Common Ground published a story Dec. 9 on the behavioral health collaborative that the MHA has launched to address postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders.
Lauren LaPine-Ray, vice president, policy and rural health, MHA, is quoted in the story discussing the MHA’s role in convening the collaborative and the need to address these issues.
“For mothers, depression rates continue to increase,” said LaPine-Ray. “Making sure we have real support for behavioral-health services in this state is somewhere we urgently need to see change and investment.”
The story also highlights collaborative partners, including Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, with their Mother & Baby Day perinatal mood disorder program, and Michigan State University’s ROSE (Reach Out, Stay, Strong, Essentials) postpartum depression prevention program.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The Detroit Free Press published an op-ed Oct. 21 from MHA CEO Brian Peters that affirms the commitment of hospitals to patients and shares the actions hospitals are taking to keep costs low for patients. Those include moving care to more affordable settings, using lower-cost medication alternatives when appropriate, improving care coordination and expanding the behavioral health workforce.
Peters highlights the cost pressures impacting hospitals, including the rise in prescription drug costs, labor and inflation. He also discusses how public reimbursements routinely fail to cover the cost of that care and the issues it can cause to access to healthcare services when combined with rising costs.
“We’re the backbone of access: the nurse at the bedside at 3 a.m., the surgical team on call, the therapist helping a child walk again. Michigan hospital teams will keep showing up with compassion and professionalism,” Peters said.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The MHA received news coverage during the week of June 9 that included local TV news stories on the Michigan House of Representatives passing a bill that would have the state join the National Nurse Licensure Compact and how federal funding cuts to Medicaid would impact northern Michigan, while the MHA also responded to a hospital drug pricing study story by the Lansing State Journal.
Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA, speaks with WILX News 10 about the current nurse shortage.
WILX News 10 aired a story June 12 following the 57-52 vote by the Michigan House to have Michigan join more than 40 other states in the nursing compact. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA, was interviewed for the story, discussing the current shortage of nurses in hospitals, despite Michigan outperforming the national average retention rate for nurses.
“14% of Michigan nurses are turning over, which is lower than the national average, so Michigan is already doing an above-average job and doing a better job than most other states,” said Carlson. “It’s about trying to find those new ones and bring those new ones in.”
9&10 News also aired a story June 9 about how proposed Medicaid cuts could result in the loss of OB/GYN services in northern Michigan. MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel spoke to 9&10 News about how having to travel to access healthcare services can impact long-term health.
“You’re traveling a greater distance for any problems you have, and the further that people have to travel, especially people with limited means, the less likely they are to be able to adhere to the best care plan that we might have for them,” said Appel.
The Lansing State Journal also published an article June 9 on a study released by the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition (MIHPC) related to hospital drug pricing. The MIHPC published their report despite published studies by KFF that conclude price transparency data should not be used to draw broad conclusions about hospital pricing. Appel was interviewed for the piece, expressing the inability to verify the information from the MIHPC, the flaws associated with how they present inpatient drug prices for drugs predominantly administered in an outpatient setting and the lengths hospitals are going to minimize costs.
“Payers are trying to do what they can to keep costs down,” said Appel. “Hospitals are trying to do what they can to keep costs down. Patients are trying to do what they can to keep their out-of-pocket costs down. Everybody’s trying to pull the boat in the same direction, but there are just outside pressures that make our healthcare system somewhat costly and growing. And hopefully we can keep the growth at a minimum, but it takes a lot of effort.”
Lastly, Gongwer published an article June 13 following a press release issued by Gov. Whitmer on a memo from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services sharing 120,000 Michiganders could lose healthcare access if the Federal budget reconciliation legislation passed by U.S. House of Representatives is signed into law. MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in the press release and story.
“These proposed changes will cut healthcare coverage for countless individuals, making Michigan unhealthier and leading to worse outcomes and higher rates of uncompensated care,” said Peters. “Increasing health care costs and reducing access is a bad deal that Michigan hospitals uniformly oppose.”
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The MHA received media coverage the week of March 10 on the 340B program and potential federal Medicaid funding cuts with outlets including MichMash, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business and 9&10 News.
MHA CEO Brian Peters appeared on the March 14 episode of the MichMash podcast where he discussed MHA advocacy efforts to oppose Medicaid funding cuts, passage of Senate Bills 94 and 95 by the Michigan Senate that safeguard the 340B program and the healthcare workforce. The interview was conducted by hosts Cheyna Roth and Zach Gorchow. MichMash is produced by WDET Detroit Public Radio in collaboration with Gongwer News Service and is part of the NPR Network.
Crain’s Grand Rapids also published an article March 10 about the 340B legislation moving through the Senate. Peters and Elizabeth Kutter, senior director of advocacy, MHA, are quoted in the piece.
“This bill prevents drug manufacturers from continuing to issue arbitrary restrictions on 340B eligible Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals,” said Peters. “We continue to be grateful for the Senate’s leadership and collaboration in recognizing the need for strong, quality health care providers over out-of-state prescription drug interest groups.”
9&10 News aired a story March 11 that looked at the impact on Michigan if funding cuts to Medicaid are implemented. MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel was interviewed and appears in the story.
“We know that work requirements are popular as a concept, but really, we need to focus on people being healthy so that they can work, as opposed to working so that they can become healthy,” said Appel.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
MHA CEO Brian Peters joined The Common Bridge podcast for an episode published Aug. 18 to discuss various healthcare policy topics, particularly those impacting rural Michigan. Areas of focus include the Affordable Care Act, the impact of Medicaid provider taxes, clinical scope of practice, telemedicine, hospital-at-home programs, Medicare Advantage and the 340B drug pricing program.
The episode is hosted by Richard Helppie, founder of The Common Bridge. Episodes from the show focus on non-partisan policy discussions. The episode is available through Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Peters is also quoted in a press release published Aug. 22 by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on the record number of Michigan hospitals who applied for the Maternal Levels of Care verification through The Joint Commission.
“We applaud each of the hospitals and their birthing teams for the time and effort they spent over recent weeks to complete the application process,” Peters. “This work signifies the dedication Michigan birthing hospitals have toward providing high quality and safe care to Michigan mothers and babies.”
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The MHA received media coverage the week of June 24 that includes coverage on cybersecurity, market consolidation, 340B and the fiscal year 2025 state budget.
MLive published an article June 26 looking at the reason healthcare is the top target for cyberattacks. MHA CEO Brian Peters was interviewed for the story, speaking on the unique challenges hospitals face when they’re a victim of a cyberattack and the need to consider paying a ransom. He also spoke on the actions hospitals are doing to mitigate risk and to protect from future attacks
“I equate it to global terrorism,” said Peters. “It’s not kids in a basement; these are well-trained and well-financed actors.”
In addition, Peters also received coverage in Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 82 executives sharing their views on trends impacting healthcare. Peters focused on the trend of market consolidation.
“The bottom line is that there is likely to be even further integration and consolidation in the hospital field, and it has enormous implications for the future of healthcare delivery and financing.”
The MHA received mention in a press release from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) for introduced legislation that allows hospitals designated as a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) to remain eligible for the 340B drug discount program.
Lastly, Gongwer quoted a statement from Peters June 27 on the fiscal year 2025 state budget and fiscal year 2024 supplemental proposals.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
The Michigan Business Network (MBN) hosted the 2024 Economic Forecast Breakfast Jan.11, which featured the inaugural release of the latest Michigan Future Business Index survey data, 2023 reviews and a look ahead on regional economic, …
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In partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the MHA conducted a survey during Spring 2023 to gather insights on Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) utilization within hospitals and health systems. AOT offers …
The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicare enrollment data to reflect Medicare enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split for Medicare between traditional fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage. Statewide, …
“Healthcare is big business. That’s why JP Morgan Chase is hosting its 42nd Healthcare Conference in San Francisco starting today– the same week Congress reconvenes in DC with the business of healthcare on its agenda as well. The predispositions of the two toward the health industry could not be more different. …
The big question facing JPM attendees this week and in Congress over the next few months is the same: is the U.S. healthcare system status quo sustainable given the needs in other areas at home and abroad? Investors and organizations at JPM think the answer is no and are making bets with their money on “better, faster, cheaper” at home and abroad. Congress agrees, but the political risks associated with transformative changes at home are too many and too complex for their majority. …”
The MHA received media coverage since Jan. 4 related to hospital cybersecurity, proposed legislation mandating hospital nurse staffing ratios and maternal health. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state, which include interviews …
Common Ground published a story Dec. 9 on the behavioral health collaborative that the MHA has launched to address postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders.
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