The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring what’s top of mind in healthcare as the 2025-2026 program year kicks off.
The episode, hosted by MHA CEO Brian Peters, features MHA Board Chair Bill Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare. Manns shares more about his journey to healthcare leadership, current priorities at Bronson and what work lies ahead for hospital leaders given recent activity at the state and federal level.
Since joining Bronson in 2020, Manns oversees a full range of services from primary care to critical care across more than 100 locations. Fellow officers of the 2025-2026 MHA Board of Trustees include Brittany Lavis, chair-elect; and Kent Riddle, treasurer, among many other hospital leaders across Michigan.
Manns noted during the discussion that addressing infant mortality and improving maternal health across the state remain key areas of focus for his team at Bronson Healthcare and hospital leaders across the state.
“Women of color have mortality rates during birth that is, at times, double or triple that of their white counterparts,” said Manns. “As soon as we’re born – without bias or prejudice – if we can get equality there, I think that’s a great footing to build and grow as a community and I think as a nation, quite frankly.”
Over the course of the interview, Peters and Manns discuss the impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)” on hospitals and patient access to care given cuts to Medicaid funding.
“One, we’ve got to do a better job of educating the public about just what’s coming,” said Manns when discussing how to approach the negative impacts of the OBBBA. “Two, we really have to advocate – even stronger – with our legislators…and three, I think we’ve really got to continue to be optimistic and not panic.”
They also explore the importance of 340B, efforts to address workplace violence and more.
The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Questions or idea submissions for future MiCare Champion Cast episodes can be sent to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.
