Tag: MHA Monday Report

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.

MHA Monday Report May 25, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

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.

 

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 …

MHA Monday Report May 11, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

 

Medical Residents Highlight Workforce Needs During 2026 GME Capitol Day

The MHA Graduate Medical Education (GME) Capitol Day welcomed nearly 30 physician residents from member hospitals to the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center offices May 6 for a day of meetings with members of the Michigan …

Safe Table to Focus on Medication Safety in Rural Hospitals

The MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization will host an in-person Safe Table on May 28 at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace. The session will focus on strategies to prevent medication errors in …

CDC Restores Immunization Schedules After Federal Court Order

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) restored the official U.S. child, adolescent and adult immunization schedules to the July 2, 2025, versions in compliance with the March 16 federal court ruling in American …

MHA Leaders Present at Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference

The 2026 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference convened May 5 in East Lansing, MI, to discuss the most pressing challenges across the healthcare continuum. Lauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH, MPH, vice president, policy & rural …

House Passes 2026 Farm Bill with Rural Health Provisions

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, on April 30, which includes several provisions supporting rural healthcare infrastructure, broadband expansion and behavioral health services. The …

Protect MI Care Coalition Toolkit Available to Hospitals

The Protect MI Care coalition recently shared a toolkit of resources to help coalition partners make their voices heard in support of maintaining state funding for the Michigan Medicaid program. MHA members are encouraged to …

MHA EventsRegistration for MHA Annual Membership Meeting Closes May 22

Registration for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 24-26 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island closes May 22. The event is an opportunity to learn, network and celebrate the accomplishments of the program year. …

Final Federal Loan Rule Maintains Narrow Professional Degree Definition

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a final rule implementing changes to federal student loan programs under the Reimagining and Improving Student Education initiative. The final rule includes changes to graduate and professional …

Hospital CEOs Highlight Value of Governance Fellowship

Applications are being accepted for the 2026-27 Excellence in Governance Fellowship, scheduled from October 2026 through June 2027. Chief executive officers who sponsored their board members to participate in the fellowship, as well as program …

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersCEO Report — No One Knows Healthcare Better than Hospitals

Skyrocketing healthcare costs are impacting families and communities across the state. No one is more committed to addressing this problem than those providing care around the clock. Despite being on the frontlines, hospitals are under fire. …

Hospitals Help Us. Here’s How We Can Help Them.

Hospitals show up for Michigan communities around the clock to provide care, support families and strengthen the places we call home. In honor of National Hospital Week, MHA teams asked members across the state to …

Keckley Report

In US Healthcare, It’s Incrementalism before Transformation by Necessity

“This will be a quiet week for healthcare in DC with major hearings, confirmations and legislative votes not scheduled.

Last week was relatively calm as well. The House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony from hospital CEOs of HCA, ECU Health, Common Spirit and NY Presbyterian featuring accusations of price gauging and unnecessary costs. And a study that found an OpenAI model outperformed doctors in diagnostic reasoning stirred attention in the physician and healthcare tech worlds where AI’s a dirty word to some and salvation to others. …

Transformation of the system, and a clear destiny for its future are secondary to self-preservation in US healthcare today. Our investors and lenders expect it, Board compensation committees reward it, and our workforce depends on it.”

Paul Keckley, May 4, 2026

MHA in the News

Bridge Michigan published a story May 7 detailing how federal funding cuts to Medicaid will further exacerbate rural hospitals’ capacity to treat and transport patients requiring more specialized care. Lauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH, MPH, vice president, …

MHA Monday Report March 23, 2026

Monday Report, Member News

Mandatory Overtime, Assisted Outpatient Treatment Legislation Advances

Several key healthcare bills, including mandatory nurse overtime, assisted outpatient treatment, Certificate of Need and site-neutral payment policies, saw action in the legislature during the week of March 16. The Senate Regulatory Affairs …

Michigan Legislature Announces Commitment to Pass the IMLC Before March 28 Deadline

Following negotiations finalized March 19, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) announced plans to pass legislation authorizing Michigan’s continued participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). The MHA thanks state lawmakers for their commitment …

MHA Shares Latest Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on February 2026 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and …

The MHA Annual Membership Meeting Offers Learning and Networking

The MHA membership will convene in person for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 24-26 on Mackinac Island. The event provides an opportunity to learn, network and celebrate …

Federal Court Pauses Vaccine Policy Changes

A U.S. District Court judge issued a ruling March 16 in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that places a hold on several changes to federal vaccine policy made over the past …

Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours Highlight 211 Data

The MHA will host the next Health Access & Community Impact Office Hours session on April 29 from noon to 12:45 p.m., featuring Michigan 211. The session, Understanding Regional Needs: A Data Driven Look at Michigan’s …

Applications Open for Governance Fellowship, Current Class Convenes

The MHA is now accepting applications for the Excellence in Governance Fellowship which will be held from October 2026 through June 2027. The comprehensive program is designed to support hospital and health system trustees in strengthening governance …

The State of Healthcare Leadership: Risks, Reality and Readiness

MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare and B.E. Smith recently released the Healthcare Leadership Trends for 2026 Report, based on a national survey of more than 700 healthcare executives across hospitals and health systems. The report …

Hospitals Help Michigan Students Pursue Healthcare Careers

Healthcare remains the state’s largest employer of direct, private-sector jobs. With this in mind, hospitals are finding innovative ways to give Michigan students the opportunity to gain real-world exposure to clinical and non-clinical healthcare roles. …

Keckley Report

Health Literacy: Out of Sight, Out of Mind in the Healthcare Industry

“Of industries monitored in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ industry classifications (NAICS), healthcare is unique: its business model is based on business to business (B2B) transactions between suppliers (drugs, devices, technology, hospitals, ancillary facilities), intermediaries (GPOs, PBMs, insurers, brokers) and retail distributors (physicians, pharmacists, therapists, et al) in which end-users (consumers) have limited influence and unpredictable financial responsibility. The acceptance of low health literacy is institutionalized in state and federal regulatory oversight, labor rules and scope of practice determinations and funding by private investors, public appropriations, employer contributions and out-of-pocket payments by consumers. Its acceptance is inconsistent with aims to make it more accessible, affordable and effective. …

For too long, health literacy has been relegated to discussions among public health officials. Its neglect is harmful to every organization in healthcare and to its long-term sustainability. Boards should weigh in, and policymakers should act. Health literacy can ill-afford being out of sight, out-of mind in the U.S. health system and in the society we serve.”

Paul Keckley, March 15, 2026

MHA Monday Report March 16, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Medical Debt Legislation Clears Senate, MHA-Supported Bills Advance in the House

Legislation addressing medical debt collection processes and hospital financial assistance policies passed the Michigan Senate, while the House of Representatives moved MHA-supported bills during the week of March 9.  The Senate voted in support of Senate Bills 449, 450 and 451 as well as …

Healthcare Leadership Award Nominations Due March 27

The MHA is now accepting nominations for the annual Healthcare Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership within their healthcare organization and community. Trustees, executives, physicians, nurses and other outstanding leaders are eligible for consideration. …

DEA Final Rule Takes Effect for EMS Controlled Substances

A new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) final rule took effect March 9, codifying regulations enacted in 2017 within the Controlled Substances Act related to the handling of controlled substances by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) …

Health Access & Community Impact Council Focuses on Food as Medicine

The MHA Health Access & Community Impact Council convened virtually March 5 to discuss strategies to improve health outcomes through stronger integration of social and clinical care. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, members also explored …

Applications Open for 2027 AHA Foster G. McGaw Prize

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is accepting applications for the annual 2027 AHA Foster G. McGaw Prize now through May 5, 2026. The prize celebrates hospitals and health systems that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to …

Hospitals Help: Bronson Healthcare Guides Patients Through Billing, Benefits and Financial Support

Navigating healthcare billing and out-of-pocket costs can be overwhelming. In order to let patients focus on healing, many hospitals are expanding the role of financial counselors, social workers and patient navigators. For example, financial counselors …

Keckley Report

Healthcare Workforce Modernization Needed

“Last week, the war in Iran intensified and Kristi Noem’s tenure as DHS Secretary came to an unceremonious close. Perhaps lost in the noise was the February jobs report issued Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It showed a surprising decline in job growth prompting speculation the economy might have taken a downward turn. …

Healthcare is capital intense: it needs appropriations from government and in-flows from employers and individual taxpayers to pay its bills. Most of that pays for its labor costs. Today, most Board agenda include updates on labor relations, human resource management issues and workforce adequacy—it’s standard fare. And all weigh options to outsource and devour progress reports from HR management on AI-enabled investments anticipated to reduce labor costs. …

If the overall economy is dependent on healthcare to produce an appropriate share of job growth while reducing overall costs, modernizing its workforce is key. It must include unpaid caregivers, licensed and unlicensed providers and technology-enabled solution providers—not just traditional licensed professional groups and their academic partners. That’s not going to happen in the current political environment where each sector’s primary focus is protecting reimbursement and guarding against scope of practice threats.

The health system needs transformation. Workforce modernization is where to start.”

Paul Keckley, March 8, 2026

New to KnowNews to Know

  • The MHA membership will convene in person for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 24–26.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner CyberForce|Q is hosting the Navigating AI’s Impact on Cyber Hygiene webinar March 25 from noon-1 p.m. ET.

MHA in the News

The MHA partnered with Crain’s Content Studio to facilitate a healthcare affordability discussion, which was highlighted in its Detroit and Grand Rapids publications. Healthcare and business leaders examined the complex factors driving healthcare costs and …

MHA Monday Report March 9, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Healthcare Bills Advance in Michigan Legislature

Several healthcare-related bills advanced in the Michigan Legislature during the week of March 2, including proposals addressing medical debt, liability protections, organ donation incentives and workforce shortages. The Senate Finance Committee advanced Senate Bills …

Action Alert: Legislature Begins Budget Process

House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees have begun work on the fiscal year 2027 state budget, which begins Oct. 1. The MHA has created a new action alert encouraging individuals to contact lawmakers and emphasize the importance of …

2026 MHA Annual Membership Meeting Registration Now Open

The MHA membership will convene in person for the MHA Annual Membership Meeting June 24–26 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The annual meeting will feature an outstanding lineup of experts discussing key topics, …

MHA Opposes Federal Student Loan Proposal Affecting Healthcare Workforce

The MHA recently submitted a comment letter opposing the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule that would change how certain graduate health programs qualify for federal student loan programs under H.R. 1. The proposal would …

Register by March 13 to Attend MHA HR Conference

The deadline to register for the 2026 MHA Human Resources Conference is March 11. The conference is scheduled for March 24 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing and will bring together human resources leaders navigating rapid …

Hospitals Expand Food Access Through Community Benefit Collaboratives

As many observe National Nutrition Month, hospitals across the state are implementing programs to address chronic disease through nutrition education and expanded food access. This work is being done through the MHA Community Benefit Collaboratives, which support efforts to improve Michiganders’ health outcomes in …

MDHHS Seeks Proposals for Primary Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Youth  

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released a grant funding opportunity March 4 to provide support to organizations implementing primary substance use prevention programs for children and youth. The goal of this program is to support organizations to deliver …

Forum to Address Transportation Barriers to Healthcare Access

Transportation Riders United (TRU) will host MI Public Health in Motion: Health and Transit Forum March 19 from noon to 2 p.m. ET. TRU is a Michigan-based transit advocacy organization whose work the MHA has …

MC3 Launches Free Webinar Series on Supporting Youth in Crisis

Michigan Clinical Consultation & Care (MC3) is launching a free virtual education series beginning March 10 to help healthcare professionals better support children and adolescents experiencing behavioral health crises. The Practical Strategies to Support …

Hospitals Help: Mackinac Straits Retail Pharmacy Serves as a Lifeline in Northern Michigan

Mackinac Straits Health System opened its retail pharmacy in St. Ignace following valuable feedback from the community. Previously, the community lacked access to pharmacy services on weekends and holidays. This created additional barriers to care, …

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersMHA CEO Report — Sustaining Hospital Funding is Key to Meaningful Reform

Michiganders heard a clear message from our state and federal leaders last week: healthcare is too expensive and the system is flawed. We agree. Michigan hospitals are deeply invested in providing timely and accessible care, …

Keckley Report

The Other F Bomb in Healthcare: FRAUD (especially Medicaid)

“40 minutes into the 108-minute State of the Union address Tuesday night, the President laid out his healthcare policy priorities for 2026 and after:

  • Increased focus on price transparency (building on 2021 and 2022 Executive Orders that targeted hospitals and insurers).
  • Increased use of Most Favored Nation pricing agreements to lower prescription drug costs.
  • Increased adoption of Health Savings Accounts by individuals who lost premium tax credits (aka ‘ill-conceived elements of “Obamacare).

These are the backbone of the President’s “Great Healthcare Plan” (January 15, 2026) that is premised on his view that the healthcare system is fundamentally flawed because consumer interests are not served. His plan reckons consolidation and corporatization in the $5.3 trillion U.S. healthcare enterprise as business strategies to profit operators (hospitals, medical practitioners, insurers, long-term care providers), suppliers (drugs, supplies, technologies, facilities), regulators and advisors at the expense of consumers. It posits that increased competition, less regulation, more transparency and a more direct role for consumers are necessary changes. …

FRAUD is the new F bomb in healthcare. It rallies industry critics to a common purpose. Medicaid is only the start.”

Paul Keckley, March 1, 2026

MHA in the News

KFF Health News published a story March 4 detailing concerns from hospital leaders and lawmakers across the country about how states plan to spend new federal rural health funding. The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program …

MHA Monday Report March 2, 2026

Monday Report, Member News

Governor Whitmer Delivers Final State of the State Address

Gov. Whitmer delivered her final State of the State address Feb. 25 before a joint session of the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate, outlining priorities for the remainder of her term, including healthcare affordability. …

MHA EventsUpcoming Events Focus on Workplace Violence

The MHA is hosting two upcoming events that provide resources and insights on workplace violence in healthcare. The MHA Keystone Center and MHA Endorsed Business Partner Tarian will host the webinar, The Four Myths of Workplace Violence …

Hospitals Help: Grant Drives Maternal Safety Innovation at MyMichigan Health

Simulation training helps care teams prepare for rare, high-risk events by allowing them to practice clinical decision-making and collaboration in a safe environment. Through an equipment grant distributed by the MHA Keystone Center with funding …

The MHA February Recap 

MHA Chief Medical Officer Expresses Support for AAP Immunization Schedule

The following statement can be attributed to Gary Roth, DO, MBA, FACOS, FCCM, FACS, chief medical officer of the MHA.  The MHA supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) evidence-based 2026 immunization schedule and the …

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 Service Corporation Welcomes New Board Member and Explores Innovations

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board met Feb. 4 to advance and promote current and future business services of the MHASC and its Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) Program. The board also welcomed incoming board member …

MHA Keystone Board Reviews Strategic Priorities

The MHA Keystone Center Board of Directors met Feb. 4 to review strategic priorities and key initiatives aligned with the 2025-26 MHA Strategic Action Plan. The meeting opened with a discussion focused on workplace violence …

Building Excellence Without Barriers

Every February, Black History Month invites us to pause and reflect on the pioneers who have redefined what’s possible for communities across the country — often in systems that were not designed with them in mind. …

Keckley Report

Mission Health, Asheville: Up Close and Personal

“On December 10, I had quadruple bypass surgery at Mission Hospital (MH), the HCA Healthcare facility in Asheville NC. It was necessary due to significant blockage (95%) and counsel from my long-time primary care physician at Vanderbilt, Ben Womack. …

This experience has been enlightening. I kept copious notes and continue to add to that file. My journey spans 3 months, 2 ED visits, a 5-day inpatient stay, an outpatient post-op procedure to clear fluid build-up in my lungs, a follow-up visit with Dr. Russell and the first two weeks of the rehab regimen. Observations to date: …”

Paul Keckley, Feb. 22, 2026

MHA in the News

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel joined WJR’s Ryan Ermanni live broadcast Feb. 25 for the station’s annual coverage of the state’s legislative and policy priorities in alignment with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the …

MHA Monday Report Feb. 23, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Awaits Further Consideration, Important Healthcare Bills Advance

The House and Senate advanced key healthcare bills through the committee process during the week of Feb. 16 and legislation to restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact awaits further consideration by the Michigan Legislature. Senate Bill …

MHA Keystone Board Reviews Strategic Priorities

The MHA Keystone Center Board of Directors met Feb. 4 to review strategic priorities and key initiatives aligned with the 2025-26 MHA Strategic Action Plan. The meeting opened with a discussion focused on workplace violence …

MHA Shares Talking Points on Mental Health Framework

The MHA recently finalized talking points on Michigan’s Mental Health Framework to support hospital engagement with policymakers and legislators. The release follows the association’s formal comment letter outlining hospital concerns with the proposed framework, particularly …

MHA Events2026 MHA HR Conference to Feature Reputation Management Session

Human resources (HR) leaders do more than oversee policies. They guide pivotal moments — difficult conversations, high-pressure decisions and daily interactions that shape trust, culture and credibility across an organization. At the 2026 MHA HR Conference …

MDHHS Shares 2026 MICH Requirements Updates

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released updated information for calendar year 2026 regarding coverage regions and participating plans for Mi Coordinated Health (MICH). MICH is the state’s Highly Integrated Dual …

Registration Open for MDHHS Laboratory Leadership Summit

Registration is open for the Laboratory Leadership Summit, hosted March 26 in Lansing by the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories. MHA members are encouraged to register and attend …

Hospitals Help: Lake Huron Medical Center Clinic Provides Free, Lifesaving Care

Lake Huron Medical Center, Port Huron, partners with the People’s Clinic for Better Health, which has been providing life-saving healthcare at no cost to the uninsured and underinsured in St. Clair County for more than …

From the MHA Board Chair

Building Excellence Without Barriers

Every February, Black History Month invites us to pause and reflect on the pioneers who have redefined what’s possible for communities across the country — often in systems that were not designed with them in mind. …

The Keckley Report

Government Reports on Healthcare require a Closer Look

“Last week, the Federal Government released agency reports that paint a perplexing picture for the health industry entering 2026:

Tuesday, The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX SUMMARY noting “Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.7%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in December 2025 and 3.4% for the 12-month period ending December, 2025.” Closer look: it was +3.6% for hospitals and +3.2% for nursing homes. …

In every hospital, medical group nursing home and home care organization, pressure to attract and keep a viable workforce is mission critical. In some, the Human Resource function is effectively aligned with regulatory, clinical and technology changes, in some, compensation plans from executive to support are strategically designed to optimize short and long-term performance and ROI. In some, the Board Compensation committee is well-prepared to adjust policies as talent requirements change. In some, leaders and frontline teams show mutual respect and sincere appreciation. But many fall short.

These reports are public record. But their headline stats don’t tell a complete story. Every healthcare organization is obligated to do the rest.”

Paul Keckley, Feb. 15, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

Join MHA Endorsed Business Partner SmarterDx for the webinar From Policy to Your Playbook: Turning Rural Health Transformation Programs into Actionable Steps, Feb. 26 from 1 – 2 p.m. ET.

MHA in the News

MHA CEO Brian Peters bylined an op-ed Feb. 16 in The Detroit News, highlighting Michigan hospitals’ understanding of the financial strain that rising healthcare costs are creating and reinforcing their commitment to being part of …