Headline Roundup: Chemo Drug Shortages & Workforce Challenges

MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.
MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.
MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W. Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 28 regarding the continued shortage of cancer drugs carboplatin and cisplatin and hospital workforce shortages.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters and Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Below is a collection of headline from around the state.

Thursday, June 1

Wednesday, May 31

Tuesday, May 30

Monday, May 29

Sunday, May 28

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

Headline Roundup: Cancer Drug Shortage Continues

MHA CEO Brian Peters appears on the Michigan Business Beat.
MHA CEO Brian Peters appears on the Michigan Business Beat.
MHA CEO Brian Peters appears on the Michigan Business Beat.

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 21 regarding the continued shortage of cancer drugs carboplatin and cisplatin and hospital workforce shortages.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters, Executive Vice President Laura Appel, Senior Director of Government & Political Affairs Elizabeth Kutter and Senior Director of Communications John Karasinski.

Below is a collection of headline from around the state.

Thursday, May 25

Wednesday, May 24

Tuesday, May 23

Monday, May 22

Sunday, May 21

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

Headline Roundup: Chemotherapy Drug Shortages & Hospital Workforce

Laura Appel

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 15 regarding a shortage of two critical chemotherapy medications, hospital nurse staffing legislation and the well-being of hospital workers. A press release was published May 17 by the MHA regarding the shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin and the strategies hospitals and health systems are implementing to continue chemotherapy treatments for patients.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters and Executive Vice President Laura Appel. MONL President Kim Meeker, RN, BSN, MBA, also appears in a story on the nurse staffing legislation, while MHA Keystone Center WELL-B partner Bryan Sexton, PhD, from the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality, appears in a story about how hospitals assist healthcare workers with feelings of grief and loss.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Friday, May 19

Thursday, May 18

Wednesday, May 17

Tuesday, May 16

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

Headline Roundup: Nurse Staffing Legislation & Staffing Shortages

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 8 regarding nurse staffing legislation, healthcare worker shortages, the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency and more. A joint media statement was published May 11 by the MHA and the Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership (MONL) immediately following a press conference announcing legislation that would mandate nursing staffing ratios. The statement referenced the potential for the proposed bills to severely harm hospitals and access to important services for patients, if the bills become law.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters, Executive Vice President Laura Appel and Senior Vice President Sam Watson. MONL President Kim Meeker, RN, BSN, MBA, also appears in a collection of stories on the nurse staffing legislation. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Friday, May 12

Thursday, May 11

Wednesday, May 10

Tuesday, May 9

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

Media Recap: Pandemic Preparedness and Hospital Mergers

Brian Peters

Brian PetersThe MHA received media coverage the week of April 3 regarding the preparedness of hospital for another pandemic and how hospital and health system merger and acquisition activity impacts healthcare.

ABC News published a story April 1 that reviewed how chronic staffing shortages and new threats to funding may undermine the ability of hospitals to respond to a future pandemic. ABC News spoke to 11 hospital associations, including MHA CEO Brian Peters. A quote from Peters is included in the story regarding staffing challenges.

“Now, nurses and others are leaving health care altogether, to companies that have signing bonuses and very high hourly rates. And so all of a sudden, hospitals are in a position where the only way we’re going to have an adequate nursing force is to work with the nurse traveler agencies,” said Peters.

Bridge published an article April 3 on the finalized partnership between Michigan Medicine and Sparrow Health System. A section of the article reviews hospital acquisitions and mergers within healthcare. Peters spoke to the general reasons why a hospital or health system may determine merging with another organization is the best decision for their community.

“We have hospitals right now in Michigan … that are struggling mightily from a financial perspective,” said Peters. They’re struggling with supply chain issues. They’re struggling with the workforce.”

“I’ve heard it said more than once and I really think this summarizes the situation well: ‘We value our independence, but we’re not going to ride our independence to our grave.’ The ultimate goal of any organization — whether it’s a hospital system or any other entity in the community — is not about maintaining your independence. It’s about maintaining your viability.”

The Detroit Free Press and Michigan Radio also published stories on a recent nursing workforce survey released April 6. A portion of a statement Peters issued in March following the appropriation of $75 million for healthcare recruitment and retention as part of Public Act 5 of 2023 was published in the Detroit Free Press story. Meanwhile, the MHA provided a statement to Michigan Radio sharing the study incorrectly identifies mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as a solution to the problem of inadequate nurse supply.  Portions of the statement are included in the Michigan Radio article.

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

Governance Webinar Series Outlines Trends and Advocacy Tactics

Board members must understand the issues tied directly to hospital and health system planning and performance, identify opportunities for improvement and support the leadership in advocating for mission-driven, patient-centered policies with key stakeholders.

The MHA Health Foundation governance webinar series MHA Board Governance Education is a three-part series that outlines the trends affecting current and future strategic plans, techniques for effectively communicating with stakeholders on key issues and ways to build trust and engagement within the community.

Sessions are led by Kimberly Russel, former hospital CEO and governance consultant, John Karasinski, senior director, communications, MHA and Dan Wolf, Munson Healthcare trustee.

The webinars are scheduled for April 19, May 9 and May 23 from noon to 1 p.m. EST.

The series is generously sponsored by HPS, an associate member of the MHA and free of charge to MHA members.

Members with questions about registration should contact Erica Leyko at MHA.

Headline Roundup: COVID-19 Anniversary, Workforce Challenges

MHA CEO Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of March 13 regarding conversations around workforce funding and current challenges amid the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, March 16

Wednesday, March 15

Monday, March 13

Sunday, March 12

Saturday, March 11

Friday, March 10

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

Headline Roundup: Legislation Supports Hospital Workforce

MHA CEO Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of March 6 regarding Gov. Whitmer signing House Bill 4016, which will appropriate $75 million for the recruitment, retention and training of hospitals workers.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that includes mention or statements from the MHA press release published on March 9.

Friday, March 10

Thursday, March 9

Wednesday, March 8

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

Governance Webinar Series Helps Trustees Advocate on Important Issues

Every board member must have a common understanding of critical issues, the implications for the hospital or health system and how to share the impact with government and community leaders. Without support, it is difficult for leadership to fulfill the organization’s mission.

The MHA Health Foundation governance webinar series MHA Board Governance Education is a four-part series that outlines the trends affecting current and future strategic plans, techniques for effectively communicating with stakeholders on key issues and ways to build trust, drive engagement and develop relationships.

Sessions are led by Kimberly Russel, former hospital CEO and governance consultant, John Karasinski, senior director, communications, MHA, and Dan Wolf, Munson Healthcare trustee.

The webinars are scheduled for April 19, May 9 and May 23 from noon to 1 p.m. EST.

The series is generously sponsored by HPS, an associate member of the MHA, and free of charge to MHA members.

Members with questions about registration should contact Erica Leyko at MHA.

MHA Monday Report Feb. 27, 2023

MHA Monday Report

MiCare Champions Healthcare Advocates

The MHA continues to utilize public healthcare ambassadors, referred to as MiCare Champions, to advocate for public policy needs for Michigan hospitals and health systems. The MiCareMatters campaign originally launched in 2017 with the aim …


State Loan Repayment Program Application Period Begins

Applications for the 2023 Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP) will be accepted from March 6-31 through the File Transfer Application System. Providers are strongly encouraged to create an account in the system before starting the application period. The MSLRP assists employers in the recruitment …


Feb. 28 Virtual Training for FY 2020 Medicaid DSH Audit

Myers and Stauffer LC, Michigan’s contractor for the federally mandated Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) audits, encourages hospital staff to participate in the upcoming virtual training at 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Hospital staff are also …


CHAMPS Registration Required for Medicaid Doula Services

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will reimburse for doula services provided to individuals covered by Medicaid beginning Jan. 1, 2023. Doula providers are required to be registered and approved on the …


The Keckley Report

TPaul Keckleyhe North Carolina Study of Hospital CEO Pay: An Incomplete Picture

“Last Wednesday, North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell released a report alleging 9 prominent North Carolina health systems overpaid their CEOs more than $1.75 billion from 2010 to 2021. …

The issue of CEO compensation is tricky for hospitals because the public’s unaware of how hospitals operate—7/24 serving all comers. In North Carolina, hospitals directly impact 8% of the state’s economy. Understandably, they pay attention to Exec Comp! The Treasurers Report should prompt discussion about the role of hospitals in the state and their future. It’s an incomplete picture. “

Paul Keckley, Feb. 20, 2023