The MHA received media coverage the week of Aug. 4 on hospital cost pressures, behavioral health partnerships and the impact of Medicaid cuts.
Gongwer published a story Aug. 4 about a PricewaterhouseCoopers report that reviews the trends in the medical sector that are continuing to result in higher costs for services that are placing growing pressure on hospitals. The report shows that factors that include growth in drug spending and reductions in federal funding are leading to decreased hospital margins.
“This report confirms what hospitals in Michigan and across the country are living every day: skyrocketing costs, growing demand and shrinking margins,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “We cannot afford policies that slash Medicaid funding or shift more financial burden to hospitals and patients. Without sustainable support, hospitals – especially those in rural and underserved areas – face real threats of closure.”
Second Wave Michigan also published an article Aug. 5 about behavioral health partnerships that hospitals have in the state. The story looks at both policy solutions such as Senate Bill 316, as well as the partnership between Network180 and Trinity Health Grand Rapids in establishing The Behavioral Health Crisis Center to divert patients in crisis from emergency departments and jails.
“If you come to a hospital emergency department and you’re in some level of a behavioral health crisis, that hospital has to work with the CMH in the area where the patient lives,” said Lauren LaPine, senior director of legislative and public policy, MHA. “That takes a lot of time and a lot of coordination.”
MLive and Michigan Public also published stories that include mentions of the MHA following U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s visit to Helen DeVos Childre’s Hospital. The stories reference the MHA’s estimate that Michigan hospitals will lose $6 billion over the next ten years from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.