Tag: MHA Board of Trustees

MHA Monday Report Feb. 9, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

IMLC Legislation Clears House, Continuing Education and Credentialing Bills Advance

The Michigan House of Representatives voted in support of House Bill 5455, sponsored by Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile Township), which would restore Michigan to the IMLC. The compact supports access to care, particularly in rural …

Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow Addresses MHA Board

The MHA Board of Trustees’ Feb. 4 meeting featured a discussion with former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is now a senior policy advisor with DC-based Liberty Partners Group, a bipartisan strategic consulting firm. Stabenow …

MHA Releases FAQ on Rural Health Transformation Program Funding

The MHA recently released a new frequently asked questions (FAQ) document to help members better understand allowable uses, limitations and compliance requirements related to Michigan’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The FAQ clarifies that RHTP …

CMS Releases 2025 Occupational Mix Survey for Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2025 occupational mix survey to collect data from hospitals paid under the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system. Survey results will be used to adjust …

 

MHA Reinforces Evidence-Based Vaccination Guidelines

The MHA is strengthening its commitment to evidence-based immunization practices under the guidance of the MHA Healthcare and Public Health Integration Council and chief medical and nursing leaders. Efforts include distributing educational resources, reaffirming alignment …

Initiative Seeks to Expand Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services in Michigan

Providers who serve pregnant people, infants and families are encouraged to complete a brief survey to help build Michigan’s first statewide Perinatal and Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (PIECMH) Provider Directory. The initiative is led …

HHS Announces $100M Investment in Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a $100 million investment to expand substance use disorder treatment, mental health services and housing-related supports under the administration’s Great American Recovery initiative. …

 

MDHHS Withdraws PIHP Procurement

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has withdrawn its request for proposals (RFP) to competitively procure Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs), ending the planned rebid process. The decision follows a Jan. 8 …

Hospitals Help: Youth Safety Event Teaches UP Students Emergency Preparedness

Camp 911 is a hands-on, youth-focused safety event supported by Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson hospital that is designed to teach school-aged children essential emergency response skills. The camp brings together professionals from various fields to demonstrate …

News to Know

  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner Wakely is hosting the webinar Summary and Impacts of the 2027 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice Feb. 12 from 1 – 2 p.m. ET.
  • The 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference, scheduled for March 24 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, will convene human resources leaders and professionals who are shaping the future of the healthcare workforce.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner CyberForce |Q is hosting an in-person Coffee & Collab for Cybersecurity Leaders Feb. 10 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. ET at CyberForce|Q headquarters in Plymouth, MI.

MHA in the News

The Mining Journal published a statement from the MHA chief medical officer following the distribution of guidance to

Michigan families departing from established standards. Dr. Roth emphasizes the efficacy of vaccines and urges families to seek medical guidance from their providers. “Vaccines remain …

Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow Addresses MHA Board

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees’ Feb. 4 meeting featured a discussion with former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is now a senior policy advisor with DC-based Liberty Partners Group, a bipartisan strategic consulting firm. Stabenow discussed the growing influence in Washington of groups opposed to hospitals and the challenge this poses to maintaining access to critical care and services in local communities.

She urged MHA members to continue sharing their stories about the vital services hospitals provide and the specific impacts patients and communities may face if funding is reduced. Stabenow also emphasized the importance of holding lawmakers accountable for votes to cut healthcare funding and recognizing those who support their local hospitals.

Board members also received a presentation on the MHA’s communications and marketing strategy supporting the program year’s Strategic Action Plan.

In recognition of the growing partnership between healthcare organizations and academic institutions to support workforce development, the board approved forwarding an amendment to the bylaws to create a new associate (Type 3) membership category to the MHA House of Delegates in June. The new category is specifically for Michigan-based academic institutions and is intended to strengthen collaboration with colleges, universities and training programs while supporting educational opportunities, career growth and leadership development.

The board also approved four new Type 3 members to the association: Blue & Co, Hema-Tec, Medical Service Company and Miller Canfield, as well as four new individual physician members.

Questions about the MHA Board of Trustees meetings should go to Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Nov. 17, 2025

Monday Report, Member News

Notable Healthcare Legislation Clears House, Senate Committees

Legislation on physician assistant licensure compact agreements, international medical school graduates, hospital price transparency measures and medical debt collection advanced in the Michigan House and Senate during the week of Nov. 10. In the House …

CMS Releases CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the physician fee schedule for calendar year (CY) 2026. Highlights of the final rule include: Implementing the one-time 2.5% …

Congressmen Bergman Supports Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) recently co-sponsored H.R. 3684, the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act of 2025, which would strengthen financial stability and access to care for rural hospitals and healthcare providers across the country. …

MHA Board of Trustees Shares Learnings from Ice Storm and Reviews Strategic Action Plan

The MHA Board of Trustees’ Nov. 12 meeting featured presentations from board members Ed Ness, president and CEO, Munson Healthcare; Lydia Watson, president and CEO, MyMichigan Health; and Karen Cheeseman, president and CEO, Mackinac Straits …

New MHA Infographic Showcases Rural Michigan Healthcare Impact

The MHA recently released the infographic Healthcare Impact in Rural Michigan, which highlights how critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural emergency hospitals and birthing hospitals support communities across the state. The infographic highlights the …

New Endorsed Business Partner SmarterDx Provides Clinical AI to Support Financial Outcomes and Quality Scores

The MHA’s Endorsed Business Partner program promotes industry-leading firms. The EBP program connects member hospitals to solutions that alleviate pain points. The MHA recently endorsed SmarterDx, a national leader in revenue integrity solutions, offering advanced clinical …

Webinar Kicks Off MHA Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours

The MHA will host an informational webinar from noon to 12:45 p.m. Nov. 24 featuring 211, in the first session of the Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours series. The series is designed to …

Celebrating the Power — and Promise — of Rural Healthcare

As a healthcare leader, physician and someone born and raised in the Thumb of Michigan, National Rural Health Day is very personal to me, my colleagues and the communities we serve every day at Scheurer Health. …

Keckley Report

Why Healthcare Affordability is Increasingly Problematic to Working Age Populations

In what political pundits called a sweeping win by Democrats in Tuesday’s elections, affordability and costs of living emerged as the issues that mattered most to voters. It’s no surprise.

Since 2019 before the pandemic, prices have increased for American businesses and households due to inflation:

Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation which measures monthly business spending increased 3.5% annually. The Consumer Price Index, which measures monthly changes in household spending increased 3.87% annually over the same period (2019-2025).

But in the same period, prices for healthcare services–hospitals, physician services, insurance premiums and long-term care–have taken an odd turn: for businesses, they’ve decreased but for consumers, they increased. It reflects the success whereby businesses have shifted health benefits costs to employees or suspended benefits altogether, and it explains why consumers are bearing more direct responsibility for healthcare costs and are increasingly price sensitive. …

Healthcare service providers can ill afford to neglect affordability. It more than measuring medical debt, posting prices and referencing concern on websites. It’s about earning the trust and confidence of future generations through concrete actions that increase household financial security beginning with healthcare spending. …”

Paul Keckley, Nov. 9, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

MHA members are encouraged to register for the webinar How Leading Health Systems Are Rebuilding Talent Pipelines — and Keeping Them Full Through Early Student Loan Support, led by Clasp, scheduled from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 2.

MHA in the News

9&10 News aired a story Nov. 11 about how health insurance rate increases will lead to lower health insurance enrollment, harming healthcare access. MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in the story expressing the need …

MHA Board of Trustees Shares Learnings from Ice Storm and Reviews Strategic Action Plan

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees’ Nov. 12 meeting featured presentations from board members Ed Ness, president and CEO, Munson Healthcare; Lydia Watson, president and CEO, MyMichigan Health; and Karen Cheeseman, president and CEO, Mackinac Straits Health System, on their organizations’ response to the ice storm that struck northern Michigan in spring 2025.

The three board members shared photos and provided details on how each health system acted quickly to obtain alternate fuel sources, safely store and distribute food and medication, provide warming centers, and secure transportation for staff and patients. They also described the transportation challenges caused by the extended closure of the Mackinac Bridge and widespread road closures from downed power lines, many of which took weeks to clear and restore. The board members commended the dedication and resourcefulness of their staff and communities, emphasizing the importance of developing detailed emergency preparedness plans that address long-term scenarios.

The board welcomed James Holcomb, president and CEO, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, who outlined the Chamber’s legislative priorities and opportunities for collaboration with the MHA on key issues aimed at preserving and promoting economic growth. Holcomb highlighted the essential role hospitals and healthcare providers play as major employers across Michigan. Board members reviewed the MHA’s 2025-26 Strategic Action Plan, which identifies the protection of patient access to care, workforce support, support for mental and behavioral health, and creating healthy communities as its key priorities. The board approved a new Type 1 member, Southridge Behavioral Hospital; two Type 2 members, The Morel Company and Skill Trade; and six new individual physician members.

Questions about MHA Board of Trustees meetings should be directed to Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Board of Trustees Holds Final Meeting of Program Year

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees held its final meeting of the 2024-2025 program year on Mackinac Island June 25 in conjunction with the MHA Annual Membership Meeting. The meeting began with a welcome by the Honorable Margaret Doud, mayor of Mackinac Island. As the longest currently serving mayor in the United States, Mayor Doud thanked the board members for visiting the Island and wished the MHA a successful annual meeting. She also reinforced the importance of protecting health care services and the value rural hospitals have played for the residents of Mackinac Island.

The board recognized James (Chip) Falahee, senior vice president, legal and legislative affairs, Bronson Healthcare, for over 16 years of service as one of two hospital representatives on the statewide bi-partisan Certificate of Need (CON) Commission. During his tenure, spanning three gubernatorial appointments, Chip served as vice-chair of the CON Commission for two years and chair for nine, a testament to his leadership and dedicated support among his fellow commissioners. MHA Board of Trustees member, Karen Cheeseman, president & CEO, Mackinac Straits Health System, St. Ignace, was appointed by Governor Whitmer to replace Chip on the commission.

The board reviewed the MHA’s 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan, which successfully focused on protecting access, workforce support, strengthening cybercrime and cybersecurity policy, mental and behavioral health, and creating healthy communities. The board also approved many associate members including Eneration, Inc., Gallagher Insurance, Homeward Health and Talkiatry.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

 

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack Addresses MHA Board

Member News
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and MHA CEO Brian Peters pictured during a fireside chat during the April 9 MHA Board of Trustees Meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing.

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack to its April 9 meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing. The board meeting primarily focused on how to effectively advocate with state and federal lawmakers to preserve access to vital community healthcare services currently facing steep proposed funding cuts.

In a ‘fireside chat’ format moderated by MHA CEO Brian Peters, Pollack shared the political insights he’s gleaned from more than forty years of federal healthcare advocacy to provide his perspective on the current Congressional budget process, key drivers of the current administration and Congressional leadership, and the most effective messaging to help lawmakers understand how their community hospitals will be affected by the budget proposals.

Pollack shared recent public messaging from the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, showing the faces of Medicaid and urging lawmakers to protect funding. “If lawmakers don’t hear from you, they think there’s no problem. Hospitals are not a single-issue group,” said Pollack. “Reach out to your lawmakers because we have the opportunity to be objective teachers. Bring them into your hospitals and tell your story.”

At the state level, the board affirmed its support for efforts to address medical debt relief, providing direction for the association to continue working with policymakers on this important issue. The board also discussed ongoing advocacy in support of state legislation to protect 340B contract pharmacies. In addition, the board affirmed the work of the Advisory Panel on Community Benefit Collaboration, with a focus on voluntary collaboratives to improve prenatal care and help address perinatal mood disorder.

The MHA Health PAC campaign remains on target to reach its $400,000 goal. Lastly, the board approved the Type 3 membership application of Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Feb. 10, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

IMLC Moves Through Committee & Executive Budget Recommendation Presented

Several noteworthy healthcare issues saw attention the week of Feb. 3 by state lawmakers and policymakers, including the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) moving through the Senate Health Policy Committee, a reintroduction of the Momnibus …

The Joint Commission President and CEO Addresses MHA Board

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed The Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD to its Feb. 3 meeting. In his guest presentation, Dr. Perlin shared The Joint Commission’s mission to work …

Workforce Support and Growth Addressed by MHASC Board and HR Council

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board focused its Feb. 5 meeting on supporting the MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities to address workforce support, protecting access, mental and behavioral health, creating healthy communities, strengthening cybercrime/cybersecurity policy …

speak upCorewell Health Trenton Hospital Nurse Honored with Q4 MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award

The MHA Keystone Center celebrates Courtney Baumann, RN at Corewell Health Trenton Hospital, as its quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recipient for February. The Speak-up! Award celebrates individuals or …

MHA Keystone Center Launches Infection Control Quality Improvement Cohort

The MHA Keystone Center is launching an infection control quality improvement cohort, providing high-touch technical assistance to ten long-term care facilities. The Strengthening Long-term Care Infection Prevention and Control Practices to Address Emerging Pathogens …

MHA Rounds image of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — The Realities of the Earned Sick Time Act

Healthcare continues to be the leading private-sector employer in Michigan. Our latest Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report shows healthcare provided nearly 572,000 direct jobs in Michigan in 2022, with roughly 217,000 of those jobs in hospitals. …

Keckley Report

Is health insurance reform the key to affordability and lower costs?

“For most Americans, having health insurance is still considered a hedge against unexpected or otherwise unaffordable medical bills.

For most elected officials in Congress and state legislatures, Medicare and Medicaid are insurance programs that consume a large and growing piece of public funding, squeezing out other areas of need.

For virtually all hospitals, physicians, ancillary and long-term care providers, insurance is still the unwelcome front door through which all must go to get paid but their administrative hassles and low reimbursement rates are ruining the system for everyone.

And large majorities in each of these groups are unhappy with insurers for a myriad of reasons well-documented in trade publications and polling. …

The blame and shame game to which insiders in healthcare are addicted is a zero-sum game: blaming any single sector for the cumulative deficiencies in affordability and costs is misleading and does not serve the greater good.

Is health insurance reform the key to health system affordability and lower costs? It plays a role but not alone.”

Paul Keckley, Feb. 3, 2025

News to Know

In order to continue sharing with key stakeholders the important impact hospitals make to their communities, the MHA invites members to share examples of strong community impact programming through a brief survey.

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA in the News

A MHA media statement published Feb. 5 was included in stories by Michigan news outlets covering the fiscal year 2026 executive budget recommendation. The statement, attributed to MHA CEO Brian Peters, was mentioned by WLNS-TV …

The Joint Commission President and CEO Addresses MHA Board

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed The Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD to its Feb. 3 meeting. In his guest presentation, Dr. Perlin shared The Joint Commission’s mission to work in partnership with its member organizations throughout 86 countries to improve healthcare outcomes for all patients, implement cost-reducing sustainable practices, maximize the learning and diagnostic potential of artificial intelligence and streamline standards to focus on the performance and benchmarking metrics member organizations need to be successful.

The board received a Health PAC report on the kick-off of the 2025 campaign, which provides support to identified healthcare legislative champions. The board also discussed the MHA 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan, which sets the association’s priorities for the year and is organized into five key pillars: workforce support, protecting access, support for mental and behavioral health, creating healthy communities and strengthening cybercrime/cybersecurity policy.

The board’s action plan conversation focused on preserving Medicaid funding programs, supporting statewide community benefits priorities aimed at supporting moms and babies and improving mental and behavioral healthcare. The board also discussed the impact of recent federal activity and the ongoing advocacy strategy at the state level to protect the 340B program and amend the Earned Sick Time Act to address employer concerns and ensure patient care is not negatively impacted.

Board member, Adnan Munkarah, MD, president, Care Delivery System, Chief Clinical Officer, Henry Ford Health, provided a safety story that highlighted the importance of the partnership between home health caregivers, EMS, law enforcement and hospital mental and behavioral health resources to help a patient struggling with suicidal thoughts get the help they needed.

The board concluded with board task force reports, an MHA Keystone Center and MHA Service Corporation report, regional hospital council reports, an AHA report and an update from MHA CEO Brian Peters.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Nov. 18, 2024

Monday Report, Member News

Advocacy image tileWorkforce Bills Highlight Healthcare Legislation Advanced in the State Legislature

Several workforce bills highlighted the healthcare legislation that advanced in the state legislature during the week of Nov. 11. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bills (SBs) 406 and 407, led by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). The bills provide …

MHA Board of Trustees Considers Election Impact and Association Priorities

The MHA Board of Trustees began its Nov. 13 meeting with a review of the results from the federal election and its potential impact on key association priorities, led by Carlos Jackson and Mike Goodman with Washington D.C.-based Cornerstone Government …

CMS Releases 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a issued a final rule to update the physician fee schedule payment system effective Jan. 1, 2025. The rule will: Reduce the PFS conversion …

MDHHS Shares 2022 Maternal and Infant Health Statistics

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Section recently led a webinar on 2022 maternal and infant health statistics for the state. Infant mortality refers to the death …

Enrollment Open for 2025 MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy

The MHA is offering its popular Healthcare Leadership Academy program in February and April 2025, with sessions at the MHA headquarters in Okemos. In partnership with Executive Core and Grand Valley State University, two power-packed …

Medical SolutionsBuilding a Culture of Retention

MHA Endorsed Business Partner Medical Solutions recently released an episode of their “Staffing Unplugged” podcast, featuring Chief Human Resources Officer Rich Thompson sharing insights on the critical role of culture in healthcare staffing. He …

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Focuses on Post-Merger Board Restructuring

The November edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), includes CEO insights about the integration of two major health systems which resulted in stronger governance. The article explains the …

What’s Top of Mind in Rural Healthcare?

Peter Marinoff, president and CEO, Munson Healthcare’s Southern Region and MHA Small and Rural Hospital Council Chair

The following article was written by Peter Marinoff, president and CEO, Munson Healthcare’s Southern Region and MHA Small and Rural Hospital Council Chair. National Rural Health Day celebrates the remarkable efforts of hospitals, healthcare teams, …

Keckley Report

The Four Core Pillars of Trump Healthcare 2.0

“While speculation swirls around key cabinet appointments in the incoming Trump administration, much is being written about how things might change for industries and the companies that compose them. Healthcare is no exception.

Speculation about possible changes originates from media coverage, healthcare trade associations, law firms, consultancies, think tanks and academics. Their views are primarily based on Trump Healthcare 1.0 initiatives (2017-2021), presumed Trump 2.0 leverage in the U.S. Senate, House and conservative Supreme Court and a belief by the Trump-team leaders that their mandate is to lower costs for “everyday Americans” and tighten border security.

Thus, Trump Healthcare 2.0 policy changes will be extensive, leveraging legislation, executive orders, agency administrative actions, court decisions and appropriations processes to reset the U.S. health system.”

Paul Keckley, Nov. 11, 2024

News to Know

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the 2025 Medicare Part A and B Premiums and Deductibles, with details available in the CMS Fact Sheet.
  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has increased reimbursement rates for Behavioral Health Treatment – Applied Behavior Analysis services to improve autism treatment access for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Register for MHA 2024-25 Strategic Action Plan Webinar

Member News

The MHA is hosting a virtual member forum 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 to outline the MHA 2024 – 2025 strategic action plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees. The plan will include a focus on critical issues like financial viability, workforce resilience, behavioral health, public health, health access, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

This forum will review the priorities and tactics to accomplish these goals and how the membership can support these initiatives. Presentations will be delivered by MHA CEO Brian Peters and other MHA leaders.

There is no cost to attend, but members are asked to register by Oct. 10. Access information for the virtual session will be sent Oct. 11.

Members with questions about the member forum may contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.