Tag: Rick Pollack

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack Addresses MHA Board

Member News
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and MHA CEO Brian Peters pictured during a fireside chat during the April 9 MHA Board of Trustees Meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing.

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack to its April 9 meeting at the MHA’s Capitol Advocacy Center in downtown Lansing. The board meeting primarily focused on how to effectively advocate with state and federal lawmakers to preserve access to vital community healthcare services currently facing steep proposed funding cuts.

In a ‘fireside chat’ format moderated by MHA CEO Brian Peters, Pollack shared the political insights he’s gleaned from more than forty years of federal healthcare advocacy to provide his perspective on the current Congressional budget process, key drivers of the current administration and Congressional leadership, and the most effective messaging to help lawmakers understand how their community hospitals will be affected by the budget proposals.

Pollack shared recent public messaging from the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, showing the faces of Medicaid and urging lawmakers to protect funding. “If lawmakers don’t hear from you, they think there’s no problem. Hospitals are not a single-issue group,” said Pollack. “Reach out to your lawmakers because we have the opportunity to be objective teachers. Bring them into your hospitals and tell your story.”

At the state level, the board affirmed its support for efforts to address medical debt relief, providing direction for the association to continue working with policymakers on this important issue. The board also discussed ongoing advocacy in support of state legislation to protect 340B contract pharmacies. In addition, the board affirmed the work of the Advisory Panel on Community Benefit Collaboration, with a focus on voluntary collaboratives to improve prenatal care and help address perinatal mood disorder.

The MHA Health PAC campaign remains on target to reach its $400,000 goal. Lastly, the board approved the Type 3 membership application of Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

MHA CEO Report — Election Season

MHA Rounds
MHA Rounds image of Brian Peters

“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”  – Harry S. Truman

MHA Rounds graphic of Brian PetersElection ads and coverage are everywhere, regardless of whether you’re watching television or scrolling on your phone. I don’t have to tell you the presidential election is today, Nov. 5, but I will always remind people of the importance and value of each vote. Elections have consequences and as an advocacy organization, we deal with those consequences daily. The outcome of the 2024 election will determine not just who occupies the White House, but also our state and federal lawmakers, administrative leaders, state supreme court justices and an assortment of local issues and ordinances. Each new legislative session brings new policymakers, who bring with them their plans on potential reform and change.

Michigan clearly took center stage in this election cycle. Nearly every day, one of the presidential candidates, their running mates, spouses or other proxies have made campaign stops throughout the state. We also have some of the most expensive congressional races in the country, particularly our U.S. Senate seat and the 7th and 8th  U.S. House districts. With this extra attention can come hyper-partisan headlines, added emotion and fatigue. During this time, it’s important to remember that there are healthcare champions on both sides of the aisle. Access to quality healthcare is not a partisan issue and its important candidates hear from their clinicians, healthcare workers, administrators, trustees, volunteers and others about the issues impacting healthcare at home. Politics are local and advocacy, at its core, is about relationship building. As Adam Carlson, our MHA Senior Vice President of Advocacy likes to say, “You must be present to win.”

Education and awareness are key during election season. The MHA has been active in making sure our hospitals have all the tools necessary. This includes election posters, a candidate guide, Race of the Week features on our website, multiple podcast episodes and regularly previewing the election throughout our committee, council and task force meetings.

My friend Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, joined me in one of our latest podcasts and made an important point that regardless of the election outcome, issues like affordability, drug pricing and value-based payments are not going away. However, what will change are those decision-makers working on these topics and we have a role in both deciding who those individuals are and then educating them and being a resource.

If you have not done so already, please vote today. In preparation, listen to our latest podcast with MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel to understand all that is at risk this election cycle. And once you’re ready, drop off an absentee ballot, visit your clerk’s office for early voting or plan to stop by your voting precinct on Election Day. Remember, your vote matters – and your engagement in the process well beyond election day matters too. I have a dog and agree with President Truman – they are great. But I would encourage all of us to make friends in the political world as well. Our healthcare future depends on it.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

What’s Ahead in Healthcare? Insights from the American Hospital Association

Member News, MiCare Champion Cast

The MHA released a new episode of the MiCare Champion Cast featuring Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). Pollack joined MHA CEO Brian Peters to discuss a variety of topics tied to past, present and future healthcare trends.

As the nation’s largest hospital and healthcare system membership organization, the AHA is one of our country’s most respected and effective advocacy organizations. Beyond his strong advocacy leadership, Pollack has been instrumental in addressing historic workforce challenges, expanding healthcare access, improving healthcare quality and safety, eliminating disparities in care and much more.

MHA CEO Brian Peters and Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA, during the recording of the MiCare Champion Cast episode.

After sharing more about his journey to the AHA, Pollack explored the fundamental shifts he has seen within the national healthcare environment and what issues will be at the forefront through 2025, regardless of the outcome of the general election.

“We always work to be a resource to candidates on both sides [of the aisle] and make sure they have the information they need in terms of data and what our positions are,” said Pollack. “Regardless of the election, there are certain issues that are not going to go away,” he added, noting affordability, drug pricing, value-based payment, and insurer accountability as examples of bipartisan issues.

Pollack later shared the important role grassroot efforts play when it comes to healthcare advocacy at the local level.

“People should not be intimidated in terms of engaging their legislators,” said Pollack. “They work for you, and you could be a resource to them. I always used to try to explain to my kids what a lobbyist does – and part of it is being an objective educator on issues where you are the expert and they will look to you for their guidance and counsel…and as a former congressional staffer, don’t forget the staff.”

Peters and Pollack also discussed cybercrime, challenges and opportunities for rural hospitals, the importance of the 340B Prescription Drug Pricing Program and much more. The episode is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube.

Those interested in learning more about the MiCare Champion Cast can contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.