Tag: Michigan Advance

Michigan Legislature Passes State Budget, Preserves Healthcare Funding

Member News

The Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate passed a state budget protecting all existing healthcare funding on Oct. 3.

House Bill (HB) 4706, sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), passed by both chambers, includes the following:

  • Full funding for Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan.
    • Complete recognition of hospital provider taxes and the ability to access those funds without additional legislative action or red tape.
  • Restoration of Specialty Network Access Fee (SNAF) funding.
  • Continued support for the rural and OB stabilization pools.
  • Preserved funding to support Maternal Levels of Care verification.
  • Restoration of funding for the Michigan Clinical Consultation and Care (MC3) program.

This funding reinforces support for Michigan hospitals, healthcare workers and patients. Full funding for Medicaid means maintained access to healthcare for all patients across communities, especially in rural and underserved areas. Furthermore, SNAF supports physician reimbursements for those providing care in vulnerable communities, while rural and OB stabilization pools ensure funding for rural areas and for labor and delivery services. Lastly, Maternal Levels of Care and MC3 funding were both sustained, safeguarding hospitals’ ability to collaborate among facilities and providers to guarantee women receive risk-appropriate maternal care as well as provide access to important pediatric behavioral health services in Michigan.

The MHA worked diligently with state lawmakers over the last several weeks to ensure this state budget protected hospitals, providers and patients, which led to the MHA’s full support of the finalized version of HB 4706. Following its passage, HB 4706 will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature and its enactment into law.

The MHA published a media statement celebrating the budget, which was picked up by Gongwer and Michigan Advance.

Members with questions about the state budget should contact the MHA Advocacy Team.

Headline Roundup: House Budget Reaction

MHA In The News, Member News

The MHA received a host of media coverage from across the state during the week of Aug. 25 after the MHA issued a media statement reacting to the state budget bill passed Aug. 26 by the Michigan House of Representatives.

House Bill 4706 would institute several harmful changes to hospital funding, which could result in more than 20,000 job losses in Michigan hospitals. The statement from MHA CEO Brian Peters expressed the MHA’s strong opposition to this version of the state budget, expressing the harmful consequences it would bring and the need for a state budget that protects existing hospital funding.

Friday, Aug. 29

Thursday, Aug. 28

Wednesday, Aug. 27

Tuesday, Aug. 26

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: Continued OBBBA Coverage

MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare, Member News, Issues in Healthcare

The MHA continued to receive media coverage during the week of July 14 about the impacts of the federal budget reconciliation bill, officially referred to as the One Big Beautiful Big Act (OBBBA).

Coverage includes references to the association’s financial estimates, as well as quotes from MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Wednesday, July 16

Tuesday, July 15

Monday, July 14

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 10, 2024

Monday Report

House Insurance Committee Hears Testimony on Bill to Protect 340B

The House Insurance and Financial Services Committee convened June 5 to hear testimony on House Bill 5350, introduced by Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), which would protect access to affordable prescription drugs and healthcare services …

Governor Signs Telehealth Parity & Behavioral Health Licensing Clarification Bills

Gov. Whitmer signed several MHA-supported bills during the week of June 3 related to telehealth services and behavioral health licensing. House Bills 4131, 4213, 4579 and 4580 (now referred to as Public Acts 51 – 53 of 2024) establish …

Maternal Levels of Care Toolkit Created to Assist with TJC Verification

A toolkit of resources is now available to assist hospitals with the application process for The Joint Commission’s (TJC’s) Maternal Levels of Care Verification. The toolkit contains resources from TJC and the Florida Perinatal …

MDHHS Distributes Funding to Michigan Universities to Support Behavioral Health Workforce

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently allocated $5 million to 12 Michigan universities to provide stipends to students pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work to Master of Social Work …

Expanded AMN Healthcare Partnership Offers Greater Member Solutions

The MHA’s Endorsed Business Partner program promotes industry-leading firms that can meet the most pressing needs of our member hospitals and health systems. The MHA recently endorsed a national leader in workforce solutions. The …

Health Facility State License Renewals Due July 31

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs announced the start of the 2024-2025 renewal cycle for health facilities operating under state licenses. This renewal applies to hospitals, psychiatric units, hospices, outpatient surgical facilities …

The Keckley Report

Handicapping the Players in the Quest for Healthcare Affordability

“As campaigns for November elections gear up for early voting and Congress considers bipartisan reforms to limit consolidation and enhance competition in U.S. healthcare, prospective voters are sending a cleat message to would-be office holders:

Healthcare Affordability must be addressed directly, transparently and now. …

Getting consensus to address affordability head on is hard, so not much is done by the sectors themselves. And none is approaching the solution in its necessary context—the financial security of a households facing unprecedented pressures to make ends meet. In all likelihood, the bigger, more prominent organizations in their ranks of these sectors will deliver affordability solutions well-above the lowest common denominators that are comfortable for most Thus, health care affordability will be associated with organizational brands and differentiated services, not the sectors from which their trace their origins. And it will be based on specified utilization, costs, outcome and spending guarantees to consumers and employers that are reasonable and transparent.”

Paul Keckley, June 3, 2024

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage the week of June 3 that includes coverage on the 340B drug pricing program and from the Mackinac Policy Conference on the healthcare workforce. Michigan Advance published an article June …

340B and Mackinac Policy Conference Media Coverage

Member News, Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare

The MHA received media coverage the week of June 3 that includes coverage on the 340B drug pricing program and from the Mackinac Policy Conference on the healthcare workforce.

Michigan Advance published an article June 6 recapping the Michigan House Insurance and Financial Services Committee meeting June 5 on House Bill 5350, which would protect access to affordable prescription drugs and healthcare services through the 340B Prescription Drug Pricing Program. The article specifically references an infographic submitted to the committee by the MHA, which describes the value of the 340B program and how it supports vulnerable patients and the providers that care for them.

“[MHA] says the program allows hospitals flexibility to invest savings back into local healthcare needs through programs such as mobile health clinics, financial assistance programs for low-income patients, supporting high-cost lines of service needed within a community, or providing access to low-cost drugs.”

In addition, the article references the additional MHA-members who testified in support of the bill. MIRS and Gongwer also published stories on the testimony.

Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA.
Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA.

Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA, also appeared in two podcast episodes published the week of June 3 that were recorded at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference.

Sudderth joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s A Healthier Michigan podcast to speak about the long-standing partnership between BCBSM and the MHA on a variety of issues, including the history of the MHA Keystone Center and addressing healthcare workforce needs.

Sudderth appeared on The Michigan Opportunity as well, a podcast produced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to discuss the healthcare workforce. Also appearing in the episode is Gov. Whitmer.

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.

Michigan Advance Column Highlights Healthcare As Economic Driver

Member News, MHA In The News

Michigan Advance “Micheconomy” columnist Rick Haglund published a column April 7 that focuses on the large role education and healthcare have in Michigan’s economy. It specifically references the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s annual Economic Impact of Healthcare Report, which is published in conjunction with the Michigan State Medical Society and Michigan Osteopathic Association.

“A study last year by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association claimed that nearly 20% of all payroll jobs in the state in 2021 were in health care and health care-related positions. Health care employers paid out $46 billion in wages and benefits to 567,957 workers in 2021, or an average $80,992 per employee, according to the study.”

The column also references multiple community investment projects being driven by hospitals and health systems throughout Michigan.

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.