DIFS Publishes Bulletin on No-fault Reimbursement Following Andary Decision
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) issued Bulletin 2022-17-INS Oct. 5 in the matter of payment and billing guidance for no-fault automobile insurers and healthcare providers following an order from the Michigan Supreme Court in the Andary v. USAA lawsuit …
MDHHS Releases Proposed Policy to Resume Required Enrollment Activities
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released a proposed policy to rescind remaining waived provider enrollment (PE) requirements implemented by MSA 20-28 and resume required enrollment activities that were waived during the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) …
CMS Announces 2023 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the calendar year 2023 Medicare fee-for-service Part A deductible for inpatient hospital services will increase by $44 to a new total of $1,600 …
MHA Creates Workforce Sustainability Communications Toolkit
As hospitals and health systems across Michigan continue to face workforce challenges, the MHA has developed a downloadable communications toolkit focused on workforce sustainability …
Michigan Harvest Gathering Launches Oct. 10
Michigan Harvest Gathering Launches Oct. 10Food insecurity and health outcomes go hand in hand, as those who struggle to put food on the table are at a higher risk of conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. In 2020, more than one million Michiganders faced food insecurity – including 300,000 children …
Opportunities for Immunization Grants – Applications Due Nov. 1
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently announced multiple grant opportunities for health organizations and AAP Chapters to improve community confidence in vaccines and to support pediatricians in the delivery of on-time vaccinations …
Webinar Dispels Misinformation About Unionization and Outline Legal Guidelines
Healthcare workforce shortages, particularly nursing shortages, are severely hindering the ability to provide patient-centered care. Unionizing to negotiate for policies like staffing ratios is popular but does not consider the complexity of significant workforce shortages …
MHA Race of the Week – Michigan Secretary of State
The MHA’s Race of the Week series highlights the most pivotal statewide races and ballot questions for Election 2022. The series will provide hospitals and healthcare advocates with the resources they need to make informed decisions on Election Day, including candidates’ views and background …
The Keckley Report
The Keckley ReportThe White House Strategy for Nutrition and Hunger: Three Glaring Oversights
“Last Wednesday, the White House hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in DC—the first since the Nixon administration’s conference in 1969. Noting that food insecurity is an issue in one in four US households and the eroding nutritional value of the food supply chain, the Administration laid out its strategy in a 44-page document featuring 5 pillars of its attention…
The White House Strategy is a great start but the issues of food insecurity and nutritional deficiency require urgent, comprehensive and dedicated attention. The White House says it has secured pledges of $8 billion from the private sector to advance the strategy: that’s a good start, but only a fraction of what’s needed.”
Paul Keckley, Oct. 3, 2022
News to Know
News to Know- A second gubernatorial debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 25 on the Oakland University campus between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican candidate Tudor Dixon.
- Early in-person voting by absentee ballot at a clerk’s office is currently available.
- Complimentary MI Vote Matters informational posters and the 2022 Candidate Guide remain available for MHA members.
MHA in the News
MHA in the NewsBridge Michigan published an article Oct. 4 which focuses on the staffing challenges impacting behavioral health providers that limit bed capacity. The article begins by reviewing the number of reduced beds at state psychiatric facilities …
Incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson is the former CEO and executive director of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving race relations and driving social progress in professional sports. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Harvard Law School and Oxford University, and is a former dean of Wayne State University Law School. During her time as Secretary of State, Benson has focused her efforts on election access. She played a key role in advocating for opportunities to vote early and by mail, particularly during the early-pandemic election in 2020. For more information, visit 
Republican Kristina Karamo is a public speaking and college orientation professor at Wayne County Community College. Her prior political experience is highlighted by an unsuccessful attempt in 2018 to serve as Oakland County Commissioner for the 10th District. She also served on the Right to Life of Michigan’s Black Leadership Committee, and as communications chair for the Oakland County Republican Party and the Michigan Republican Party State Committee. Karamo is primarily focused on the issue of election security after claiming she witnessed fraud while serving as a poll challenger during the 2020 election. Karama is a graduate of Oakland University and Biola University in La Mirada, California. For more information, visit 
Economic Development Supplemental Passed by Michigan Legislature 
MHA Distributes Workforce Grant Report to Legislature
MHA Keystone Center Presents Annual Health Equity Summit
of the Week – Michigan Governor
MHA CEO Report — Michigan Hospitals: Benefitting Communities in Significant Ways
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is an attorney and formerly served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. The MHA maintains a strong, positive working relationship with Whitmer as it did throughout her years as an elected official. During her time in the Senate, Whitmer established herself as a healthcare champion through her work as Senate Minority Leader to expand healthcare coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan, an effort that the MHA and its member hospitals advocated for and continue to support. Governor Whitmer continued that trajectory in her executive role, leading the state through a very difficult time in healthcare with the COVID-19 pandemic and on-going behavioral health crisis. Whitmer’s running mate for lieutenant governor remains Garlin Gilchrist II, Detroit’s first-ever director of innovation and emerging technology and a former software engineer at Microsoft. For more information, visit 
Tudor Dixon is a former steel industry employee and conservative media activist. Dixon’s early career focused on industrial sales for heavy equipment in the agriculture, automotive and energy sectors, among others. After beating a breast cancer diagnosis, Tudor left the steel industry to begin her media career. Dixon worked with Lumen News, where she developed pro-America, pro-constitution morning news programs for grade school students. Dixon’s running mate is Shane Hernandez, a former architectural designer and state representative from Port Huron. Hernandez served as the Appropriations Chair for the Michigan House of Representatives from 2019-2020. For more information, visit 
The Legislature returned the week of Sept.19 to continue work on several pieces of legislation that the MHA is currently monitoring. Committees met in both the House and Senate, taking up legislation that included several new bills supported by the MHA in the areas of behavioral …
The MHA participated in several advocacy events in September, providing opportunities for MHA members to share their experiences with both current and future decision-makers. Several MHA staff helped lead a virtual advocacy event Sept. 9 for the Michigan Organization of Nurse Leaders …
