Tag: Protect MI Care Coalition

MHA Provides Powerful Testimony on Federal Threats to Medicaid

Member News

The Senate Health Policy Committee held a nearly two-hour hearing June 4 on federal threats to Medicaid.

The Senate Health Policy Committee heard from several healthcare stakeholders and members of the Protect MI Care Coalition on the potential impacts of federal Medicaid cuts. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA and JJ Hodshire, president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital, testified on behalf of the MHA to discuss key impacts for hospitals and communities if currently proposed cuts to Medicaid are fully passed by Congress.

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Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA, and JJ Hodshire, president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital, testified on behalf of the MHA to discuss key impacts of federal Medicaid cuts.

Carlson shared how the reconciliation package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives will result in more than 13 million people losing their healthcare coverage. Other restrictions in the legislation will reduce state revenues that help fund Medicaid and have been in place for years. Carlson noted that Medicaid is vital for continued access to healthcare for all Michiganders, not just those covered by Medicaid.

Hodshire spoke about the impact to rural communities. Medicaid recipients in rural counties are essential to keeping hospital doors open because they make up nearly 40% of patient volume. Hodshire spoke about how Medicaid helps enrollees get and keep jobs and how the state’s Healthy Michigan program reduces the uninsured rate and supports economic stability. Hospitals are often the largest employer in rural areas, as it was emphasized that cuts to Medicaid could result in hospitals closing units like labor and delivery or psychiatric, or in some cases – closing their doors completely. Hodshire made it clear that making cuts to Medicaid at the federal level would be devastating for rural patients, hospitals and communities.

Members with questions regarding Medicaid may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.

Protect MI Care Coalition Partners Share Majority of Michiganders Oppose Medicaid Cuts

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

The MHA joined other Protect MI Care Coalition partners in releasing public polling results that show 83% of Michiganders want to see Medicaid spending increased or kept the same as Congress considers cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from the Medicaid Program.

The MHA joined the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, Michigan Association of Health Plans and Michigan Primary Care Association in commissioning the public polling from EPIC-MRA, which was shared through the new Protect MI Care coalition that was created to protect the federal Medicaid program from potential funding cuts.

Other results include:

  • 82% of Michigan residents oppose cutting Medicaid spending to pay for tax cuts.
  • 86% of Michigan residents feel Medicaid is important for people in their local community.
  • 76% express Medicaid is important for their family members and friends.

The results are featured in a stories published by Crain’s Detroit Business, WLNS 6 News and Gongwer.

Separate the from the public polling release, FOX 47 published a segment May 7 on Medicaid funding cuts with MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel. This interview is part of a series of local TV news spots the MHA is recording to raise awareness of the funding threat.

The Protect MI Care coalition was launched April 17 and is made up of more than 140 organizations across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education and community organizations. The MHA is one of eight groups serving on the coalition’s steering committee, providing direction and guidance to the coalition’s activities. Other steering committee members include the Michigan League for Public Policy and previously mentioned associations.

The coalition website includes advocacy tools, news updates and social media links to assist members of the public and participating groups in their advocacy efforts.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also release a report May 8 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services about the potential consequences of proposed Medicaid cuts. The report estimates limiting provider taxes would lead to a $2.3 billion decrease in payments to hospitals and imposing Medicaid work requirements would cost the state between $75 million to $155 million a year to implement a reporting program. In addition, converting to a block grant or a per-capita cap system would result in the loss of $4.1 billion to $13.4 billion for Michigan over the next decade.

MHA members are encouraged to continue to use the MHA’s action alert to contact their member of Congress and express the importance of protecting Medicaid from any funding cuts.

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.