Media Recap: SCOTUS Dobbs Decision, State Budget and Rural Hospital Challenges

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage on a variety of topics during the weeks of June 27 and July 4. Areas of focus included the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the passage of the fiscal year 2023 state budget and challenges facing small and rural hospitals.

The MHA shared a statement with media following the SCOTUS decision that repealed Roe v. Wade. Outlets that included comment from the MHA in their stories included the Detroit Free Press, Bridge and Gongwer.

The passage of the state budget the morning of July 1 by the Michigan Legislature was celebrated by MHA CEO Brian Peters in a media statement that outlined the existing MHA budget priorities that continue to be protected as well as significant new funding to support behavioral health capacity and the healthcare workforce. MLive, MiBiz, The Center Square and Gongwer carried portions of the statement.

Renewed attention was brought to financial challenges faced by small and rural, particularly independent, hospitals due to a legislative request for funding from Sturgis Hospital as the organization pursues the possibility of converting to the new rural emergency hospital designation through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. MiBiz and Bridge published articles that include reaction from the MHA following assistance the association made in the legislative ask that secured $11 million for Sturgis Hospital.

Members with any questions regarding media requests should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: Week of Nov. 15 for COVID-19 in Michigan

covid cell

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the growth in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, hospital capacity and healthcare workforce sustainability.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include statements from the MHA.

Sunday, Nov. 21

Thursday, Nov. 18

Wednesday, Nov. 17

Tuesday, Nov. 16

Monday, Nov. 15

Members with questions on COVID-19 efforts and resources should contact Ruthanne Sudderth, and any questions regarding media requests should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.

Headline Roundup: Week of Nov. 8 for COVID-19 in Michigan

covid cell

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the growth in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, hospital capacity and healthcare workforce sustainability.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include statements from the MHA.

Sunday, Nov. 14

Friday, Nov. 12

Thursday, Nov. 11

Wednesday, Nov. 10

Members with questions on COVID-19 efforts and resources should contact Ruthanne Sudderth, and any questions regarding media requests should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.

MLive: Children 5 to 11 now eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA CEO Brian PetersMLive published an article Nov. 3 on the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The article quotes MHA CEO Brian Peters on the value of the approval when it comes to protecting younger children from severe infection and reducing the overall spread of the disease.

“At a time when children’s hospitals throughout Michigan are strained due to high rates of respiratory illness, this approval will keep children safe and help reduce the burden on our hospitals and allow them to focus on their patients with non-COVID illnesses,” said Peters.

Weekend Headline Roundup: Physician Burnout & Pediatric Dentistry Challenges

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA CEO Brian PetersMHA CEO Brian Peters was quoted in stories published Aug. 8 by MLive and Crain’s Detroit Business discussing the impacts of physician burnout due to COVID-19 and pediatric dentistry challenges.

Hospital staffing has been a challenge since the pandemic began, particularly during the three COVID-19 surges that occurred in Michigan. The MLive story focuses on hospital staff who have transitioned away from COVID-19 care or the acute care hospital setting entirely due to burnout.

“A contributing factor to the staffing shortage prior to the pandemic was the rate of stress and burnout in the healthcare setting and the pandemic has exacerbated the issue,” said Peters. “It is apparent that there are certain jobs, especially those dealing with direct patient care, where the burnout factor is especially pronounced.

“We have heard numerous anecdotal reports from our membership that the pandemic has led many healthcare workers nearing retirement age to leave the workforce. This has created a real crunch in staffing and was really felt during the last surge in Michigan.”

The Crain’s Detroit Business story evaluates the challenges associated with finding operating room time for pediatric dental procedures, particularly for those children with special needs.

“Currently, operating room access is limited throughout the state, and difficult decisions have to be made on which types of procedures can be performed,” said Peters. “Hospitals have an obligation to prioritize the patients under the care of their employed physicians and surgeons. In addition, hospitals throughout Michigan continue to operate at high capacity while caring for high volumes of non-COVID-19 patients, which we believe is a consequence of delayed care from the pandemic. The postponement of nonemergency medical procedures at the beginning of the pandemic is one specific example that has led to further demand for operating room space.”

Chris Mitchell Discusses Hospital Mergers with MLive

Chris Mitchell

MHA Executive Vice President Chris MitchellMLive published a story June 18 with Chris Mitchell, executive vice president, advocacy & public affairs, discussing the reasons behind hospital mergers.

The story reviews a proposed merger between Spectrum Health and Beaumont Health. Mitchell contributed comments about the recent trend of hospital mergers in broad terms, as well as the benefits health systems receive through a merger.

“The name and brand recognition obviously is important to all parties involved in these, and really some of the efficiencies that can be achieved through group purchasing and consolidation of information technology and emergency medical records services,” said Mitchell.

Read the article

Headline Roundup: Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands to 12- to 15-Year-Olds

MHA CEO Brian Peters

MHA CEO Brian PetersMHA CEO Brian Peters provided a statement May 12 expressing the MHA is pleased that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended 12- to 15-year-olds can receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Portions of the statement were included in stories by several news outlets across Michigan, including The Associated Press, Detroit Free PressMLive and MIRS.

“This vaccine proved to be 100% effective in trials of this age group, and even more importantly, extremely safe – meaning young people who get vaccinated can return to doing so many things they’ve missed over the last year,” said Peters. “We want these kids back in school, back in sports, back to seeing friends – but doing so safely. The best way to get your child back to their normal activities is to get them vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Peters also appears in a story by the Michigan Advance discussing the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine.