MHA Monday Report March 18, 2024

MHA Monday Report

Legislative Policy Panel Recommends Policy Positions

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel met virtually March 13 to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. The meeting began with an update from MHA CEO Brian Peters on the MHA strategic action plan. …


National Rural Health Association Funding Opportunities Available

The National Rural Health Association recently announced two new funding opportunities to support initiatives that will improve healthcare access in rural communities. The Rural Utilities Service, a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture …


MHA Unemployment Compensation Program Receives National Recognition

The MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (UCP) was recognized by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) March 14 for the MHA UCP’s commitment to utilizing the NASWA’s nationwide, web-based system SIDES …


Applications Open for Excellence in Governance Fellowship

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024-2025 Excellence in Governance Fellowship, which will be held from October 2024 through June 2025. The MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship is available to healthcare board members looking for innovative, …


Secure Your Spot: Register Now for the 2024 Communications Retreat

Registration remains open for the 2024 MHA Communications Retreat scheduled Tuesday, May 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing. Current registration includes representation from hospitals and health systems throughout the state. The MHA Communications …


The Keckley Report

Has U.S. Healthcare reached its Tipping Point?

“I believe the U.S. health system as we know it has reached its tipping point. The big-name organizations in every sector see it and have nominal contingency plans in place; the smaller players are buying time until the shoe drops. But I am worried. …

It’s time to start an adult conversation about the future of the system. The starting point: acknowledging that it’s not about bad people; it’s about systemic flaws in its design and functioning. Fixing it requires balancing lag indicators about its use, costs and demand with assumptions about innovations that hold promise to shift its trajectory long-term. It requires employers to actively participate: in 2009-2010, Big Business mistakenly chose to sit out deliberations about the Affordable Care Act. And it requires independent, visionary facilitation free from bias and input beyond the DC talking heads that have dominated reform thought leadership for 6 decades. …”

Paul Keckley, March 11, 2024


News to Know

  • Members are encouraged to register for a free webinar from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET March 20 to learn why onsite risk assessments are important.
  • The MHA will host a webinar with ModusOne Health to help members maximize quality metrics and reimbursements from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on March 27.

MHA Unemployment Compensation Program Receives National Recognition

Courtney Pontack, vice president and Mark Hagerman, information systems & senior claims representative of the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program, recognized for the team’s dedication to fighting unemployment fraud.

The MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (UCP) was recognized by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) March 14 for the MHA UCP’s commitment to utilizing the NASWA’s nationwide, web-based system SIDES for receiving new claims and responding to state unemployment agencies.

This recognition 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 through the MHA UCP, contact Courtney Pontack at the MHA.

MHA Service Corporation Board Highlights Solutions and Successes

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.

Innovative Solutions Explored by MHA Service Corporation Board

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board began its Feb. 8 meeting addressing current strategic priorities including exploring innovative solutions to support hospital financial viability, workforce restoration and wellbeing, behavioral health improvements, health equity and more. The board considered strategies to continue to diversify and increase opportunities to support members through potential products, business opportunities and Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) expertise. The board also recognized the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program for expanding its consultative approach to managing unemployment claims in Ohio, Idaho, New Mexico and more. The MHASC and MHA leadership teams will continue to evaluate the performance and availability of existing and potential endorsed services to ensure they align with the MHA strategic action plan.

MHA EBP Demand Workforce/Qodex presented to the board, outlining an innovative, on-demand mobile app that is transforming healthcare staffing by providing a simple, user-friendly platform that enables hospitals to fill open shifts quickly and efficiently. Members are invited to register for free webinars from 12 to 12:30 EST Feb. 22 and March 8 to learn more information.

In addition, the MHASC Board passed a resolution in honor of the upcoming retirement of longtime MHA Chief Operating Officer Peter Schonfeld and celebrated recent organizational changes to integrate business development and marketing support for both the MHA and MHASC, including the promotion of Ruthanne Sudderth to senior vice president and chief strategy officer. A lunch with the MHA and MHASC Board was jointly sponsored by partners from Merritt Hawkins, AMN Leadership Solutions and Demand Workforce/Qodex.

The MHASC provides critical support to the MHA and MHA members through its Data Services products, Unemployment Compensation Program and Endorsed Business Partner program to address workforce, financial and other operational needs.

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

MHA Unemployment Compensation Program Receives National Recognition

Neil MacVicar, vice president of the
MHA Unemployment Compensation Program, recognized for the team’s dedication to fighting unemployment fraud.

The MHA Unemployment Compensation Program (UCP) was recognized by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) April 27 for the MHA UCP’s commitment to utilizing the NASWA’s nationwide, web-based system for receiving new claims and responding to state unemployment agencies.

This recognition 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 through the MHA UCP, contact Neil MacVicar at the MHA.