Tag: Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Governor Signs New Budget Including Investments in Hospitals

Member News
capitol building

capitol buildingGov. Whitmer signed the fiscal year 2024 state budget Aug. 1, which includes $92 million in new investments directly to hospitals. It specifically provides $59 million to support increased Medicaid reimbursement rates at Level I and II trauma centers and $33 million to support an increase in Medicaid inpatient psychiatric reimbursement rates. The signed budget will go into effect Oct. 1.

In addition to the ongoing and targeted new investments, the agreement provides necessary resources to assist hospitals and health systems in advancing the health of individuals and communities throughout Michigan. It maintains funding for the Healthy Michigan Plan, Medicaid, graduate medical education, disproportionate share hospitals and the rural access and obstetrical stabilization pools.

The MHA is also pleased with new investments in workforce by lowering the age for Michigan Reconnect from 25 years to 21 years of age and investing $2.5 million to support recruitment and retention programs for behavioral health professionals. The budget also increases ongoing funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides significantly reduced tuition for many students at public universities.

Consistent with the strategic action plan of the MHA, the budget places a new emphasis on health equity and reducing disparities for maternal health care with specific, targeted new investments. Funding is included for the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health and $49.5 million for community health programs, healthy community zones, IT improvements and mobile health units to address racial disparities in health. Additionally, the budget further expands the Medicaid program by eliminating the five-year waiting period for pregnant and new mothers who are legally residing in Michigan.

Members with questions on the state budget may contact Adam Carlson.

MHA Monday Report Nov. 7, 2022

Monday Report
MHA Monday Report

MHA Board of Trustees Advances Strategic Action Plan, Affirms Policy Panel Legislative Recommendations

The MHA Board of Trustees began their Nov. 2 meeting with a review of key communication strategies to assist hospitals and health systems to “tell their stories” about the unprecedented financial and workforce challenges they currently face and how they are adapting to meet the critical healthcare and economic development needs of their communities …

Logo for MI Vote Matters, Tuesday Nov. 8Healthcare Community Urged to Vote in Nov. 8 General Election

The MHA encourages its staff, members and other stakeholders in the healthcare community to vote in the state’s general election Nov. 8.- Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. …

Parents Urged to Take Preventive Measures as Pediatric Beds Fill Up

Michigan children’s hospitals and pediatric healthcare leaders are raising awareness about a pediatric hospital bed shortage and urging the public to help prevent respiratory illnesses, which are rapidly spreading in the form of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza …

CMS Releases Final Rule to Update OPPS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) effective Jan. 1, 2023 …

Provider Enrollment Requirements Reinstated Effective Dec. 1, 2022

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued MMP 22-38 COVID-19 Response: Termination of Bulletin MSA 20-28, which reinstates provider enrollment requirements …

CMS Releases Final to Update Medicare PPS Effective 2023

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) effective Jan. 1, 2023 …

MHA Supports Increased Access to Affordable Post-Secondary Education

The MHA, along with stakeholders across diverse fields, supported record state investment in Michigan’s future workforce. On October 11th, the Governor signed Public Act 212 of 2022 establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and applications starting with students in the high school class of 2023 will now be eligible for increased state financial aid …

CE Credits Available for Unionization and Legal Guidelines Webinar

The webinar Dispelling Misinformation About Unionization and Legal Guidelines 8:30 – 10 a.m. ET Nov. 11 has been approved by HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) for 1.5 hours …

MHA Rounds Report - Brian Peters, MHA CEOMHA CEO Report — Your Vote Matters

At the MHA, we often say that politics is not a spectator sport. It requires continual engagement and relationship building so that when you are in a crisis and need assistance, you have trusted friends you can turn to …

The Keckley ReportPaul Keckley

The Three Blind Spots in Hospital Strategic Plans

“For 40 years, I have facilitated Board Retreats for hospitals, health systems, insurance plans and medical groups. At no time has the level of uncertainty about the future for hospitals been as intense nor the importance of a forward-looking strategic vision and planning been as necessary as now. The issues are complicated: lag indicators about demand, clinical innovations, reimbursement, costs et al are a foreboding backdrop for these discussions. And three issues have surfaced as blind spots in the environmental assessments and deliberations preceding the plan …”

Paul Keckley, Oct 31, 2022

Michigan Harvest GatheringsNews to Know

Many Michigan hospitals are underway with their Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign which runs through Nov. 18. Online donations by hospital employees and community members to the Michigan Harvest Gathering program can be made through the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s website …

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage on the surge of RSV cases across Michigan’s pediatric hospitals during the week of Oct. 31. The coverage included several comments provided to news outlets and the distribution of a press release Nov. 4 to statewide media …

MHA Supports Increased Access to Affordable Post-Secondary Education

Member News

The MHA, along with stakeholders across diverse fields, supported record state investment in Michigan’s future workforce. On October 11th, the Governor signed Public Act 212 of 2022 establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and applications starting with students in the high school class of 2023 will now be eligible for increased state financial aid. The legislature passed and Governor Whitmer signed a state budget supplemental in October that included record funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. The scholarship will allow students to save up to $8,250 over three years as they earn their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 over five years at a private college or up to $27,500 over five years at a public university.

The MHA supported this investment to increase access to affordable post-secondary programs that will give students the ability to pursue high demand healthcare careers with far fewer barriers. As our state continues to navigate the workforce and talent pipeline needs across numerous industries, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is a positive step towards developing the state’s future workforce.

Governor Whitmer announced this week the official opening of the MI Student Aid website to assist students and parents interested in learning more about and applying for the Achievement Scholarship. Interested parties can visit Michigan Achievement Scholarship website to get started on the steps necessary to apply for funds, which will be available starting with students in the high school class of 2023.

Questions on the scholarship can be directed to Elizabeth Kutter at the MHA.

Economic Development Supplemental Passed by Michigan Legislature

Member News
capitol building

capitol buildingThe Michigan Legislature was back in session the week of Sept. 26 to finish voting on a multitude of bills as committees and the full body met for the last time before the Nov. 8 election.

The Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 842, an education focused supplemental appropriations bill with boilerplate that creates a new scholarship for low-income Michigan high school graduates. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship will award qualifying students with up to $5,500 in last dollar student aid for community college, tribal college or university tuition. The program is expected to cost a total of $170 million and will be paid through with previously allocated money within the Postsecondary Scholarship Fund. The MHA was supportive of the new scholarship, which is expected to be available for the 2023-2024 school year.

Two bills that would amend the Michigan Reconnect Program were advanced from committee and passed by the full House of Representatives. The Michigan Reconnect Program is another postsecondary scholarship program designed to provide funding to adult learners to return to the classroom to pursue credentials or postsecondary degrees at community colleges or eligible training programs. House Bills (HBs) 6129 and 6130 would provide incentives for accepting previous learning credits and allow for several additional certifications to qualify for the scholarships. The MHA is supportive of HBs 6129 and 6130 and secured an amendment to the legislation to allow high-demand healthcare credentials to be eligible for the program. The bills now head to the Senate for further consideration before the end of the year.

In the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee, an MHA-supported bill related to telemedicine was advanced to the Senate Floor. SB 1135, introduced by Sen. Mike MacDonald (R-Macomb Township), would specify that previous expansions to Medicaid telemedicine coverage also apply to the Healthy Michigan Program and Michigan’s medical assistance program. Most notably, the legislation would require continued coverage for audio-only telemedicine services. The MHA will continue to monitor action on SB 1135, which would continue virtual care policies that have proved to be effective and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MHA is also monitoring action on HB 5880, which was discharged to the House Floor without a committee hearing and passed by the full House of Representatives during the Sept. 28 late-night session. A floor substitute was adopted that changed the intent of the bill, which would now require parental consent for all non-emergent healthcare services to minors. The MHA has significant concerns with how the new language could impact patient care and will oppose any further action on the bill.

Members with questions on these bills or any other state legislation related to healthcare should contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.