Setting the Record Straight on OBBBA Impacts

The MHA received media coverage during the week of July 21 that focused on setting the record straight about the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on hospitals.

The Detroit News published an opinion response from MHA CEO Brian Peters and Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton about the harmful consequences to Michiganders and healthcare from the OBBBA. This response follows an editorial from The Detroit News published July 12 that defended the cuts to Medicaid.

“Michigan hospitals are bracing for a $6 billion loss in Medicaid funding over the next decade,” said Peters and Stanton. “When coverage declines, so do reimbursements, but the volume of those seeking care does not. That means fewer resources to staff emergency rooms, provide specialty care or keep maternity units open. When that happens, everyone, not just Medicaid recipients, feels the impact.”

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel also appeared on The WILS Morning Wake-up on WILS-AM 1320 in Lansing on July 22 to discuss the OBBBA with host Mike Austin.

Lastly, Peters also provided a statement for a FOX 47 story on July 24 expressing the MHA’s opposition to Senate Bills 296 and 297, which would limit any hospital’s ability to require mandatory overtime to just during declared emergencies.

“Requiring nurses to work overtime is rarely used, but hospitals and nursing leaders need the flexibility to make decisions that may require staff to work outside of their normal schedules to ensure patient care when unforeseen circumstances occur in their local communities,” said Peters.

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

Virtual Media Roundtable Focuses on Medicaid Funding Cut Consequences

MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks during a virtual media roundtable about Medicaid.
MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks during a virtual media roundtable about Medicaid.
MHA CEO Brian Peters speaks April 3 during a virtual media roundtable about Medicaid funding cuts.

A virtual media roundtable hosted April 3 by the Michigan League for Public Policy included MHA CEO Brian Peters as a panelist, where he discussed the consequences for potential Medicaid funding cuts by Congress.

Crain’s Detroit Business, CBS Detroit and MIRS published stories as a result of the roundtable.

“When Medicaid funding reductions force hospitals to curtail services or in fact eliminate entire service lines or in fact close hospitals … the services are no longer available to Medicaid recipients, but they’re no longer available to anyone in the community, either,” said Peters. “The cuts that are being contemplated in Washington, D.C. right now, if those were to be implemented, they would cost jobs. And more importantly, I can tell you, they would cost lives,”

Monique Stanton from the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Monique Stanton from the Michigan League for Public Policy.

Joining Peters during the roundtable were:

  • Monique Stanton, President & CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy
  • Russ Kolski, Interim Executive Director, Ingham Community Health Center
  • Susan Harding, Executive Director, Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency
  • Jenny Wagemann, Manager, Allen Farmers Market and Breadbasket Food Pantry

On a separate note, MLive also published a story April 3 that references the MHA’s healthcare workforce data and the 44% reduction in nursing vacancies in Michigan hospitals from 2023 to 2024. The story shares news on a nursing student loan repayment program announced by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Detroit Free Press also published an article on the program, citing the MHA’s Economic Impact of Healthcare Report.

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