Tag: Michigan Reconnect

Workforce Bills Highlight Healthcare Legislation Advanced in the State Legislature

Member News, Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare

Advocacy image tileSeveral workforce bills highlighted the healthcare legislation that advanced in the state legislature during the week of Nov. 11.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate Bills (SBs) 406 and 407, led by Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). The bills provide the statutory changes to continue expanded eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program. The legislation amends the Michigan Reconnect Grant Recipient Act to reduce the age of eligibility to receive Michigan Reconnect from 25 to 21. The MHA supports this legislation, as it will make it easier for Michigan residents to access high-demand healthcare credentials through the program. The legislation now awaits a vote from the full Senate.

The Michigan House passed House Bill 4224, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo). This legislation would repeal the onerous Medicaid work requirements that have been in statute for the last several years, although not officially enforced. The MHA supports the bill to clean up Michigan’s Medicaid statute to ensure that the program remains a sustainable safety net for those in need of health insurance. The legislation now advances to the Senate for their likely consideration by the Health Policy Committee.

The Senate Local Government committee also advanced SB 660, sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor). The legislation would establish a process to allow local units of government to levy taxes on certain impermeable surfaces to fund projects related to stormwater control and runoff. The MHA opposes the legislation, as it removes the current requirement that such taxes must be approved by a vote of the people in the community and could increase costs for healthcare. The bill now advances to the full Senate.

Members with questions can reach out to Elizabeth Kutter.

Deadline Extended for Michigan Reconnect Scholarship Program

Member News

The Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) extended its deadline to enroll in the Michigan Reconnect scholarship program. Those interested now have until Dec. 31, 2024 to apply.

Michigan Reconnect is a program that allows Michiganders ages 25 or older, and who have not yet earned a college degree, to earn a skill certificate or degree tuition-free at a Michigan community college. The Whitmer Administration expanded the age range of the program in 2023 to include 21–24-year-olds. This expansion targets those who may have dropped out or have been unable to pursue higher education. The Reconnect program aims to address Gov. Whitmer’s “60 By 30” initiative to have 60% of Michiganders possess a skill certificate or degree by 2030. More than 177,000 people have already applied for the scholarship program and with the extension, the program hopes to continue to open the door to higher education for more Michigan residents.

To receive the scholarship, individuals must enroll in coursework starting with the summer 2025 semester. Members are encouraged to visit the Michigan Reconnect webpage to learn more or apply for the scholarship.

Members with questions may contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.

Healthcare Advocates Honored with MHA Special Recognition Award

Member News
Sen. Anthony and Rep. Witwer

The MHA announced two winners of its Special Recognition Award during the Annual Membership Meeting June 27, recognizing them for extensive contributions to healthcare. Each of the winners has uniquely influenced healthcare in Michigan. The winners include Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township).

The lawmakers each chair their chamber’s appropriations committee, with Anthony the first Black woman to ever chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. These committees are responsible for determining the annual state budget, covering important healthcare areas including Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, graduate medical education, the rural access pool and obstetrical stabilization fund, and critical access hospital reimbursement rates. Both lawmakers were strong supporters of Public Act 5 of 2023, sponsored by Witwer, which provided $75 million for hospital workforce recruitment, retention and training in the fiscal year 2023 state budget. In addition, they each fought to include enhanced funding for ongoing Level I and Level II trauma centers, inpatient psychiatric payment rates and maternal health in the fiscal year 2024 budget. Both Anthony and Witwer are strong supporters of funding Medicaid appropriately to ensure adequate reimbursement rates for providers and protect access to healthcare services.

Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing)
Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing)

In addition to her committee role, Anthony prioritizes expanding access to healthcare. She sponsored Michigan’s first mental health parity law, signed into law May 21 by Gov. Whitmer. Public Act 41 of 2024 requires insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatments at the same level as physical health services. This new law eliminates existing disparities and ensure equal access to necessary care for all Michiganders. Anthony also co-sponsored key legislation last session to support the healthcare talent pipeline signed into law by Gov. Whitmer Dec. 22, 2022. Public Acts 251 and 252 of 2022 expanded the Michigan Reconnect program, allowing for several additional certifications to qualify for the post-secondary scholarship program including high-demand healthcare credentials. Other healthcare legislation Anthony sponsors includes Senate Bill 531, which is part of a package of bills supported by the MHA that would improve Michigan’s amended auto no-fault laws. The package would simplify and increase Medicare hospital reimbursements, clarify the definition of Medicare and create a new post-acute care provider fee schedule. The bills passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote and await consideration by the House.

Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township)
Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township)

Witwer’s role as a healthcare champion is inspired by more than the 22 years she spent working in healthcare to begin her career. She first started as a clinician, working in University of Michigan Health – Sparrow Lansing’s burn unit and later as the manager of pediatric rehabilitation. She later became manager of the hospital’s community relations and marketing department, before leaving the organization to co-found her own public relations, marketing and advocacy firm. These life experiences inspired Witwer’s support for Public Acts 271 and 272 of 2023, which increase the penalties for assaulting a healthcare worker or volunteer by doubling the financial fines for those found guilty of such a crime.

Michigan Hospitals Fill 61,000 Jobs in 2023

News Releases, Member News, Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare

Healthcare Remains the Largest
Private-Sector Employer in Michigan

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) published results from their second annual Michigan hospital workforce survey that shows hospital recruitment, retention and training efforts in 2023 helped fill 61,000 total positions in 2023, reducing job vacancies by 29% to a total of 19,000 statewide. More than 13,000 nurses were hired during that time, decreasing the number of nursing vacancies by 44%. The survey includes responses from more than 95% of all Michigan acute-care inpatient hospitals.

Nearly all job categories in the survey experienced double-digit percentage decreases in vacancies year-over-year. Hospitals successfully reduced vacancies in the following job categories:

  • Nursing – 44% decrease
  • Operations – 43% decrease
  • Behavioral health – 42% decrease
  • Administration – 34% decrease
  • Clinical assistants – 28% decrease
  • Pharmacists – 26% decrease
  • Technicians – 25% decrease

Bar graph of decline in hospital job vacancy by category.

Amidst a national nursing shortage, the results show Michigan hospitals are outperforming national nurse retention rates. The registered nurse (RN) turnover rate for Michigan hospitals is 3.7 percentage points lower than the national average of 18.4%. Examples of how Michigan hospitals are retaining and recruiting nurses include offering better and faster pay, improved benefits and employee support, and expanding educational opportunities for students to consider a nursing career. State funding obtained through Public Act 9 of 2022 and Public Act 5 of 2023 contributed to these efforts and have directly benefitted at least 69,000 healthcare workers.

To complement the efforts of individual hospitals, the MHA launched the statewide MI Hospital Careers public awareness campaign in 2023 targeting students and professionals considering a career change to express the value of healthcare careers. The MHA also engaged in efforts that ultimately led to four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs at community colleges, expansion of the Michigan Reconnect program to allow funds to support Michiganders accessing healthcare credentials for technician and nursing careers, and new state law that increases the penalties for individuals who commit acts of violence against healthcare workers.

Michigan hospitals remain focused on solutions that build the healthcare workforce that patients need now, and in the future, to fill the remaining 19,000 open hospital positions, including 4,700 in nursing.

These efforts will strengthen healthcare in Michigan, which remains the state’s largest employer of direct, private-sector jobs according to 2024 Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan data. More than one million jobs in Michigan were directly or indirectly related to or induced by healthcare in fiscal year 2022, the most recent data available. Hospitals collectively employ 217,000 full- and part-time employees, remaining one of the largest employers in many Michigan communities. In addition, direct healthcare workers in Michigan earned nearly $47 billion in wages, salaries and benefits.

“Retaining and growing the workforce is a top priority shared by hospitals throughout the state,” said Michigan Health & Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters. “We’re extremely encouraged by the data demonstrating the success of hospitals over the past year in increasing the talent pipeline to care for patients and strengthening the healthcare workforce. Hospitals provide Michigan communities with good jobs that help drive our state’s economy and keep residents healthy.”

The 19th edition of The Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan was compiled using IMPLAN® cloud software to quantify healthcare’s significant economic impact in the state. The data represents direct, indirect[1] and induced[2] healthcare jobs; taxes paid by those workers and their employers; and salaries, wages and benefits earned. The report is an online, interactive tool that allows users to examine these economic impacts from a statewide perspective and by region, county or congressional district. It is available at www.economicimpact.org.

[1] Indirect jobs are those created to support a larger employer or industry (for example, a laundry that cleans linens for a hospital).

[2] Induced jobs are those created by the spending of people who work in the indirect jobs (for example, a restaurant waiter who serves the laundry workers).