Tag: Lauren LaPine

Direct Care and Behavioral Health Workforce Discussion Groups

Member News

Public Sector Consultants and Health Management Associates are partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to gather the perspectives of people impacted by the direct care worker (DCW) and behavioral health workforce shortages. Sessions will begin June 6 focusing on identifying unique regional challenges and considering possible solutions to address those challenges.

Feedback from stakeholders, caregivers and patients is welcomed. Ultimately, information gathered at these sessions will be shared with policymakers to develop solutions, which could include enhancing pay, developing career pathways, prioritizing family supports or implementing innovative training and retention practices.

MHA members are encouraged to register for the virtual sessions. Please note that discussion group sessions will be limited to 20 participants.

  • Direct Care Worker Discussion Group – Tuesday, June 6, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  • Behavioral Health Discussion Group – Wednesday, June 7, 3:30 – 5 p.m.
  • Consumer Discussion Group – Thursday, June 8, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
  • Statewide Feedback Session – Wednesday, June 14, 2 – 4 p.m.

Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

PRTF Proposed Policy Open for Public Comment

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) released a proposed policy May 30 for public comment related to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). This policy will create a chapter in the Medicaid Provider Manual specific to PRTF service providers, outlining a process for establishing and operating PRTF facilities in the state of Michigan.

Comments are due to the MDHHS by July 3; however, the policy’s proposed effective date is July 1. To ensure comments are heard, the MHA strongly encourages members to review and comment as soon as possible. The MHA also plans to submit comments and welcomes member feedback to inform the response. Please send any feedback to incorporate into the comment letter to Lauren LaPine no later than Friday, June 9.

Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MDHHS Announces Grant and Scholarship Program for EMS Students

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a request for proposal for emergency medical services (EMS) workforce grants.

This program aims to address the statewide shortage of EMS personnel through scholarships and grants for EMS students. The aim is to continuously expand the workforce development program for individuals training in emergency medical services.

The MDHHS has identified two allowable uses for the funding:

  • Traditional grants, limited to $2,000 per emergency medical technician (EMT) student and $20,000 per paramedic student, to cover costs of tuition and associated fees for training at a Michigan-approved education program.
  • Hourly reimbursement for time spent in EMS training programs at a rate of $15 per hour, up to a maximum of $16,000 per paramedic student or $3,000 per EMT student.

The award period begins Oct. 1, 2023, and ends Sept. 30, 2024. The MDHHS expects to award approximately $1 million in grants, with a maximum of $75,000 for an applicant.

Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS program by 3 p.m. July 7, 2023. A recording of the pre-application conference held May 31 is available to provide instructions on using the EGrAMS system.

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website.

Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

News to Know – May 8, 2023

Member News
  • National Hospital Week 2023 is May 7-13. To align with the American Hospital Association theme #WeAreHealthcare, the MHA will be sharing a series of videos across social media featuring local leaders to demonstrate how the work of Michigan’s hospitals and health systems impacts all communities and industries.
  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) created a series of short videos to help providers and community partners navigate policies impacted by the ending of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Videos are available on eligibility changes for Medicaid and Food Assistance benefits, the PHE Unwind Policy Crosswalk resource and the MDHHS Stakeholder Toolkit. Additional MDHHS resources can be found on the MDHHS COVID-19 PHE 2023 Benefit Changes website. Further information on the ending of the PHE is available on the MHA PHE webpage. Members with questions about PHE resources may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.
  • Registration remains open for the 2023 MHA Annual Membership Meeting, scheduled June 28 through 30 at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.The annual meeting will feature an outstanding lineup of healthcare experts, including Brian Castrucci, DrPH, MA, president and CEO of the deBeaumont Foundation and author of “Talking Health.” Castrucci will speak on defining public health, reframing public health assumptions and bringing data to life through storytelling. Members with questions should email the MHA or call (517-323-3443).
  • Completed 2022 occupational mix surveys must be submitted by acute care hospitals paid under the Medicare prospective payment system to the Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30, 2023. Hospitals are required to complete the survey every three years, with results from the 2022 survey to be used to adjust the Medicare wage index for fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027. Hospitals are encouraged to review their 2019 survey and determine whether there have been payroll changes, new job codes or job descriptions added, etc., to streamline the completion process. It is important to note that contact labor should be included in the various categories of the survey. Resource materials from the educational webinar hosted by the MHA in late January are available upon request. Members with questions should contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

News to Know – May 1, 2023

Member News

The Rural Health Redesign Center and Mathematica are hosting a webinar May 1 from 11 a.m. to noon ET for hospitals interested in the rural emergency hospital (REH) designation. The Rural Health Redesign Center provides no-cost technical assistance to eligible hospitals interested in REH conversion. The webinar will provide an overview of the REH program and the requirements that are important for interested hospitals to consider before converting. Registration for the event is required. Members with questions about the webinar should contact Mathematica. Members with questions about the REH designation in Michigan should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

New State Psychiatric Hospital to Replace Hawthorn Center

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Technology, Management & Budget announced the state will construct a new $325 million psychiatric hospital located at the current site of Hawthorn Center in Northville.

The new facility will provide care for patients currently housed at both Hawthorn Center and Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland. These two facilities, which are among the state’s five inpatient psychiatric hospitals for individuals who have severe mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities, have aging infrastructure driving the new construction.

Staff and patients currently receiving care at Hawthorn Center will be moved to a separate unit at Walter Reuther to allow for the demolition of the current Hawthorn facility until the project’s anticipated completion in 2026.

The new facility will serve all ages with distinct facilities that separates living and programmatic spaces for children and adults while including spaces for administration and food service.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MDHHS Releases Proposed Policy on REH Reimbursement

Member News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released a proposed policy to establish Medicaid reimbursement methodology for hospitals that convert to the new rural emergency hospital (REH) provider type. Critical access hospitals and rural hospitals with 50 or fewer beds are eligible to apply for the Medicare REH designation effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Hospitals that convert to the REH designation are required to update their enrollment and subspeciality with the MDHHS and must end date their inpatient services. Providers must notify the MDHHS via the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System within 35 days of any change to their enrollment information.

The MDHHS will reimburse REHs using existing Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) methodology. Critical access hospitals that convert to the REH designation will continue being paid based on the higher OPPS payment factor while others will be paid based on their current payment factor. The MDHHS updates the outpatient payment factors annually effective Jan. 1 to maintain budget neutrality following the Medicare update.

Hospitals are encouraged to review existing supplemental payment program policy to evaluate the potential impact. While the proposed policy does not provide specifics, the MHA anticipates that REHs will continue to receive outpatient Medicaid Access to Care Initiative and Hospital Rate Adjustment payments. The MHA will ask the MDHHS to clarify how the REH conversion will impact supplemental payment programs in the final policy. Hospitals are encouraged to review the proposed policy and submit comments to the MDHHS by May 10.

Members that are evaluating REH conversion are encouraged to contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA and  members with questions regarding the proposed reimbursement policy should contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report April 3, 2023

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingMichigan Joins Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

Michigan officially joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact March 29, creating an expedited pathway to licensure for psychologists who wish to practice telemedicine services across state lines. To date, 36 states are authorized to join …

Student Debt Relief Offered to Behavioral Health Providers

The MI Kids Now Loan Repayment Program will offer educational loan repayment for eligible behavioral health medical providers in Michigan. The program is available to behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, …

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 …

Required Occupational Survey Due June 30

Completed 2022 occupational mix surveys must be submitted by hospitals to the Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30, 2023. Hospitals are required to complete the survey every three years, with results from the 2022 survey …

MHA Rounds Report - Brian Peters, MHA CEOMHA CEO Report — A Healthy Michigan is an Insured Michigan

The United States celebrated last month the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Simply put, when then-President Obama signed the legislation March 23, 2010, it was one of the most monumental healthcare policy changes in our lifetime. …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyNot for Profit Health Systems are Soft Targets: Here’s Why

“There are no easy answers for not-for-profit hospitals/heath systems. The issue is about more than messaging and PR. It’s about more than Medicare reimbursement (7.5% below cost), protecting programs like 340B, keeping tax exemptions and maintaining barriers against physician-owned hospitals. The issue is NOT about operating income vs. investment income: in every business, both are essential and in each, economic cycles impact gains/losses. Each of these is important but only band-aids on an open wound in U.S. healthcare.

Near-term (the next 2 years), opportunities for not-for-profit hospitals involve administrative simplification to reduce costs and improve the efficiencies and effectiveness of the workforce. Clinical documentation using ChatGPT/Bard-like tools can have a massive positive impact—that’s just a start. Advocacy, public education and Board preparedness require bigger investments of time and resources. But that’s true for every hospital, regardless of ownership. These are table stakes to stay afloat. …”

Paul Keckley, March 27, 2023

News to Know

  • Registration is now open for the MHA Keystone Center Safe Patient Handling Conference.
  • The MHA is issuing a request for proposal for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services.
  • The MHA will host an in-person Human Resources Member Forum at the MHA Headquarters in Okemos from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 26, with a virtual option available as well.
  • The Root Cause Coalition is accepting requests for proposals to present at the 8th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health Dec. 3-5 in Kansas City.

Student Debt Relief Offered to Behavioral Health Providers

Member News

The MI Kids Now Loan Repayment Program will offer educational loan repayment for eligible behavioral health medical providers in Michigan. The program is available to behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, case managers and certified behavioral analysts.

In an effort to recruit and retain behavioral health workers in Michigan, the program will assist those selected with up to $300,000 to repay educational debt over a period of up to 10 years. Providing debt relief to those who serve children is the main priority for the loan repayment program, however, the program is open to providers of services to both children and adults.

Those eligible must provide in-person, outpatient behavioral health services through eligible non-profit practice sites, including public school-based systems and community mental health organizations. Eligible providers will be selected to enter into consecutive two-year agreements.

The MI Kids Now Loan Repayment Program application cycle is June 12 – June 23. Behavioral health providers are encouraged to review the materials in advance and submit applications when the cycle begins.

Detailed information regarding eligibility, selection criteria and application instructions can be found on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) website. Providers who have questions or need more information can email Reanna Kathawa with MDHHS.

Members with further questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report March 27, 2023

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingMHA-supported Bills See Action Before Break

The Michigan House of Representatives acted on a pair of MHA-supported bills during the week of March 20. In the House Health Policy Committee, members voted to report legislation to strengthen Michigan’s Healthy Michigan statute. …

Speakers of the Protect Our Care press conference.MHA Celebrates ACA Anniversary with Congresswoman Slotkin

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel joined U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and other healthcare advocates March 23 as part of a virtual press conference organized by Protect Our Care to celebrate the 13th anniversary of …

MHA, Industry Leaders Gather at Trinity Health to Discuss Food Insecurity

As individuals and families across the state and country continue to face food insecurity, Michigan’s hospitals, health systems and community leaders are engaged in creating collaborative solutions. MHA CEO Brian Peters joined fellow food security …

Expanding Advocacy Roots with the Next Generation

The MHA collaborated with Wayne State University for the first-ever student-led advocacy day March 22. Science Policy Network-Detroit is a student organization at Wayne State that aims to advocate for science-related issues in …

March 30 Webinar Outlines Considerations for the End of the Public Health Emergency

The Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 public health emergency expires May 11, 2023, which may significantly decrease the flexibility providers have become accustomed to. The MHA will host The End of the …

Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination Webinar Recording Available

The Michigan Medicaid program has grown to nearly 3.2 million Michiganders, an increase of more than 700,000 when compared to pre-pandemic levels, due to federal statutory limitations on states’ abilities to remove people from the …

MHA Webinar Explores PACE Program Partnerships

With the closure of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, hospitals and health systems need options to care for seniors. Dually eligible frail seniors are one of the most complex cohorts with multiple co-morbidities, frequent …

Applications Open for Excellence in Governance Fellowship, Prepares Trustees to Lead

The MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship is now available to healthcare board members looking for innovative, effective ways to lead their organizations as hospitals and health systems navigate financial strain and labor challenges. Applications are …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyAffordable Care Act 2.0: New Trends and Issues, New Urgency

“Thursday marks the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act– perhaps the most consequential healthcare legislation since LBJ’s passage of the Medicare Act in 1965. Except in healthcare circles, it will probably go unnoticed. …

Complicating matters, the political environment today is more complicated than in 2010 when the ACA became law. The economic environment is more challenging: the pandemic, inflation and economic downturn have taken their toll. Intramural tensions in key sectors have spiked as each fights for control and autonomy i.e. primary care vs. specialty medicine, investor-owned vs. not-for-profit hospitals, retail medicine & virtual vs. office-based services, carve-outs, direct contracting et al . Consolidation has widened capabilities and resources distancing big organizations from others. Today’s media attention to healthcare is more sophisticated. Employers are more frustrated. And the public’s confidence in the health system is at an all-time low. …“

Paul Keckley, March 19, 2023

News to Know

  • Registration is now open for the MHA Keystone Center Safe Patient Handling Conference.
  • The MHA is issuing a request for proposal for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services.
  • The MHA Health Foundation will host a four-part webinar series MHA Board Governance Education 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.
  • The MHA will host an in-person Human Resources Member Forumat the MHA Headquarters in Okemos from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 26, with a virtual option available as well.
  • The Root Cause Coalition is accepting requests for proposals to present at the 8th Annual National Summit on the Social Determinants of Health Dec. 3-5 in Kansas City.