Tag: Lucy Ciaramitaro

MHA Monday Report June 22, 2026

Monday Report, Member News

House Speaker Introduces Hospital Cost Review Board and New Health Tax

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) announced legislation June 18 that would establish a hospital cost review board and create new health facility consolidation measures. The MHA believes these proposals would severely harm hospitals, …

House Health Policy Hears Testimony on Behavioral Health Transport Legislation

Legislation addressing behavioral health transport received testimony in the House Health Policy Committee during the week of June 15, while other key healthcare bills advanced in the legislature. House Bills 5943–5944, sponsored by Reps. …

Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Data Reporting Due July 31

The Protecting Access to Medicare Act reformed the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule by establishing a single national fee schedule based on private-market data from applicable laboratories serving Medicare beneficiaries, including hospital outreach, …

Michigan Hospital Leaders Discuss Key Healthcare Issues at Mackinac Policy Conference

Healthcare leaders from across the state joined Rich Helppie, host of The Common Bridge Podcast, May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss key healthcare issues impacting Michigan hospitals and the communities they serve. …

MHA Releases Updated Medicaid and Medicare Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment using May 2026 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population, along with the distribution of beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service …

June 26 Application Deadline: Excellence in Governance Fellowship

Applications for the 2026–27 MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship are due June 26. The fellowship helps hospital board members strengthen their expertise and leadership skills to enhance their impact within their organizations. Trustees from small …

MDHHS Launches Michigan Psychiatric Bed Registry Dashboard

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently launched the Michigan Psychiatric Bed Registry Dashboard, a statewide tool designed to help authorized users identify available inpatient psychiatric beds and support timely placement for …

The ‘Why’ Behind Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions

When a hospital announces a merger or acquisition, the story behind the decision is rarely as simple or straightforward as a single headline may sound. It’s often a very deliberate process that involves months of rigorous research and financial analysis, and more than anything, rooted in what’s best for the communities a hospital serves. Rural hospitals across Michigan face …

Hospitals Help: MyMichigan Health, YMCA Summer Camp Gives Kids a Closer Look at Healthcare

The YMCA of Saginaw is giving local kids a front-row seat to the world of healthcare this summer thanks to a partnership with MyMichigan Health. The Health Careers Summer Camp will run daily from June …

Michigan Hospitals, Always caring, always advancing.

The Keckley Report

‘Corporate Health Insurers’: Will the Gambit Work?

“Last week, the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare released survey results about escalating health costs placing blame squarely on ‘corporate health insurers’. The American Hospital Association, a founding member of the Coalition, reported “A survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, found that 47% of voters believe corporate health insurers are the primary driver of rising healthcare costs, followed by the federal government at 36% and drug companies at 34%.” (AHA June 13, 2026). …

The Coalition’s survey is notable in its specific attention to “corporate insurers” and its timing: Congress and CMS are putting final touches on the FY27 federal budget, states are managing cuts to Medicaid and new work requirements and campaign 2026 looms.

Every hospital and insurer—whether not for profit or investor owned, independent or affiliated, large or small—is impacted by growing hostility toward corporatization in healthcare. How organizations respond will determine the ultimate transformation of the system.”

Paul Keckley, June 14, 2026

News to Know

The MHA and Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare will host the webinar, “Maximizing Every Dollar: Using AI and Data to Strategically Plan Your Workforce and Eliminate Administrative Barriers” from 11 a.m. to noon ET July 15.

MHA in the News

Lauren LaPine-Ray, vice president, policy & rural health, MHA, and executive director, MHA Center of Rural Excellence, spoke with Crain’s Detroit Business following the June 16 closure announcement for Sturgis Hospital. LaPine-Ray highlighted the significant …

Hospitals Help: MyMichigan Health, YMCA Summer Camp Gives Kids a Closer Look at Healthcare

Hospitals Help, Member News

The YMCA of Saginaw is giving local kids a front-row seat to the world of healthcare this summer thanks to a partnership with MyMichigan Health.

The Health Careers Summer Camp will run daily from June 22-26 at the YMCA of Saginaw, open to kids ages 11-14. It invites participants to step into the shoes of doctors, nurses or EMTs to learn basic first aid skills and other hands-on skills. Campers will also have the opportunity to meet Michigan healthcare professionals and interact with medical equipment.

For many children, this may be their first introduction to the day-to-day realities of a hospital.

“Working in healthcare is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career paths, but kids often don’t have an opportunity to explore it until later in their education,” said Mike Erickson, market president, MyMichigan Medical Centers in Alpena, Saginaw, Standish, Tawas and Towne Centre. “Our goal is to give local residents a summer experience that could spark a lifelong passion for helping others.”

The partnership between YMCA and MyMichigan Health was formed to build awareness of hospital careers and expose younger generations across the region to healthcare. The camp’s curriculum focuses on the everyday work of healthcare professionals and the role they play in caring for people.

The opportunity for a hands-on learning experience is invaluable for children of this age and is often difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom setting. With real healthcare workers on site, kids can ask questions about the profession they might not otherwise get to ask: What does a typical day look like? What are the best and hardest parts of the job? What made you want to work in healthcare in the first place? What advice do you have for someone their age?

Health systems across Michigan continue to navigate workforce shortages, particularly with nursing and emergency services. By introducing kids to the healthcare field at an early age, MyMichigan hopes to plant the seeds for future interest in nursing, EMS, operations and other in-demand roles. With more than a million healthcare and health system positions available throughout Michigan, this camp highlights the rewarding career paths available at hospitals for the younger generation.

Families interested in registering their camper for the Health Careers Summer Camp can contact the YMCA of Saginaw directly or visit its website for full details. Full-facility members of the YMCA qualify for a discounted price. Registration for both full facility members and nonmembers closes on June 22.

To learn about other stories of innovation advancing care across Michigan, visit www.mihospitals.org. To read more positive hospital stories, check out more Hospitals Help webpage. Members with questions may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 15, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Behavioral Health Screening Legislation Advances

The House Health Policy Committee advanced legislation addressing preadmission screening assessments for behavioral health patients, as other healthcare bills advanced in the legislature during the week of June 8. The House Health Policy Committee voted …

Michigan Hospital Leaders Discuss Key Healthcare Issues at Mackinac Policy Conference

Healthcare leaders from across the state joined Rich Helppie, host of The Common Bridge Podcast, May 27 at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss key healthcare issues impacting Michigan hospitals and the communities they …

MHA EventsMichigan for Vaccines Launches Statewide Coalition

The MHA hosted the launch of Michigan for Vaccines May 10 at the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center. The coalition was created to strengthen Michigan’s commitment to evidence-based vaccine recommendations. It brings together healthcare organizations and other …

Bipartisan Policy Center to Host Webinar on Rural Health Transformation Program

The Bipartisan Policy Center will host a webinar June 30 from 11 a.m. to noon EDT on how states are leveraging funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen rural healthcare delivery through …

Advancing Community Health Requires Whole-Person Care

In my years at the bedside and now as a nurse leader in Northern Michigan, I’ve witnessed healthcare at its most complex and its most human. I’ve worked across rural communities where healthcare access isn’t a given. …

Hospitals Help: UM Health-Sparrow Mobile Clinic Bridges Care Gaps

Directly fulfilling its mission to bridge healthcare gaps, the University of Michigan (UM) Health-Sparrow Mobile Health Clinic delivers critical, no-cost medical services directly to communities in need across Mid-Michigan. The 40-foot RV is handicap accessible …

Michigan Hospitals, Always caring, always advancing.

The Keckley Report

The Good, Bad and Ugly in Healthcare all in One Week

“Summer is here and its first week is in the books. Like politics, the economy and life in general, it brought the good, bad and ugly attention to healthcare in the U.S. …

But the bad and ugly news about healthcare seems to dominate media coverage, especially in social media where fact-checking is often shortcut.

For me, the highlight of the week was AHA’s statement committing itself to the pursuit affordability across the system by marshalling its peers to create meaningful solutions. Sign me up. Collaboration is the starting point. Transparency in its deliberations will be necessary to building trust in this process. Inclusion of all proposed solutions subjected to objective review will be its necessary start.  And timing is key: election season tends to distort messaging and draw critics. The urgency of direction is no less key: ideally, meaningful direction and substantive recommendations should follow soon after but be independent of Campaign 2026 results in state and federal elections.”

Paul Keckley, June 7, 2026

News to Know

MHA Endorsed Business Partner CorroHealth is hosting the webinar Root Cause to Revenue: Winning the Battle Against DRG Downgrades July 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.

MHA in the News

MHA CEO Brian Peters recently appeared in an AARP-sponsored segment that aired in the Grand Rapids and Lansing markets to discuss the importance of Medicaid for Michigan residents. Peters highlighted concerns that changes outlined in …

Hospitals Help: UM Health-Sparrow Mobile Clinic Bridges Care Gaps

Hospitals Help, Member News
The 40-foot RV is handicap accessible and equipped with two patient exam rooms, a bathroom, refrigerator and two workstations.

Directly fulfilling its mission to bridge healthcare gaps, the University of Michigan (UM) Health-Sparrow Mobile Health Clinic delivers critical, no-cost medical services directly to communities in need across Mid-Michigan.

The 40-foot RV is handicap accessible and equipped with two patient exam rooms, a bathroom, refrigerator and two workstations. Medical teams provide a wide range of services, including wellness exams, sports physicals, vaccinations and medical and financial resource guidance. The clinic has been instrumental in uncovering serious, dormant conditions and enabling early, lifesaving interventions for conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

“This isn’t a convenience; it’s a necessity for thousands in our community,” said Ann Marie Creed, president, UM Health-Sparrow Lansing. “Our mission is clear: to find the gaps in healthcare and fill them. This clinic is a direct response to the critical needs of all our neighbors, ensuring they are not forgotten.”

The medical unit is designed to reach those who need it most, accepting deployment requests from community organizations and traveling to locations including homeless shelters, senior housing complexes, community centers and medical deserts on a rotating schedule. The program specifically targets populations facing barriers to care, including low-income residents, those uninsured and those in isolated, rural areas.

Funded entirely through philanthropic support, including the Women Working Wonders Mobile Health Endowment, the clinic provides all its comprehensive services free of charge, regardless of a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay. This fundamental commitment removes the primary financial obstacles that often prevent individuals from seeking care. The clinic operates year-round, with future expansion plans focused on broadening its impact.

To read more positive hospital stories, check out more Hospitals Help webpage and the 2025 Community Impact Report. Members with questions may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 8, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

House Judiciary Hears Testimony on Violence Against Healthcare Workers Legislation

Legislation addressing violence against healthcare workers heard testimony in the House Judiciary Committee during the week of June 1, while other MHA-backed bills saw action in the legislature. House Bills 4532–4534, which aim to …

MDHHS Finalizes Specialty Behavioral Health Services Location Policy

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently finalized Medicaid Policy Bulletin MMP 26-17, effective July 1, 2026, which clarifies reimbursement requirements for specialty behavioral health services provided through Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans …

MDHHS Expands Medicaid Coverage for Pharmacist-Provided Services

The MDHHS recently issued Medicaid Policy Bulletin MMP 26-20, expanding coverage for pharmacist-provided services effective July 1, 2026, pending approval of a state plan amendment by the Centers …

MDHHS Accepting Applications for Opioid Treatment Access Internship Stipend Program

The MDHHS is accepting applications through June 15 for the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Internship Program, which provides financial support to students completing unpaid internships that prepare them …

Workforce Resources and Webinar Available for Healthcare Providers

The MHA and Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare continue to support workforce strategies that improve access to care for hospitals and health systems. AMN will host a webinar, “Maximizing Every Dollar: Using AI and Data …

Michigan Hospitals Help Advance Care for Sickle Cell Patients

Michigan hospitals are committed to investing in efforts that advance the health of the patients and communities they serve every day. With grant funding from the MDHHS,  the Bronson Health Foundation, Children’s Hospital …

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — A Call to Strengthen Healthcare Through Collaboration

Our nation’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. Rising costs, workforce shortages and expanding patient needs are placing unprecedented pressure on hospitals and the communities that depend on them. Accepting this strain as status quo is not an option. …

Michigan Hospitals, Always caring, always advancing.

The Keckley Report

In Healthcare: 10 Issues where States are Accelerating Policy Changes

“In the United States, laws that define how our health system operates have evolved over our 250-year history. They’re built on allopathic medical pedagogy borrowed from our European roots and evolve around clinical innovations and technologies that improve outcomes and extend life. …

Healthcare’s future in the U.S. will continue to be framed by federal policies and the political system from which its laws originate, but its transformational changes will increasingly originate in states where affordability, funding and system effectiveness issues are tackled head-on.”

Paul Keckley, May 31, 2026

News to Know

The MHA recently launched Always Caring, Always Advancing, a new multi-year, statewide public affairs campaign highlighting the powerful stories of caregivers and patients across Michigan.

MHA in the News

During the Mackinac Policy Conference MHA CEO Brian Peters sat down with leaders across the state to discuss advancing more collaborative, affordable and outcomes-driven care across Michigan. Peters joined Paula Cunningham, Michael Patrick Shields and …

MHA Monday Report June 1, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Register for Always Caring, Always Advancing Webinar

The MHA is hosting a member webinar introducing Always Caring, Always Advancing, a new multi-year statewide public affairs campaign, from 1 to 2 p.m. on June 3. The campaign is designed to highlight the impact …

HRSA Finalizes Maternity Care Target Area Changes

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently finalized updates to the criteria for designating Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas, effective Aug. 15, 2026. The revised methodology removes the Social Vulnerability Index and …

Application Deadline Nears for MHA Governance Fellowship

The application deadline for the 2026-27 cohort of the MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship is June 26. Trustees from small and rural hospitals to large health systems across the state have graduated from this one-of-a-kind …

Hospitals Help: Schoolcraft Memorial Expands Access to Financial Assistance for Rural Residents

The teams at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital are working to expand access to financial assistance to ensure residents across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula don’t delay or forego essential care. As rising healthcare costs continue to impact communities …

Michigan Hospitals, Always caring, always advancing.

The Keckley Report

“With 6 months until the mid-term elections, and media coverage of polls increasing, it’s important that healthcare stakeholders understand public views of the system, and more important, the beliefs that underly these views. …

The public’s belief in the health system needs immediate attention not to justify yesterday’s business practices but its commitment to a transformed system tomorrow. Public opinion about the U.S. health system is concerning.”

News to Know

  • Community Health Improvement Week is June 8-12.
  • The May edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital resource from the American Hospital Association, explores essential traits that support meaningful board oversight, strategic insight and positive working relationships, as well as the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape and key actions trustees can take to strengthen governance.

Hospitals Help: Schoolcraft Memorial Expands Access to Financial Assistance for Rural Residents

Member News, Hospitals Help

The teams at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) are working to expand access to financial assistance to ensure residents across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula don’t delay or forego essential care.

As rising healthcare costs continue to impact communities and hospitals across the state, SMH remains committed to caring for all patients regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital’s sliding fee scale program offers financial assistance to those who have limited or no means of covering medical costs.

In understanding the financial realities that many rural households currently face, SMH recently revised their program eligibility to take into account a broader range of essential living expenses.

Housing, utilities, food, medical debt and transportation costs are all factored in when determining a patient’s eligibility for assistance. Those who qualify are also given access to financial counseling and support from a patient financial services representative.

During a routine OB/GYN appointment, one provider caring for a patient named Kathy discovered a lump that required a mammogram and ultrasound for further investigation. Kathy chose to drive 90 minutes to seek follow-up care at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique, MI.

Rather than wait months for insurance-covered care or scrambling to pay out of pocket, Kathy turned to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s financial services team and received assistance that made it possible for her to get the care she needed, when she needed it.

“Knowing I was going to get help with this, especially while waiting to find out if something could be seriously wrong, made all the difference,” she said.

Federal initiatives like the 340B Drug Pricing Program also play a critical role in helping rural residents access lifesaving medications and essential services close to home, from preventive screenings to advanced treatments.

As an independent critical access hospital serving the central upper peninsula, SMH teams are focused on reducing barriers that prevent residents from getting the care they need. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r), non-profit hospitals are required to have a written Financial Assistance Policy (FAP). Those who previously did not qualify for financial assistance are encouraged to reapply under the hospital’s updated guidelines.

Questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may be directed to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report May 25, 2026

Monday Report, Member News

Business leaders attend a Hospitals & Affordability presentation hosted by the MHA and Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce.

Livonia-Westland Business Leaders Meet with MHA on Affordability

The MHA partnered with the Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce on May 14 to host an event at its Livonia offices to engage with business leaders about healthcare costs, listen to their needs and collaborate on …

Coverage is Care at Trinity Health Michigan

Significant changes to Medicaid are expected to take effect in 2027, bringing new requirements and processes that could increase the risk of coverage loss for eligible individuals if systems are not prepared. …

Hospitals Help: Pine Rest Launches First-of-its-Kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care

Hospitals are there in life’s most critical moments, supporting people at all walks of life and expanding access to care beyond the bedside. For children and families experiencing behavioral health crises, timely care can make …

The Keckley Report

Trump Administration Takes Aim at Healthcare: What MAGA Voters Believe

“These actions are consistent with the administration’s growing disdain for the healthcare industry as the mid-term election nears. Its gleeful rebuke of two-term Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy’s primary defeat Saturday a case in point: Cassidy chaired the Senate HELP committee and clashed with HHS Director RF Kennedy Jr. over MAHA initiatives like vaccine policies. A physician, he practiced gastroenterology with a specialty in hepatology (liver disease) before entering politics and was frequently differed with the administration’s health policies. …

The industry is on the defensive. Insurers, hospitals, home care and prescription drug sectors are considered complicit in the system’s failings.

The industry’s aware, but to date, its defense of the status quo has been ineffective. Its primary response has been a blame game against offending sectors, over-regulation and macro-economic pressures while buying time even as voter discontent grows.”

Paul Keckley, May 18, 2026

News to Know

MHA offices will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

 

Hospitals Help: Pine Rest Launches First-of-its-Kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care

Hospitals Help, Member News
Pine Rest’s Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care is located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Hospitals are there in life’s most critical moments, supporting people at all walks of life and expanding access to care beyond the bedside. For children and families experiencing behavioral health crises, timely care can make a lifesaving difference.

To expand access to specialized mental health services for children and adolescents, the teams at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services recently opened a first-of-its-kind Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center.

The center, which is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., provides same-day assessments and short-term stabilization for children and teens ages 6-17 who are experiencing acute behavioral health crises. The Pine Rest team also connect families with the appropriate resources to avoid emergency room visits.

“Behavioral health challenges among children and teens have increased dramatically in recent years, and families across Michigan are struggling to find timely access to appropriate care,” said Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. “The Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health represents a significant step forward in addressing that need. By bringing together inpatient care, urgent psychiatric services and specialized programming in one location, we are helping ensure that children and families can get the support they need when they need it most.”

Since opening in early 2026, the center has supported an average of 12 children and families each day, providing immediate access to care for those experiencing urgent behavioral health needs. It’s projected that approximately 5,000 kids will be treated per year.

The building was intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents, with specialized programming and spaces for young patients and their families. By bringing together urgent psychiatric services, inpatient care and outpatient support in one location, Pine Rest is helping families navigate behavioral health challenges with faster access to coordinated, age-appropriate care.

Pine Rest is also working to expand specialized care for children experiencing eating disorders, substance use disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions while enhancing access to telepsychiatry services for rural and underserved communities across Michigan.

Visit the Pine Rest website to learn more about how their teams are helping children and families across Michigan access timely, specialized behavioral healthcare services.

Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report May 18, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

House Passes Multiple Healthcare Bills

The Michigan House passed legislation related to third-party litigation financing, Medicaid prescription requirements and surgical smoke plume evacuation during the week of May 11. Lawmakers also introduced legislation related to behavioral health transportation services and …

State House Minority Leader Addresses Legislative Policy Panel

State House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) addressed the MHA Legislative Policy Panel May 13 at the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center, providing the panel with a legislative and political update and sharing his commitment to …

2026 Healthcare Leadership Academy Cohort Completes Program

In partnership with Executive Core, the MHA recently celebrated the successful completion of the 2026 Healthcare Leadership Academy, which supports the development of emerging healthcare leaders across Michigan. Through two in-person modules, participants developed skills …

Keystone Quality and Safety Work Highlighted at MICAH QN Meeting

Kristy Shafer, senior manager, MHA Keystone Center, and senior lead quality improvement advisor for Superior Health, presented the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality improvement program at the Michigan Critical Access Hospital Quality …

MHA Keystone Center to Present During National Caregiver Webinar

The National Alliance for Caregiving will host the webinar “Practical Methods for Integrating Caregivers into Care Delivery” from 1 to 2 p.m. ET May 27, highlighting how hospitals and health systems are embedding caregivers into care models …

Hospitals Help: Memorial Healthcare Prioritizes Infection Control for Long-Term Care Residents

Michigan hospitals have long prioritized infection control and prevention, investing in resources that strengthen safety and quality measures for their patients and staff. The MHA Keystone Center is committed to supporting these efforts. Healthcare teams …

News to Know

  • The MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council met May 14 to examine patient journey mapping, a method used to document and visualize the patient experience across healthcare touchpoints, from recognizing a health need through treatment and ongoing care.
  • Hospitals paid under the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system must submit a calendar year 2025 occupational mix survey to the Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30.
  • Applicable laboratories, including hospital outreach laboratories, must report private payer data under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2025, during the reporting window open through July 31, 2026.

MHA in the News

The MHA received coverage in a May 12 Crain’s Detroit Business story examining insurance contract negotiations with hospitals. In the article, MHA CEO Brian Peters emphasized that reimbursement contracts between hospitals and insurance companies often …