relations & public policy; Elizabeth Kutter, senior director, government & political affairs; and John Karasinski, senior director, communications.

Friday, Oct. 11

Thursday, Oct. 10

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Monday, Oct. 7

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

MHA Monday Report Oct. 7, 2024

Monday Report, Member News

MHA Participates in Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health Healthcare Policy Forum

Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health hosted Oct. 4 the ninth annual regional healthcare policy forum in Kalamazoo. Moderated by Dr. Colleen Allen, CEO, Autism Alliance of Michigan, the forum focused on the theme of “Working Together” …

MHA Webinar Explores How Boards and Leaders Can Deploy AI Responsibly and Ethically

The MHA is hosting the webinar How Boards and Leaders Can Deploy AI Responsibly and Ethically, scheduled 4:30 – 6 p.m. ET Dec. 3 which features respected healthcare leaders in artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare operations …

Fall MI AIM Regional Training Events

The Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) is offering training events across Michigan for inpatient maternal healthcare providers. The events, scheduled from late October to November, will focus on using quality improvement …

MDHHS Releases Medicaid Doula Services Proposed Policy

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released a proposed policy updating Medicaid coverage for doula services, effective Oct. 1, 2024. Key updates include increasing the number of covered doula visits to …

MHA Highlights Behavioral Health Priorities at Michigan Children and Families Summit

Lauren LaPine, senior director, legislative and public policy, MHA, participated in a discussion Oct. 3 in Grand Rapids during the Michigan Children and Families Summit hosted by the Steelcase Foundation. The summit explored the results …

MHA Race of the Week – U.S. Senate

The MHA’s Race of the Week series highlights the most pivotal statewide races for the 2024 General Election. The series will provide hospitals and healthcare advocates with the resources they …

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — Protecting Access to Care Through 340B

Protecting access to high quality, affordable healthcare for all Michiganders is a key tenet of the MHA. Stated simply, the 340B drug pricing program, created by Congress in 1992, is absolutely crucial to our member …

Keckley Report

Tax Exemptions for Not-for-Profit Hospitals: Are they Worth it?

It’s a question lots of folks inside and outside of healthcare are asking these days. …

The JAMA study did not focus on a ratio; instead, it focused on quantifying the amount of state and local exemptions that should be considered by policymakers in addition to their federal exemptions.  Notably, this study quantifies wide variation in which hospitals benefit most when local, state and federal exemptions are included and proposes that policies around NFP hospital tax exemptions be delegated in part to state and local determinations (as is already the case in at least 3 states). …

The Boards and leaders in each not-for-profit hospitals must account for the tax exemptions they currently enjoy and anticipate changes that limit them in the future. These studies point clearly to that inevitability. And each must answer this question for their organization objectively: are our tax exemptions truly worth it to the communities we serve, or simply a financial maneuver to use our money elsewhere?

Paul Keckley, Sept. 30, 2024

News to Know

Members looking to support hospitals impacted by Hurricane Helene can contribute to relief efforts through the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and the Tennessee Hospital Association Disaster Relief Fund.

News to Know – Oct. 7, 2024

Member News
New to Know

Members seeking to assist hospitals in the regions impacted by Hurricane Helene can support the following hospital relief efforts:

  • North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: Activated by the North Carolina Healthcare Association, this fund supports hospital employees and communities in western North Carolina affected by unprecedented flooding.
  • Tennessee Hospital Association Disaster Relief Fund: Created by the Tennessee Hospital Association, this fund directly supports hospital employees across East Tennessee facing severe challenges from the floods. Members can contribute easily through Venmo: @THA_Hospital_Employee_Relief.