Michigan’s primary election was held Tuesday, Aug. 2, finalizing the November general election ballot. The 2022 midterm election is critical to Michigan’s healthcare future given the number of key elected positions up for election …
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The rule will: Reduce disproportionate …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatric facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2023, which begins …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities for fiscal year (FY) 2023, which begins …
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service long-term care hospital prospective payment system (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2023, which begins Oct. …
In preparation for the state’s anticipated grant program to implement an Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (ED MOUD) program, the MHA is asking all members to fill out …
Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment in Michigan totaled approximately 1.20 million in July, an increase of 15,000 beneficiaries since April. The July MA enrollment is spread across 47 MA plans that are currently operating in the …
It’s well known within the healthcare industry that issues of employee turnover, lack of applicants and salary compression were exacerbated in 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately, these trends have continued throughout …
The Keckley Report
Solving Healthcare Workforce Shortages Requires Taking Self-care More Seriously
“The Labor Department reported that the U.S. added 528,000 jobs in July including 69,600 in healthcare. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, June job openings were down to 10.7 million from 11.3 million in May and government officials announced that the economy has now recouped the 22 million jobs lost in the pandemic.
But the more sobering news is that inflation has negated the workforce’ 5.1% wage gain in the last year and 1 in 5 workers is looking for employment elsewhere for higher pay and better benefits. And it’s even worse in the healthcare delivery workforce—the hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and ancillary service providers where 12 million work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital employee turnover increased to 19.5%–five times higher than the general workforce. And today, 45% of physicians report burnout—double the rate pre-pandemic.”
Members are reminded to review their preliminary wage and occupational mix data released May 23 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and submit any requests for changes to their Medicare Administrative Contractor by Sept. 2 since no new requests for changes will be accepted after that date.
The MHA received media coverage on a variety of topics during the weeks of Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. Areas of focus included health insurance tax credits from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), healthcare benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act, growing demand for healthcare careers and more.
Michigan’s primary election was held Tuesday, Aug. 2, finalizing the November general election ballot. The 2022 midterm election is critical to Michigan’s healthcare future given the number of key elected positions up for election this year. Based on the primary results,the top of the ticket will include Democratic incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer against Republican nominee Tudor Dixon in the gubernatorial race, followed by attorney general, secretary of state, all 13 U.S. House of Representative seats, all seats in both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, two Supreme Court seats and local races.
Due to redistricting, several incumbent lawmakers in both Congress and the state legislature faced competitive primaries. Two congressional race outcomes of note include Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Waterford Township) defeating Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) in the 11th district; and incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) losing to John Gibbs (R-Grand Rapids) in the 3rd district. Two districts that will not feature incumbents in November are the 10th district where John James (R-Farmington Hills) will run against Carl Marlinga (D-Sterling Heights) and the 13th district where state representative Shri Thander’s (D-Detroit) victory in the primary has him positioned as the presumed favorite in a heavily Democratic leaning district.
A handful of state legislative incumbents also lost in the primary. Redistricting had Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron) facing Rep. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair) in the 83rd district, with Rep. Beeler winning the Republication nomination. The same situation occurred in the Senate with Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) defeating Sen. Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit). Other incumbents who lost were Rep. Rodney Wakeman (R-Frankenmuth), Rep. Terrence Mekoski (R-Shelby Township), Rep. Richard Steenland (D-Roseville) and Sen. Kim LaSata (R-Niles).
One race that remains to be officially decided is the 34th House District Republican primary. Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) received 4,774 votes, seven more than the second place candidate Ryan Rank. However, Rank has requested a recount.
The MHA will also be preparing and distributing nonpartisan election resources and tools for members following the conclusion of the nominating conventions. These materials are designed to encourage voter education and participation at the local level and will be available on the MHA 2022 Election webpage. The MHA will also feature regular election updates on its Facebook and Twitter feeds using #MIVoteMatters.
The MHA encourages its staff, members and other stakeholders in the healthcare community to vote in the state’s primary election Aug. 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sample ballots are …
Gov. Whitmer signed July 20 the fiscal year 2023 state budget. Included in the 2023 budget agreement is $625 million in new investments for behavioral health funding and the healthcare workforce. This includes: $50 million …
Registration is currently open for Rural Advocacy Day as the MHA facilitates connections between rural hospital leaders throughout Michigan with legislators to discuss the vital role these hospitals and organizations play in their communities. The …
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) effective Jan. 1, 2023. The CMS notes that the agency did not …
Hospitals are encouraged to review their preliminary wage and occupational mix data released May 23 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and submit any requests for changes to their Medicare Administrative Contractor …
The U.S. House of Representatives passed July 27 the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act to expand telehealth services by extending several telehealth flexibilities under Medicare that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating …
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) revised Public Health Code Rules requiring implicit bias training for all professions licensed or registered under the Public Health Code took effect in June. Implicit Bias trainings …
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule to obtain comment on potential Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for critical access hospitals (CAHs) and certain rural hospitals seeking to convert from …
Approximately 100 hospitals and ambulatory care providers in Michigan have explored the features of the MHA and the Michigan Health Council’s standardized, validated nurse preceptor toolkit – the Nurse Preceptor Academy (NPA). The academy is …
We have rightfully spent a lot of time in the past two years thanking the heroes who work in our hospitals and other healthcare settings for the incredible work they have done in the face of extreme challenge. I want to take a moment …
The Keckley Report
The U.S. Economy at the 2022 Mid-point: Three Immediate Implications for Healthcare
“The labor market is tight. Inflation is at a 40-year high. Consumers are worried but still spending. And this week, 5 key indicators of the economy’s strength/vulnerability will be reported. … Collectively, these indicators are likely to show an economy in stress. … So, what’s that mean for healthcare?”
The MHA received media coverage since July 15 from Crain’s Detroit Business on new investments for behavioral health funding and the healthcare workforce in the fiscal year 2023 state budget. Crain’s first published an article …
The MHA encourages its staff, members and other stakeholders in the healthcare community to vote in the state’s primary election Aug. 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sample ballots are available through the Michigan Secretary of State website, and additional information and resources can be found on the MHA Election 2022 webpage. Voters may only vote in one party section for the entire ballot. Ballots with votes in more than one party section will not be counted. Voters are also encouraged to vote in nonpartisan sections of their ballots.
Those who would like to ensure they are properly registered or need to verify their precinct number may click on “Your Voter Information” on the Michigan Secretary of State website and type in the requested information. The November 2018 passage of the state constitutional amendment, Promote the Vote Ballot Proposal, allows citizens to register to vote up to and on Election Day at their local clerk’s office.
The 2022 gubernatorial and midterm elections are critical to Michigan’s healthcare future. In addition to choosing the next governor, secretary of state and attorney general of Michigan, voters across the state will decide political contests that impact the legislative and regulatory environments faced by hospitals and the patients they serve, including two Michigan Supreme Court seats and all seats in both the U.S. House of Representatives, the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. Based on the political makeup of legislative districts, the results of the primary election often determine who will take office in January.
Following the August primary and the Democratic and Republican state conventions at the end of the month, the MHA will once again offer members a series of nonpartisan communication tools designed to encourage voter education and participation at the local level for the Nov. 8 general election. The MHA will also feature regular election updates on its Facebook and Twitter feeds using the hashtag #MIVoteMatters. Members with questions should contact Sean Sorenson-Abbott at the MHA.