MHA Podcast Explores How Michigan Leaders Can Collaborate to Address Gaps in Behavioral Health

The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On episode 29, State Representative Graham Filler and Dr. Julie Yaroch, D.O., president of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital and Senior Vice President of Inpatient & Retail Pharmacy for ProMedica Health System kick off Mental Health Awareness Month discussing how lawmakers, healthcare leaders and the community can work together to address gaps in the state’s behavioral healthcare system.

The episode is available to stream on SpotifyYouTubeApple Podcasts and SoundCloud.

Additional state behavioral health resources can be found through the Mental Health Association of Michigan and the Children’s Hospital Association. As mentioned in the episode, the MHA issued a request for proposal for a $50 million competitive grant program for Michigan healthcare entities to expand access to pediatric inpatient behavioral health services. The funding was appropriated by the Michigan Legislature as part of the state fiscal year 2023 state budget with the goal to increase the number of beds available to care for pediatric psychiatric patients requiring inpatient hospitalization. Applications are due to the MHA by 11:59 p.m. on June 1.

The MiCare Champion Cast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan.

Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Feb. 27, 2023

MHA Monday Report

MiCare Champions Healthcare Advocates

The MHA continues to utilize public healthcare ambassadors, referred to as MiCare Champions, to advocate for public policy needs for Michigan hospitals and health systems. The MiCareMatters campaign originally launched in 2017 with the aim …


State Loan Repayment Program Application Period Begins

Applications for the 2023 Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP) will be accepted from March 6-31 through the File Transfer Application System. Providers are strongly encouraged to create an account in the system before starting the application period. The MSLRP assists employers in the recruitment …


Feb. 28 Virtual Training for FY 2020 Medicaid DSH Audit

Myers and Stauffer LC, Michigan’s contractor for the federally mandated Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) audits, encourages hospital staff to participate in the upcoming virtual training at 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Hospital staff are also …


CHAMPS Registration Required for Medicaid Doula Services

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will reimburse for doula services provided to individuals covered by Medicaid beginning Jan. 1, 2023. Doula providers are required to be registered and approved on the …


The Keckley Report

TPaul Keckleyhe North Carolina Study of Hospital CEO Pay: An Incomplete Picture

“Last Wednesday, North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell released a report alleging 9 prominent North Carolina health systems overpaid their CEOs more than $1.75 billion from 2010 to 2021. …

The issue of CEO compensation is tricky for hospitals because the public’s unaware of how hospitals operate—7/24 serving all comers. In North Carolina, hospitals directly impact 8% of the state’s economy. Understandably, they pay attention to Exec Comp! The Treasurers Report should prompt discussion about the role of hospitals in the state and their future. It’s an incomplete picture. “

Paul Keckley, Feb. 20, 2023

MHA Podcast Explores Program Year Priorities with Michigan Medicine

The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On this episode, MHA CEO Brian Peters is joined by T. Anthony Denton, J.D., MHSA, senior vice president and CEO of University of Michigan Health – Michigan Medicine, and 2022-2023 Chair of the MHA Board of Trustees. The two explore priorities for the new program year along with efforts underway to address workforce challenges, improve health equity and support sustainability.

Denton has a vast history working in healthcare – from human resources to administrative operations. He has worked on master program and facility planning, capital investments, workforce planning and execution, environmental sustainability, social determinants of health and programs that create positive community impact. He also serves on state, national and community boards and was recently chair of the MHA political action committee – also known as Health PAC – that raised more than $400,000 toward advocating for communities and healthcare organizations.

Part of the episode’s discussion focuses on The Pavilion at University of Michigan Health, a 12-story hospital breaking ground on their Ann Arbor campus. Denton shares insight on what led to the project, along with some key sustainability considerations as construction continues. The new adult inpatient facility is scheduled to open for patient care in the fall of 2025.

This podcast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. It is currently available via SpotifyiTunes and SoundCloud.

For more information, visit micarematters.org. Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

New Podcast Explores Social Determinants of Health with Wright Lassiter

The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On this episode, Wright Lassiter, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, discusses social determinants of health — what they are, why they matter, and how understanding them can help achieve better health outcomes. Lassiter also shares valuable insight about how to best support healthcare workers as they continue to face pandemic burnout and what drove the organization’s recent rebranding to Henry Ford Health, previously Henry Ford Health System.

As president and CEO, Lassiter oversees the $7 billion integrated health system comprised of six hospitals, a health plan and a wide range of ambulatory, retail and various health services across more than 250 locations in Michigan and 33,000 employees. Lassiter joined Henry Ford Health in 2014 as president and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2016.

This podcast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. It is currently available via Spotify, iTunes and SoundCloud.

For more information, visit micarematters.org. Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 14, 2021

MHA Monday Report logo

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Weeks of June 7

The Michigan First-Dose Tracker indicates that, as of June 10, 60% of Michiganders ages 16 and over had received a COVID-19 vaccine. By June 12, more than 892,000 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the state since the pandemic began; but more than 852,000 …


MHA Provides Testimony in Senate on Newly Introduced Legislation

The Michigan Legislature addressed several bills impacting hospitals during the week of June 7, including legislation that would create new statewide systems of care for two time-sensitive emergency medical conditions, modernize scope of practice for …


Association Submits Comments on Medicare Post-acute Care Proposed Rules

The MHA recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the proposed rules to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment systems for fiscal year 2022 for several post-acute care …


Community Benefit Reporting and the COVID-19 Pandemic Discussed in Webinar

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on communities, patients and the hospitals that serve them and has severely affected hospital finances. Questions have arisen regarding how pandemic-related expenses, revenues and …


MHA and MHA Keystone Center Events Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

To act deliberately and purposefully to ensure outcomes across all patient populations are equitable, leaders should know where disparities exist, ways to prevent disparities and how to create a culture and system that reduces disparities to improve quality and …


Chief Medical Officer Debunks COVID-19 Vaccine Myths on MiCare Champion Cast

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities. …


High Reliability Leads to Safe Work Environment

Creating a highly reliable hospital requires a commitment to a just culture, continuous learning and designing care improvement. The webinar High Reliability in the Time of COVID-19, scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. EDT June 24, will review high reliability principles proven …


CyberForce|Q Offers Continuous, Collective Approach to Cybersecurity Assessments

The MHA’s newest Endorsed Business Partner, CyberForce|Q, offers a new approach to cybersecurity for healthcare organizations. CEO Eric Eder described a situation where a rural healthcare system’s CEO shared his organization’s experience …


Headline Roundup: Week of June 6 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has compiled a collection of media stories that include references to the MHA related to the last COVID-19 surge and vaccines. …

The Keckley Report

Post Pandemic, Affordability Looms as the Big Challenge in Healthcare — This Time, It’s Different

“Pre-pandemic, polls showed healthcare costs were a major concern to U.S. consumers. Post-pandemic, indications are it will re-surface as the industry’s biggest challenge, particularly affordability. But this time, consumers are likely to act differently on their concerns.”

Paul Keckley, June 8, 2021


MHA in the News

Modern Healthcare published an interview with MHA CEO Brian Peters June 7 discussing the new administrative rules requiring implicit bias training for licensure or registration of healthcare professionals in Michigan.

Chief Medical Officer Debunks COVID-19 Vaccine Myths on MiCare Champion Cast

headphones with heart icon in middle.

MiCareMatters PodcastThe MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On this episode, Lydia Watson, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of MidMichigan Health, discusses her perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic, from managing the needs of front-line staff to sharing stories of hope and healing throughout some of the most challenging moments of 2020. Later in the show, Watson debunks some common myths about the COVID-19 vaccines.

This podcast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. It is currently available to listen to via YouTube and SoundCloud.

Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.