Tag: Kevin Hertel

Hospital Nurses Ensure Healthcare Stays Top of Mind for State Legislators

Member News

The Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership (MONL) and the American Nurses Association of Michigan (ANA-MI) hosted more than 75 nurses from across the state for an advocacy day at the Michigan State Capitol on Sept. 17.

Nurses from across the state, including many from MHA member hospitals, attended the advocacy day and spoke with lawmakers about protecting healthcare workers from violence, investing in hospitals and healthcare, and nurses’ voices are included when decisions are being made at the state legislative level.

The day featured presentations on healthcare priorities from both Senate Health Policy Chair Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) and House Health Policy Chair Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington). In addition, MONL and ANA-MI members heard from Representatives Natalie Price (D-Berkley) and Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar) on addressing workplace safety for healthcare workers. Throughout the day, MONL and ANA-MI leaders met with nearly 45 lawmakers and staff to share legislative and budget priorities.

The MHA recognizes the nurses from member hospitals, as well as lawmakers and legislative staff, who participated in discussions, emphasizing the essential role of hospitals and the urgent need to pass a state budget that prioritizes healthcare before the Sept. 30 deadline.

Members with any questions related to legislation and advocacy efforts may contact the advocacy team at the MHA.

Medical Residents Highlight Workforce Needs During 2025 GME Capitol Day

Member News
Trinity physician residents pictured in the Anderson House Office Building.
Trinity Health physician residents pictured in the Anderson House Office Building.

The MHA Graduate Medical Education (GME) Capitol Day welcomed more than 40 physician residents from a dozen member hospitals to the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center offices May 21 for a day of meetings with members of the Michigan Legislature and their staffs. Each group of residents met with a combination of lawmakers and legislative staff throughout the day, with conversations focusing on the importance of graduate medical education, physician residents in the healthcare continuum and Michigan’s future physician healthcare workforce talent pipeline. Residents also urged legislators to support bipartisan bills that protects healthcare workers from violence, to accompany Public Acts 271 and 272 of 2023.

Meetings were held in the Michigan Capitol, the Anderson House Office Building and the Senate Binsfeld Office Building.

Participating lawmaker offices included:

  • Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), Chair, Health Policy Committee
  • Representative Rachelle Smit (R-Martin), Speaker Pro Tempore
  • Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Senate Majority Floor Leader
  • Representative Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.), Chair, Regulatory Reform Committee

Residents used and shared with lawmakers an infographic that provides facts regarding GME.

Members with questions on GME and state legislation related to the healthcare workforce may contact Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 29, 2024

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

Senate Health Policy Chair Presents to Legislative Policy Panel

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met Jan. 24 to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. The meeting was highlighted by a presentation from Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-Saint …

Register for the MHA Behavioral Health Learning Series

The MHA is hosting a five-part webinar series to provide hospital staff with a deeper understanding of Michigan’s behavioral health system and the hospital’s role in connecting patients with care. These webinars are part of …

MHA CEO Brian Peters on JR' Morning with Guy Gordon, Jamie Edmonds and LLoyd Jackson.

Peters Featured on WJR Live from Lansing Broadcast

MHA CEO Brian Peters appeared on Detroit’s WJR 760 AM’s JR’ Morning with Guy Gordon, Jamie Edmonds, and Lloyd Jackson’s “Live from Lansing” broadcast Jan. 25 as part of the station’s annual coverage of legislative …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Outlines the Board’s Role in Safety and Workforce

The January edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), includes articles on quality, safety and workforce. As healthcare becomes more complex, boards struggle to effectively oversee quality, and the …

Three Key Takeaways from Michigan’s Social Determinants of Health Summit

In my role as Maternal Infant Health Policy Specialist at the MHA, one of my main goals has been to utilize my expertise to inspire health equity for marginalized birthing persons and their children and to build relationships that strengthen my impact and purpose. Attending the second annual …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyThe Holy War between Health Insurers and Hospitals: Intensifying but No End in Sight

“Last Wednesday, FTI released its year-end 2023 summary of insurer-hospital disputes: it reported a 69% increase from 2022 in conflicts where formal negotiations broke down reached based on media coverage in 34 states. The majority of the 86 instances involved Medicare Advantage coverage or reimbursement issues and referral relationships with doctors and hospitals were disrupted, at least temporarily. …

The challenges facing the health system—accessibility, affordability, effectiveness– cut across every sector. They’ll not be solved by one acting alone. And sacred cows protected by both will need to be slaughtered to create the better new normal desired by a significant majority of taxpayers and elected officials. …”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 22, 2024