rural health - MHA | Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Hillsdale Podcast Explores Hospital Financial Viability, Workforce Restoration and More

April 27, 2023August 23, 2023 Member News, MiCare Champion Cast

MHA CEO Brian Peters joins Jeremiah Hodshire, CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, and Rachel Lott, Chief Communications Officer at Hillsdale Hospital.

In conjunction with the MiCare Champion Cast, Hillsdale Hospital released an episode of the Rural Health Rising podcast April 27 featuring MHA CEO Brian Peters. Joining hosts Jeremiah Hodshire, CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, and Rachel Lott, Chief Communications Officer, Peters explores the state of healthcare as the MHA and member hospitals approach a new program year.

Each week, Rural Health Rising covers healthcare triumphs, challenges and opportunities facing rural America. On Episode 101: The State of Healthcare in Michigan, Peters, Hodshire and Lott cover:

How hospital’s financial viability impacts Michigan patients and healthcare delivery – especially in rural communities.
What action lawmakers can take to continue supporting Michigan hospitals and health systems.
Challenges and opportunities in Michigan’s behavioral healthcare system.
How to get involved and advocate for local hospitals and healthcare workers.

The episode, which also serves as Ep. 28 of the MiCare Champion Cast, is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.

The MiCare Champion Cast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. Each month, the podcast features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA. Those interested in learning more about Rural Health Rising are encouraged to visit the Hillsdale Hospital website.

MHA Monday Report Aug. 15, 2022

August 15, 2022April 24, 2023 Monday Report

Primary Election Sets Field for November

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 …

CMS Releases FY 2023 Final Rule to Update Hospital IPPS

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 …

CMS Releases FY 2023 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Final Rule

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 …

Final Rule to Update Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Payment for FY 2023

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 …

CMS Releases FY 2023 Final Rule to Update Long-term Care Hospital PPS

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. …

Survey Published for Opioid Use Disorder Contacts

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 …

Hospitals Encouraged to Review Medicare Advantage Enrollment Plans

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 …

Address Healthcare Employee Retention with Data Tools

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.”

Paul Keckley, August 8, 2022

News to Know

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.

MHA in the News

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.

MHA Monday Report Aug. 1, 2022

August 1, 2022April 24, 2023 Monday Report

Healthcare Community Urged to Vote in Aug. 2 Primary Election

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 …

Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget Signed

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 …

Register Now for MHA Rural Advocacy Day

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 …

Proposal Released to Update Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System

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 …

CMS Wage Data Revisions Due Sept. 2

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 …

U.S. House Passes Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act

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 …

Implicit Bias Trainings Available to Meet LARA Requirement

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 …

CMS Seeks Comment on Rural Emergency Hospital Proposed Rule

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 …

Online Nurse Preceptor Academy Helps Acclimate New Nurses

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 …

MHA CEO Report — Benefits of the State Budget

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?”

Paul Keckley, July 25, 2022

News to Know

For the remainder of the summer, the Monday Report will be published every other week.

MHA in the News

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 …

MHA CEO Rural Round Table Explores Policies, Partnerships

June 2, 2022August 24, 2023 Member News

The MHA hosted a CEO Rural Round Table event May 25 where healthcare leaders safely gathered at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa to collaborate on ways to foster growth and make immediate and long-term improvements in rural communities.

The interactive event, generously sponsored by HPS, engaged participants through facilitated conversations about workforce research and funding, economic development and collaboration among stakeholders, peers and expert guest panelists, who included:

Elise Bur, executive director, Center for Rural Health, Northern Michigan University
Frank Nagle, director, Community Impact in Michigan, Promedica
Marty Fittante, CEO, Region 1, InvestUP
Sarah Lucas, deputy director, Office of Rural Development, Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Zachary Kolodin, chief infrastructure officer, Office of the Governor, State of Michigan

Other presenters included Helen Johnson, CEO, Sparrow Eaton, and chair, MHA Small & Rural Hospital Council; Lyn Jenks, governance consultant and facilitator; Lauren LaPine, director of Small & Rural Hospital Programs at the MHA; Jim Lee, vice president of Data Policy & Analytics at the MHA; and Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president of Public Affairs & Communications at the MHA.

To assist rural members in expressing their unique needs to lawmakers, the MHA is also planning a Rural Advocacy Day for Sept. 21 at the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center. Additional details will be shared soon. Questions about the Rural Round Table event should be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.

MHA Podcast Explores the 340B Drug Pricing Program

June 2, 2022April 5, 2023 Member News

The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On this episode, Karen Cheeseman, CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS) and Leah Heffernan, retail pharmacy director at MSHS, explain what the 340B drug pricing program is and how it benefits Michigan’s rural communities.

The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program requires that drug companies sell discounted prescription drugs to entities that provide care in underserved communities, including those in rural communities like MSHS. Those interested in helping protect 340B can visit the MHA Legislative Action Center to contact state lawmakers in a few quick steps.

Cheeseman has been with the health system for 17 years, previously serving as chief operating officer and, prior to that, chief human resource officer. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and served on both the Small and Rural Health Council and Legislative Policy Panel at the MHA. Heffernan has been with Mackinac Straits as a retail pharmacy director for three years, working daily to ensure all operations run smoothly at the system’s retail pharmacy.

This podcast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. It is currently available via Spotify, iTunes and SoundCloud.

For more information, visit micarematters.org. Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Peters Focuses on Rural Hospital Challenges in Rural Innovation eXchange Story

April 28, 2022August 23, 2023 Member News, Issues in Healthcare, MHA In The News, Top Issues - Healthcare

Rural Innovation eXchange interviewed MHA CEO Brian Peters for a story published April 28 that examines the challenges facing rural hospitals in Michigan.

Peters discussed staffing shortages and efforts to improve workforce sustainability, the impact of COVID-19 on hospital finances and cybersecurity threats.

“The [workforce] pipeline is going to be so important,” said Peters. “The pipeline as it exists today is not adequate, particularly in rural areas, which are significantly older than non-rural areas and have older and sicker patients. This also means that the phenomenon of folks leaving the field is felt more acutely in rural communities.”

Other healthcare executives appearing in the story include John T. Foss, vice president of operations, Mercy Health Lakeshore Campus; Steve Barnett, president and CEO, McKenzie Health; and JJ Hodshire, president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital.

The MHA also provided comment to Michigan Radio for a story published April 27 on increasing COVID hospitalizations due to the omicron BA.2 variant.

“…[B]ut there are clear indications that the severity of illness is down and so we hope there will not be a surge of COVID hospitalizations like the state has experienced previously,” said John Karasinski, director, communications, MHA.

Survey Results Will Support Rural Workforce Solutions

March 24, 2022August 29, 2023 Member News

The National Rural Health Association and The Chartis Center for Rural Health are partnering on a new rural health safety net survey exploring staffing shortages at rural hospitals. Hospital input will provide a better understanding of how the staffing crisis is impacting the delivery of care in rural communities and inform future research.

The survey should take approximately five minutes to complete. Michigan’s small or rural hospital members are encouraged to complete this survey not only to inform national efforts, but also because Michigan-specific results will be shared with the MHA to support crafting rural workforce solutions. Members with questions should contact Lauren LaPine at the MHA.