Tag: John Karasinski

Media Recap: Food Insecurity & Rural Healthcare Solutions

MHA In The News
Brian Peters

Brian PetersThe MHA received media coverage the week of Jan. 23 regarding the issue of food insecurity, rural healthcare solutions and hospital viability.

The MHA contributed a combined total of $45,000 toward the 2022 Michigan Harvest Gathering during the campaign’s luncheon Jan. 25 to help address food insecurity in the state. The Michigan Business Network published the press release issued by the MHA while MHA CEO Brian Peters appeared on Food First, a weekly WJR radio show presented by the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Farm Bureau Insurance. Peters discussed the MHA’s title sponsorship of the 2022 Michigan Harvest Gathering with co-hosts Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, as well as the role food insecurity plays as a social determinant of health.

Peters and several MHA members also appeared in a Becker’s Hospital Review story published Jan. 25 sharing ideas on how to save rural healthcare.

“I am a big believer in technology as a game-changer for the future of healthcare delivery,” said Peters. “In particular, it can serve as a force multiplier in the realm of healthcare staffing. When combined with the significant traction gained by telehealth since the start of the pandemic, this means that technology — if thoughtfully deployed — can help to stabilize the rural health infrastructure. One imperative: we need regulatory and reimbursement policies that incentivize and support this concept.

In addition, Peters joined the Paul W. Smith “Live from Lansing” show Jan. 26 as part of its annual coverage of legislative and policy issues facing the state the morning after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address.

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

Peters Featured on Paul W. Smith Live from Lansing Broadcast

Member News
MHA CEO Brian Peters appeared on Detroit’s WJR News Talk Radio’s Paul W. Smith “Live from Lansing” show.

MHA CEO Brian Peters appeared on Detroit’s WJR News Talk Radio’s Paul W. Smith “Live from Lansing” show Jan. 26 as part of its annual coverage of legislative and policy issues facing the state the morning after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address. The MHA sponsored the program, with the broadcast hosted at downtown Lansing’s Courtyard by Marriott.

As part of the program lineup, Smith spoke with Peters about the state of hospitals and the many challenges they face, including workforce sustainability, behavioral health and financial viability. Other notable interviewees during the event included Whitmer; Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

The State of the State address the previous evening primarily focused on lowering costs for Michigan residents, economic development, expanding education opportunities and public safety and gun violence prevention. One specific item mentioned by Whitmer relevant to hospitals is the intention to reduce the age to qualify for Michigan Reconnect from 25 years old to 21. Doing so would increase the number of individuals eligible to pursue scholarships to qualify for scholarships to pursue high-demand healthcare credentials.

As a sponsor of the event, the MHA developed a 60-second message for airing before and during the broadcast. For more information, contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: Economic Health of Hospitals

MHA In The News
Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage during the weeks of Dec. 19, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 on financial and staffing challenges impacting hospitals as well as the impact of a tripledemic of respiratory illnesses this winter.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that includes interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Monday, Jan. 2

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Thursday, Dec. 22

Monday, Dec. 19

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

Appel Discusses REHs with WOOD TV8

MHA In The News
MHA EVP Laura Appel speaks with WOOD TV8.
MHA EVP Laura Appel speaks with WOOD TV8.
MHA EVP Laura Appel speaks with WOOD TV8.

WOOD TV8 published a story Dec. 12 on the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 183, which includes language allowing rural emergency hospital (REH) licensure in Michigan. The bill passed Dec. 6 with overwhelming support in both the State House and Senate following collaboration between the MHA, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Whitmer administration on making the necessary changes in state statute to allow for the new federal designation.

Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, spoke with WOOD TV8 on the bill and the challenges rural hospitals face which led to the creation of the federal REH designation. Appel discussed the high fixed costs associated with maintaining inpatient services and the financial reimbursement benefits offered to REHs.

“If your population goes down, your fixed costs don’t go down, but Medicare is going to continue to help you with those,” said Appel. “Regardless of where you are, if you’re a hospital in financial stress or if you’re a hospital that doesn’t want to become financially stressed … you have all of those things working in your favor.”

The MHA also received mentions in stories published Dec. 15, including one from Michigan Radio on the surge of respiratory illnesses being treated by Michigan’s pediatric hospitals and from Bridge on the increase of flu-related hospitalizations in the state.

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

Media Recap: Pediatric RSV Surge

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare
Laura Appel

Laura AppelThe MHA received media coverage during the weeks of Nov. 21 and 28 on the capacity status of hospital pediatric units amid the surge of hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses driven by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The Detroit Free Press published an article Nov. 23 on the status of hospitals throughout the state caring for a large number of children and requests made by hospitals to add additional licensed beds. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, is quoted in the story on how staffing challenges continue to hamper hospitals, even for those with declining pediatric patient census.

“It’s worth noting that even where hospitalizations have receded, many of our members continue to face severe space and staffing challenges,” said Appel

Additional stories were published by The Detroit News, The Center Square and Chief Healthcare Executive.

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

Media Recap: Hospital Financial Viability

Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare
Laura Appel

Laura AppelThe MHA received media coverage during the week of Nov. 14 on financial and staffing challenges impacting hospitals in Michigan and the potential for further state funding support.

The Detroit Free Press published an article Nov. 14 that reviewed the factors influencing declining financial performance, including lower patient volume, increased supply costs, higher workforce expenses and stagnant reimbursement. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, is quoted throughout the story. Appel expressed appreciation for the one-time $225 million state grant for the recruitment, retention and training of healthcare workers and discussed the increased rates for staffing agencies.

“We are immensely grateful for that,” said Appel. “But the $225 million (is) a one-time payment that really only offsets a small amount of what we’re paying in 2022 … and none of it is designed to help us in 2023.”

Additional stories were published by Crain’s Detroit Business and The Detroit News.

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

MHA Monday Report Nov. 7, 2022

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

MHA Board of Trustees Advances Strategic Action Plan, Affirms Policy Panel Legislative Recommendations

The MHA Board of Trustees began their Nov. 2 meeting with a review of key communication strategies to assist hospitals and health systems to “tell their stories” about the unprecedented financial and workforce challenges they currently face and how they are adapting to meet the critical healthcare and economic development needs of their communities …

Logo for MI Vote Matters, Tuesday Nov. 8Healthcare Community Urged to Vote in Nov. 8 General Election

The MHA encourages its staff, members and other stakeholders in the healthcare community to vote in the state’s general election Nov. 8.- Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. …

Parents Urged to Take Preventive Measures as Pediatric Beds Fill Up

Michigan children’s hospitals and pediatric healthcare leaders are raising awareness about a pediatric hospital bed shortage and urging the public to help prevent respiratory illnesses, which are rapidly spreading in the form of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza …

CMS Releases Final Rule to Update OPPS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) effective Jan. 1, 2023 …

Provider Enrollment Requirements Reinstated Effective Dec. 1, 2022

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued MMP 22-38 COVID-19 Response: Termination of Bulletin MSA 20-28, which reinstates provider enrollment requirements …

CMS Releases Final to Update Medicare PPS Effective 2023

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) effective Jan. 1, 2023 …

MHA Supports Increased Access to Affordable Post-Secondary Education

The MHA, along with stakeholders across diverse fields, supported record state investment in Michigan’s future workforce. On October 11th, the Governor signed Public Act 212 of 2022 establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and applications starting with students in the high school class of 2023 will now be eligible for increased state financial aid …

CE Credits Available for Unionization and Legal Guidelines Webinar

The webinar Dispelling Misinformation About Unionization and Legal Guidelines 8:30 – 10 a.m. ET Nov. 11 has been approved by HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) for 1.5 hours …

MHA Rounds Report - Brian Peters, MHA CEOMHA CEO Report — Your Vote Matters

At the MHA, we often say that politics is not a spectator sport. It requires continual engagement and relationship building so that when you are in a crisis and need assistance, you have trusted friends you can turn to …

The Keckley ReportPaul Keckley

The Three Blind Spots in Hospital Strategic Plans

“For 40 years, I have facilitated Board Retreats for hospitals, health systems, insurance plans and medical groups. At no time has the level of uncertainty about the future for hospitals been as intense nor the importance of a forward-looking strategic vision and planning been as necessary as now. The issues are complicated: lag indicators about demand, clinical innovations, reimbursement, costs et al are a foreboding backdrop for these discussions. And three issues have surfaced as blind spots in the environmental assessments and deliberations preceding the plan …”

Paul Keckley, Oct 31, 2022

Michigan Harvest GatheringsNews to Know

Many Michigan hospitals are underway with their Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign which runs through Nov. 18. Online donations by hospital employees and community members to the Michigan Harvest Gathering program can be made through the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s website …

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage on the surge of RSV cases across Michigan’s pediatric hospitals during the week of Oct. 31. The coverage included several comments provided to news outlets and the distribution of a press release Nov. 4 to statewide media …

Headline Roundup: RSV Straining Pediatric Hospitals

Member News, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare

The MHA received media coverage on the surge of RSV cases across Michigan’s pediatric hospitals during the week of Oct. 31. The coverage included several comments provided to news outlets and the distribution of a press release Nov. 4 to statewide media.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Sunday, Nov. 6

Friday, Nov. 4

Wednesday, Nov. 2

Monday, Oct. 31

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

Headline Roundup: Week of Sept. 25, 2022

MHA In The News
Laura Appel speaks with WILX.
Laura Appel speaks with WILX.
MHA EVP Laura Appel speaks with WILX News 10.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Wednesday, Sept. 28

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Monday, Sept. 26

Sunday, Sept. 25

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

Headline Roundup: Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan Report

Member News, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare
Brian Peters speaks with the Michigan Business Network

The MHA responded to several media requests the weeks of Aug. 28 and Sept. 5 which focused on the public release of the Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report and other workforce issues.

Brian Peters speaks with the Michigan Business Network
Brian Peters speaks with the Michigan Business Network.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Friday, Sept. 9

Wednesday, Sept. 7

Tuesday, Sept. 6

Sunday, Sept. 4

Sunday, August 28

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