Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel presented an overview of her department’s key priorities to the MHA Board of Trustees at their Feb. 7 meeting. Hertel shared ongoing efforts to provide appropriate behavioral health services to help reduce emergency department visits and suitable care transfers. Hertel also identified child welfare, food insecurity and other social determinants that contribute to a community’s health status as priorities identified in the Governor’s Fiscal Year (FY) , released the same day as the Board’s meeting.
The Board also continued work on supporting the 2023-2024 MHA Strategic Action Plan, which outlines the association’s priorities for the program year and focuses on workforce support and innovation, viability, behavioral health and health equity. Within the viability pillar, the Board discussed Medicaid funding. Opposition to mandated staffing ratios remains a top priority for the association within the workforce pillar, as well as support for programs to strengthen educational access, recruitment, retention and workplace safety to grow and maintain talent.
Building from the discussion with Director Hertel on behavioral health challenges, the Board also reviewed the latest hospital survey data showing increased wait times and volumes for Medicaid patients in emergency departments and how that data may be used working with local Community Mental Health (CMH) services to address ongoing access problems. Finally, the MHA Health Equity Task Force indicated it is releasing its final report and recommendations for next steps at the April Board meeting.
The Board approved membership applications from Envision Physician Services, Scaled Data, LLC and Vault Verify.
Members with questions about the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.