Tag: MHA Strategic Action Plan

MHA Board Uplifts Funding for Birthing Hospitals and Support for Health Equity

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees continued work on advancement of the 2023-2024 Strategic Action Plan at its April 10 meeting, with focus on its four pillars: workforce support and innovation, viability, improved behavioral healthcare and health equity. Opposition to government mandated staffing ratios remains a top priority for the association within the workforce pillar, as it has been shown to be a harmful approach to addressing workforce shortages. Instead, the association supports specific measures to address educational barriers, support innovation and grow the talent pipeline.

The board recognized the work within the viability pillar through the MHA and the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health partnership to secure $10 million in state grant funding to assist Michigan’s birthing hospitals to pay for new mandatory state Maternal Level of Care (MLC) verifications. Pending state legislation will require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to register each birthing hospital’s MLC verification. Under the terms of the grant, the MDHHS will provide funding for birthing hospitals that fully participate in MI-AIM and complete an application to participate in the MLC verification through The Joint Commission (TJC). Funding per hospital will range from $50,000-$400,000 this fiscal year and the MHA Keystone Center will fund TJC fees. More information will be provided in an upcoming member webinar.

The board also received the final report from the Health Equity Task Force and endorsed converting the task force into a standing Health Equity Council for the 2024-2025 program year to continue the work of the board to ensure that high quality, equitable and safe care is available for everyone. The board recognized the association’s work in furtherance of behavioral health priorities through continued input on behavioral health legislation, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities and the hosting of its ongoing five-part behavioral health member webinar series.

Lastly, the board approved new member applications from R1 RCM, Origami and Bay Street Orthopedics and Spine.

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

Workforce and Innovation Addressed by MHASC Board and HR Council

Member News

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board focused its Feb. 7 meeting on supporting the MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities to address workforce support and innovation, viability, behavioral health improvement, health equity and more. The board was joined by Bruce Brandes, president, care.ai, an MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP). Brandes provided a strategic overview for how AI and ambient intelligence is transforming care delivery models. care.ai sponsored a joint lunch for MHA and MHASC board members and provided an update on its Smart Care Facility Operating Platform. The MHASC is planning to launch new Endorsed Business Partners and innovative solutions in the coming months.

The MHA Human Resources (HR) & Workforce Council met Jan. 30 to discuss current HR priorities and review its role in advancing the mission of the MHA and the role of human resource leaders. The council provided input on legislative and regulatory issues relevant to healthcare employers, including diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, workplace safety and workforce development. Members provided feedback on current workforce-related legislative efforts and shared valuable insights with colleagues during a round-table session addressing 2024 priorities, innovative ideas, lessons learned and more. The HR Council is looking forward to networking with colleagues at the upcoming MHA HR Conference on March 5.

The MHASC provides critical support to the MHA in the form of non-dues revenue through its Data Services, Unemployment Compensation Program and EBP program. The MHASC’s mission is to deliver innovative solutions that help improve value and performance, addressing various business needs including workforce, supply chain, revenue cycle, strategic growth solutions and more. Members are encouraged to visit the MHA Business Services webpage to learn more about the resources available.

Questions regarding the MHASC Board should be directed to Ruthanne Sudderth at the MHA.

MHA Board of Trustees Advances Strategic Action Plan, Focus on Workforce Support and Medicaid Maximization

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees focused most of their Nov. 8 meeting on targeted actions in advancement of their 2023-2024 Strategic Action Plan, which outlines the association’s priorities for the year ahead and identifies those areas of work that need long-term attention from the MHA and the hospital community. Once again, the plan is organized into four key pillars: Workforce Support and Innovation, Viability, Improved Behavioral Health and Health Equity.

Opposition to mandated staffing ratios remains a top priority for the association within the Workforce pillar, as it has been shown to be a misguided and potentially harmful approach to addressing workforce shortages. Instead, the association supports specific measures to address educational barriers, innovation and growth within the talent pipeline. Within the Viability pillar, the board discussed ongoing work in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to maximize Medicaid funding, a review of MDHHS’s process for rebidding Medicaid health plan contracts and a status report on Medicaid eligibility following the expiration of COVID-era waivers. The board also discussed strategic priorities to advance the association’s Behavioral Health and Health Equity pillars. This included continued work on bed access and capacity (especially for children), crisis prevention and education, Community Mental Health system reform and behavioral health data support, as well as continued work on the health equity front to reduce maternal morbidity disparities and partnerships with public health departments to address local disparities.

Board member Douglas Apple, MD, chief clinical officer, Ascension Michigan, and interim president & CEO, Ascension Genesys Hospital, provided a patient story that emulated the use of high reliability principles that resulted in reduction of patient harm. In this case, during a routine preoperative assessment, a nurse appropriately used the Suicide Risk Screening tool and discovered that a patient very recently attempted suicide. The use of the tool and subsequent intervention led to the patient getting critical care for a health risk that would otherwise not have been identified.

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 MHA Board of Trustees meetings should contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Nov. 6, 2023

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingHealthcare Worker Protections Headed to Governor

Legislation increasing penalties for violence committed against healthcare workers was approved by the state House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote during the week of Oct. 30. The MHA-supported bills increase fines for assaulting a healthcare …

Michigan Hospitals Invested $784 Million in Community and Voluntary-based Activities to Improve Health, Well-being of Residents

New report outlines hospital community health efforts in FY 2021  The Michigan Health & Hospital Association released today the Making a Difference in Our Communities report that highlights how hospitals invested more than $784 …

Beyfortus Supply Shortages & CDC Guidelines

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract disease in infants approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2023. The MHA has …

speak upC.S. Mott Children’s Hospital MRI Technologist Receives Speak-up! Award

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center a Dragan Spremo at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital with the quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award on Oct 23. The MHA Keystone Center …

Registration Open for Virtual DEI Certificate Program

Registration is open for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Healthcare certificate program offered Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. The event, hosted by the Michigan Health & Hospital …

HHS Submits Information Blocking Disincentives Proposed Rule

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently submitted a proposed rule outlining penalties providers would face if they do not appropriately share patient data as outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act. …

MDHHS Launches Opioid Settlement Spending Webpage

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently published a webpage to track the allocation of $800 million received for opioid settlement investments. MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Baghdasarian indicated the website …

MHA Launches New Governance Affinity Group

Hospitals and health systems face significant adversity, yet Michigan providers continue to provide high quality and accessible healthcare to their communities, in great part because of governing boards, executives and staff leadership. Board and committee …

MHA CEO Report — Registration is Representation

As we have discussed in these monthly reports in the past, I am incredibly proud that the MHA is committed to the health equity journey, which once again has been identified by the MHA Board of Trustees as …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleySix Majority Beliefs about the U.S. Health System Compromise its Value Proposition

“As news cycles go, this one was standard fare for healthcare: with the exception of business plan announcements by organizations or as elements of tragedies like Lewiston, Gaza or a pandemic, the business of the health system—how it operates is largely uncovered and often subject to misinformation or disinformation. …

In the next 3 weeks, attention will be on the federal budget: healthcare will be in the background unless temporarily an element of a mass tragedy. Each trade group will tout its accomplishments to regulators and pimp their advocacy punch list. Each company will gin-out news releases and commentary about the future of the system will default to think tanks and focused on a single issue of interest.

That’s the problem. In this era of social media, polarization, and mass transparency, these old ways of communicating no longer work. Left unattended, they undermine the value proposition on which the U.S. system is based.”

Paul Keckley, Oct. 30, 2023

News to Know

  • The MHA will host a virtual member from 2 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 9 to outline the MHA 2023 – 2024 strategic action plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently released an updated 2024 Medicare & You Handbook which provides information for patients regarding traditional Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage and more.

News to Know – Nov. 6, 2023

Member News
  • The MHA will host a virtual member from 2 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 9 to outline the MHA 2023 – 2024 strategic action plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees.The forum will review the priorities and tactics to accomplish goals and how the membership can support these initiatives along with presentations from MHA CEO Brian Peters and other MHA leaders. There is no cost to attend, but members are asked to register by Nov. 7. Access information for the virtual session will be sent Nov. 8. Questions about the member forum can be directed to  at the MHA.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently released an updated 2024 Medicare & You Handbook which provides information for patients regarding traditional Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage and more. Members with questions may contact Vickie Kunz at the MHA.

Registration Open for Virtual DEI Certificate Program

Member News

Registration is open for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Healthcare certificate program offered Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. The event, hosted by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and other state hospital associations in partnership with the Healthcare Experience Foundation, will cover six learning modules, including:

  • Diversity, equity and inclusion best practices.
  • Cultural humility to foster more meaningful patient and interpersonal relationships.
  • Strategies to combat incivility.
  • Principles of inclusive leadership.

Participants will engage in small group exercises and discussion with access to a customized learning portal that supports continued application of being an inclusive leader. Continuing education credits have been approved for patient experience professionals and physicians.*

Health equity has been lifted up as a pillar of the MHA Strategic Action Plan with the support of the MHA Board of Trustees for several years, driving towards improved equity of access, outcomes and experience. This virtual DEI Certificate Program is just one of many efforts to help member hospital leaders expand their education and training in the health equity space. Other areas of health equity focus for the association include equity in behavioral health, maternal and infant health, data collection to drive better outcomes and processes, emergency preparedness and more. Members with questions about the health equity pillar of the MHA Strategic Action Plan may contact Jim Lee or Sarah Scranton at the MHA.

Members with questions about the program may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

*This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of MyMichigan Health and Michigan Health & Hospital Association. MyMichigan Health is accredited by the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. MyMichigan Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category Credit(s)TM . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The program is accredited by the Patient Experience Institute for six Patient Experience Education Credits (PXEs).

MHA Monday Report Oct. 30, 2023

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

capitol buildingHealthcare Worker Protections Pass State Senate

Legislation increasing penalties for violence committed against healthcare workers was approved by the Michigan Senate in a bipartisan vote during the week of Oct. 23. The MHA-supported bills increase fines for assaulting a healthcare professional …

Strategic Action Planning Session with MHA Service Corporation Board

The MHA Service Corporation board focused on supporting MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities to address workforce support and innovation, viability, behavioral health improvement, health equity and more during their Oct. 18 planning session. The …

MDHHS Proposes 340B Billing and Reporting Changes

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released a proposed policy to modify hospital outpatient billing requirements for drugs purchased through the 340B drug pricing program. Existing policy requires 340B hospitals to …

Clinician Q & A: Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Pregnancy and infant loss tragically impacts individuals and families at all walks of life across the state and country. While every case is different, this is often a result of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal …

Patient Safety: A Case-based Innovative Playbook for Safer Care Published

Patient Safety: A Case-based Innovative Playbook for Safer Care (Second Edition) is a recently published book that serves as a must-read resource for those seeking to enhance patient care and create a culture of safety …

MHA Strategic Action Plan to be Reviewed Nov. 9

In the new program year, the MHA is focused on several critical issues like viability, workforce resilience and wellbeing, behavioral health and health equity.   The MHA will host a virtual member from 2 to …

The Keckley Report

Paul KeckleyAre Employers Ready to Engage the Health Industry Head On?

“Last week, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released its Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey which included a surprise:

The average annual single premium and the average annual family premium each increased by 7% over the last year. …

My take: these findings show that employers are not prone to drastic changes in health benefits for their employees despite recognition it is expensive and unaffordable to small companies and for many of their own employees.  But many large self-insured employers (except those in government, education and healthcare) are poised to make significant changes next year. They recognize themselves as the primary source of profits enjoyed by insurers, hospitals, physicians, drug companies and others.  They’re developing multi-year at risk direct contracts, value-based purchasing arrangements, primary care gatekeeping, narrow networks, restricted formularies, alternative care models and more to that leverage their clout. They’re going on offense. …”

Paul Keckley, Oct. 23, 2023

News to Know

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced the 2024 Medicare Parts A & B amount for deductibles, coinsurance, premiums and the Part D income-related monthly adjustments.
  • The National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing is accepting requests for funding proposals for new or ongoing programs and interventions that work to eliminate racism in nursing.

MHA in the News

MHA Strategic Action Plan to be Reviewed Nov. 9

Member News

In the new program year, the MHA is focused on several critical issues like viability, workforce resilience and wellbeing, behavioral health and health equity.

 

The MHA will host a virtual member from 2 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 9 to outline the MHA 2023 – 2024 strategic action plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees. The forum will review the priorities and tactics to accomplish goals and how the membership can support these initiatives along with presentations from MHA CEO Brian Peters and other MHA leaders.

 

There is no cost to attend, but members are asked to by Nov. 7. Access information for the virtual session will be sent Nov. 8.

 

Questions about the member forum can be directed to at the MHA.

MHA Strategic Action Plan to be Reviewed Nov. 9

Member News

In the new program year, the MHA continues to prioritize several critical issues, like workforce, viability, resilience and wellbeing, behavioral health and health equity.

 

The MHA will host a virtual membership meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 9 to outline the MHA 2023 – 2024 strategic action plan approved by the MHA Board of Trustees. With presentations from MHA CEO Brian Peters and other MHA leaders, the forum will review the priorities and tactics to accomplish goals and how the membership can support these initiatives.


There is no cost to attend, but members are asked to by Nov. 7. Access information for the virtual session will be sent Nov. 8.

Questions about the member forum can be directed to at the MHA.

MHA Service Corporation Board Highlights Solutions and Successes

Member News

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board held its final meeting of the 2022-2023 program year focused on supporting the MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities of workforce sustainability, financial viability, achieving health equity and improving access and funding for behavioral health. Members are invited to review the July MHA CEO Report for more information on the association’s efforts to address these ongoing priorities.

The MHASC board celebrated the  2023 Outstanding Performance award given to the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (MHA-UCP) by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. This award affirms the MHA-UCP’s dedicated work to reduce unemployment liability for its clients, decrease unemployment fraud and prevent waste with state unemployment agencies. The MHA-UCP has a large portfolio of healthcare employer clients throughout the country, including many MHA members. To learn more about the services available, members may contact Neil MacVicar at the MHA-UCP.

The board was joined by Kelsey Stevens, principal and senior consulting actuary, Wakely, for an overview of actuarial and risk management services for value-based payment arrangements and more. MHASC is planning to launch new Endorsed Business Partnerships in the coming weeks.

The MHASC board had several appointments and reappointments adding depth and breadth of expertise and welcomed new MHASC board members Melissa Holmquist, CEO, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Marquette; Paul Karsten, CFO, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids; Peter Marinoff, south regional president, Munson Healthcare, Cadillac; and Scott McLean, managing director, Corewell Health Ventures, Grand Rapids. The board recognized David Leonard, JD, chief legal officer, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids and Southfield, and Dennis Smith, president, Dennis H. Smith Consulting, LLC, Marquette, for their service on the board ending this year. The board also affirmed the reappointments of Betty Chu, MD, chief quality officer, Henry Ford Health, Detroit; Brian Connolly, Connolly Associates, Rapid City; Brett Furst, founder & CEO, Foresight Ventures, Lake Orion; Marita Hattem-Schiffman, president & CEO, MyMichigan Health Central Region, Alma; and Chair Kent Riddle, CEO, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids.

The MHASC provides critical support to the MHA in the form of nondues revenue through its Data Services, Unemployment Compensation Program and Endorsed Business Partner program to address workforce, financial and other business needs. Visit the MHA Business Services webpage to learn more about resources available.

Questions regarding the MHASC Board should be directed to Ruthanne Sudderth at the MHA.