Headline Roundup: Nurse Staffing Committee Hearing Recap

The MHA received media coverage the weeks of Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 regarding a committee hearing on proposed nurse staffing ratio legislation. Additional topics covered include hospital market activity, rural emergency hospitals, behavioral health, the state’s STEMI system and the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades.

The coverage includes quotes from MHA CEO Brian Peters, as well as MHA board member Beth Charlton, president and CEO, Covenant HealthCare; and Doug Dascenzo, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer, Trinity Health Michigan. MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel also appears in an American Hospital Association podcast episode.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, Nov. 16

Friday, Nov. 10

Thursday, Nov. 9

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Tuesday, Nov. 7

Monday, Nov. 6

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

Headline Roundup: Nurse Staffing & Auto No-fault

MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.
MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.
MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 16 regarding auto no-fault legislation passed in the Michigan Senate and nurse staffing ratio legislation.

The coverage is based on interviews conducted with MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, Oct. 19

Wednesday, Oct. 18

Monday, Oct. 16

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

Media Recap: Rural Health & Nurse Staffing Ratios

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 9 on rural healthcare challenges and legislation proposing state mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

Brian PetersThe Detroit Free Press published an article Oct. 12 on the closure of Kelsey Hospital. Included is a quote from MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA data regarding critical access hospitals and rural emergency hospitals. The story describes the close relationship and important impact hospitals have within their communities.

“We have to provide new options … new opportunities,” said Peters. “I think all of us — as residents of this state — want to have access to care, whether we’re in the big city or whether we’re on vacation in northern Michigan, or we’re commuting from point A to point B. You never know when you’re going to need health care and we need to have that infrastructure protected into the future.”

Two op-eds opposing one-size-fits-all nurse staffing ratios were also published. The first appeared in Bridge Michigan from MHA CEO Brian Peters, explaining the MHA’s opposition and the dramatic impact the legislation would have on a patient’s ability to access healthcare services.

Sen. Curt VanderWall speaks to the Legislative Policy Panel in 2019.
Then Sen. Curt VanderWall presents to the MHA Legislative Policy Panel in 2019.

Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) also published op-eds in the Ludington Daily News and Cleburne Times-Review explaining his opposition and the need for nurse staffing solutions that grow the talent pipeline while maintaining the ability to make staffing decisions at the local level.

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

Headline Roundup: Auto No-Fault Legislation & Nurse Staffing

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

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 2 regarding auto no-fault legislation introduced in the Michigan Legislature and nurse staffing ratio legislation.

The coverage is based on interviews conducted with MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Friday, Oct. 6

Thursday, Oct. 5

Tuesday, Oct. 3

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

MHA Hosts Successful Hospitals for Patient Access Advocacy Day

Hospital and nurse leaders from across the state of Michigan during the Hospitals for Patient Access Advocacy Day.

The MHA hosted a successful Hospitals for Patient Access Advocacy Day Sept. 13, with more than 130 hospital and nursing leaders participating. Attendees completed 118 meetings with lawmakers, covering 80% of the Michigan Legislature. The relationships and conversations will prove extremely helpful in opposing legislation that would mandate one-size-fits-all nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for all hospitals in the state.

The MHA also hosted press conference and published a press release in conjunction with the advocacy day, releasing new data that illustrates strong public opposition to legislation proposing such a legislative mandate and hospital survey data on the severe impact of the legislation on access to care for Michiganders. The press event resulted in a number of news stories being published throughout the state from outlets including Becker’s Hospital Review, Detroit Free Press, Gongwer, MIRS, Michigan’s Big Show, WILX, WWMT, WJR 760 and WILS 1320.

An infographic that shares the new data and contextualizes the impact to healthcare access for Michiganders was also shared with lawmakers and media. Additional member communications tools are available upon request. Photos from the event can be found on the MHA Facebook page.

The MHA will continue to push back on this one-size-fits-all mandate and educate lawmakers on the harmful impact it could have on patient access to healthcare.

Members with any questions related to the legislation and advocacy efforts may contact Adam Carlson or Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA. Members with questions regarding media or requesting additional communications tools should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: Prescription Drug Affordability & Healthcare Workforce

MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks with WOOD TV.
MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks with WOOD TV.
MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks with WOOD TV.

The MHA received media coverage the weeks of August 28 and Sept. 4 regarding prescription drug affordability, the healthcare workforce and COVID-19.

MHA CEO Brian Peters spoke with a variety of news outlets regarding these topics.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, Sept. 7

Wednesday, Sept. 6

Wednesday, August 30

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

Media Recap: MHA Joins Health Officials to Stress Importance of Immunizations

The MHA received media coverage the week of Aug. 14 following a press conference Aug. 17 where Michigan health officials urged families to get kids up-to-date on routine vaccines ahead of the new school year.

Ruthanne Sudderth speaks on vaccination importance during the press conference. 

Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at the MHA, joined representatives from the MHA, I Vaccinate, the Franny Strong Foundation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Ascension Michigan and Pontiac Middle School to encourage families get the safe and effective vaccines that are available to help protect children and the community. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Saturday, Aug. 19

Friday, Aug. 18

Thursday, Aug. 17

Tuesday, Aug. 15

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

Headline Roundup: Andary No-Fault Decision

Brian Peters

Brian PetersThe MHA received media coverage the week of July 31 regarding Michigan Supreme Court decision in Andary v. USAA, which the MHA published a media statement on following the opinion release. The MHA is also mentioned in several stories regarding price transparency and healthcare workforce shortages.

MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in multiple stories. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, August 3

Wednesday, August 2

Monday, July 31

Friday, July 28

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

Headline Roundup: Healthy Michigan Plan & Healthcare Workforce

Brian Peters

Brian PetersThe MHA received media coverage the week of July 17 regarding the healthcare workforce, federal legislation to address drug shortages and bills signed by Gov. Whitmer eliminating burdensome provisions in the Healthy Michigan Plan and making changes to help ensure the program’s long-term success.

MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in multiple stories. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, June 20

Wednesday, July 19

Tuesday, July 18

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

Headline Roundup: Hospital Staffing Shortages

Laura Appel speaks with WXYZ Detroit on cancer drug shortages.
Laura Appel speaks with WXYZ Detroit on cancer drug shortages.
Laura Appel speaks with WXYZ Detroit on cancer drug shortages.

The MHA received media coverage the week of June 19 regarding mandated nurse staffing ratios, legislation to address violence against healthcare workers and chemotherapy drug shortages.

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

Below is a collection of headline from around the state.

Sunday, June 25

Thursday, June 22

Wednesday, June 21

Tuesday, June 20

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