Tag: MiCare Champion

Catching Up on All Things Healthcare with Tina Freese Decker

Member News, MiCare Champion Cast

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring state and federal healthcare priorities with Tina Freese Decker, MHA, MSIE, FACHE, president & CEO, Corewell Health and 2025 chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

The episode, hosted by MHA CEO Brian Peters, explores healthcare innovation, affordability and how institutions like Corewell Health are bracing for the impact of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).”

“It’s very important to protect and strengthen our hospitals, but we can also look ahead and say, how do we drive healthcare forward to a future that can be more affordable, more exceptional and simpler?” posed Freese Decker. “We all want what is best for our neighbors. When we put people at the center, we can align around what needs to happen and where we need to go.”

Freese Decker leads more than 60,000 within the integrated health system and oversees Corewell Health’s provider-sponsored health plan, Priority Health, which serves 1.3 million members across Michigan.

During the conversation, Freese Decker noted her biggest concern with changes under the OBBBA will be the loss of access to primary care services for patients without healthcare coverage. She noted that embracing a preventative mindset and being mindful of healthcare costs will be critical.

“Our patients do hard things every day and we help them through that,” said Freese Decker. “We need to make sure we’re disrupting the status quo and challenging conventional wisdom. It’s going to be hard, but it’s also an opportunity to advance care and improve the lives of our teams and our communities…it will require significant change. We will not be able to do it the way we’ve always been able to do it.”

Peters and Freese Decker also explore the future of growing the healthcare workforce talent pipeline, the role technology will continue to play in hospitals and the importance of fostering new partnerships across industries.

The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Questions or idea submissions for future MiCare Champion Cast episodes can be sent to Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

How Could Medicaid Cuts Impact Michigan?

MiCare Champion Cast, Member News
MiCare Champion Cast Header Photo

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast exploring how proposed reductions to Medicaid could disrupt access to care and harm Michigan hospitals, patients and communities.

Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations & public policy, MHA, first explored the history and purpose of Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan, which has been hailed a success for improving access to care, reducing the uninsured rate and supporting economic stability for families across the state.

Appel explained the potential impact of recent federal proposals, which include instructions to cut Medicaid by at least $880 billion over 10 years. Changes like block grants, per capita caps and reduced federal matching rates could lead to a staggering $1.73 billion shortfall in the state budget, jeopardizing access to healthcare for millions.

“Cutting funding is cutting care,” said Appel. “Not every hospital is on the financial footing it wishes it were and there are a lot of hospitals across the country that are already in difficult financial straits…this could be the reason that they close all together.”

Michigan hospitals are asking members of Congress to protect the Medicaid program and oppose proposed reductions. Appel noted those interested in helping with this effort and reaching members of Congress are encouraged to visit the MHA Legislative Action Center.

Listeners can also expect to learn more about the impact proposed cuts would have on rural healthcare and Michigan’s economy. The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.