Michigan Radio published a story Aug. 20 about the large number of pediatric patients with serious mental health issues boarding in hospital emergency departments (EDs). MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel was interviewed for the story, explaining how a lack of available pediatric placements in the state lead to the large number of children waiting in EDs.
The story also mentions $50 million in state funding to create pediatric residential treatment facilities, while also mentioning the need for the state to provide appropriate treatment and interventions to prevent children from needing to seek care at a hospital.
“Being in an ED for days at a time if not months creates more problems than they came in with,” said Appel. “Every large hospital system in Michigan has a story about a child who has been in their care for weeks, months. And when I say months I mean 200 days, 300 days, because it’s so hard to place kids with such complex needs.”
The Michigan Supreme Court issued an opinion July 31 upholding the Michigan Court of Appeals’ decision that changes to the auto no-fault law passed in 2019 on attendant care and other lifetime benefits cannot be applied to individuals injured before the law went into effect.
This is a positive decision for these auto accident survivors and their families, as those injured prior to the reforms can receive the lifetime benefits they were promised.
The MHA issued a media statement the morning of the decision expressing the importance of this decision for auto accident survivors and their access to needed healthcare services. The MHA has been in contact with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to initiate efforts on how to determine and bill for the appropriate reimbursement which results from this court ruling. DIFS is not prepared to issue any guidance yet, but the MHA will again push for clear direction to both insurers and hospitals for reimbursement rates and practices. The MHA will also pursue the previously introduced legislative reforms in House Bill 4884 to expand access to care for patients.
Members with questions may contact Laura Appel at the MHA.
The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.
State Representative Julie Rogers
On episode 30, State Representative Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo)and Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy at the MHA, discuss current health policy priorities impacting Michigan hospitals, patients and communities. The episode is available to steam on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.
Rep. Rogers is serving her second term representing Michigan’s 41st House District, which includes portions of Kalamazoo, Portage and Comstock township. She’s a practicing physical therapist and a champion of public health, previously serving on the National Association of Counties Health Steering Committee for seven years and now as chair of House Committee on Health Policy. Rogers also serves as a member of many committees within the house and co-chairs the Biosciences Legislative Caucus.
Throughout the episode, Rogers and Appel cover the impact health policy has had on issues like Michigan’s Medicaid work requirements within the Healthy Michigan Plan, preventative health, auto no-fault, ongoing workforce shortages, and more.
“We have about 208,000 people who work in our hospitals,” notes Appel. “We need another 27,000 more…nearly 8,500 nurses. We’re short over 4,000 technicians – the people who help out in the pharmacy, lab technicians, patient care techs – we also need people who contribute to operations.”
Those interested in learning more about how to get involved in healthcare advocacy or how to engage with local lawmakers on issues such as nurse staffing, 340B, auto no-fault, etc. can visit the issues and advocacy webpage and/or the MHA Legislative Action Center. Those looking to pursue a career in healthcare are encouraged to visit the Hospital Careers website.
The MiCare Champion Cast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan.
Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
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.
Sam Watson, senior vice president, field engagement, spoke with Bridge June 12 about COVID-19.
The MHA received media coverage the week of June 12 regarding prescription drug costs, COVID-19 and behavioral health.
MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters, Executive Vice President Laura Appel, Senior Vice President Sam Watson and Senior Director Elizabeth Kutter.
Below is a collection of headline from around the state.
Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK-TV) published a story June 8 on the nationwide shortage of two critical chemotherapy medications. The two drugs, carboplatin and cisplatin, are used to treat several types of cancer, including bladder, lung, ovarian and testicular cancers. The shortage is widespread across the country, impacting hospitals throughout all regions of Michigan.
Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, spoke with Fox 2 Detroit about initial manufacturing delays, how the shortage is impacting Michigan hospitals and what’s being done in response.
“Our congressional delegation who has reached out to the FDA to ask them to do whatever they can,” said Appel. “The FDA is investigating what they can do to suspend regulations on importation, so that they can bring the drug in from Europe or other places…they [hospitals] are managing on a daily basis how to try to avoid any inappropriate delay in care.”
The shortage of cisplatin was originally reported to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Feb. 10, 2023, while carboplatin was reported April 28, 2023.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
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.
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.
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.
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.
