Headline Roundup: Prescription Drug Costs & COVID-19

Sam Watson
Sam Watson
Sam Watson, senior vice president, field engagement, spoke with Bridge June 12 about COVID-19.

The MHA received media coverage the week of June 12 regarding prescription drug costs, COVID-19 and behavioral health.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters, Executive Vice President Laura Appel, Senior Vice President Sam Watson and Senior Director Elizabeth Kutter.

Below is a collection of headline from around the state.

Thursday, June 15

Monday, June 12

Thursday, June 8

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

Media Recap: Implicit Bias Training & Medicaid Maternal Health Coverage

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 9 on the upcoming Public Health Code Rules requiring implicit bias training for all professions licensed or registered under the Public Health Code and the recently approved extension by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of Michigan Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for 12 months after pregnancy.

Bridge published May 11 a story on the healthcare industry’s reaction to the June 1 implementation date of the implicit bias training requirement. MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in the article expressing the positive reaction from hospitals on the requirement and their commitment to eliminate health disparities.

“There’s been no push back,” said Peters. “Everyone realizes this is the right thing to do.”

State of Reform also published May 10 an article on the increase in coverage for postpartum mothers from 60 days after birth to a full year in Michigan. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, spoke with State of Reform on the importance of this coverage extension towards addressing maternal mortality and racial disparities.

“It feels counterintuitive to why healthcare coverage for women would end 60 days after they gave birth,” said Appel. “You would in no way expect coverage to end so quickly.”

Appel Addresses Specialty Integrated Plans with State of Reform

Laura Appel

Laura AppelState of Reform published an article May 2 that reviewed a panel discussion from the 2022 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference on bills in the Michigan Legislature that would create specialty integrated plans to cover specialty behavioral health benefits. Participating on the panel was Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA.

Appel expressed the MHA’s supportive position on Senate Bills 597 and 598 due to the need to integrate and reform behavioral health in Michigan, while also mentioning the role workforce sustainability has in that process.

“Here’s the thing about our current system, there are hundreds of people who don’t have a provider to worry about losing,” said Appel. “Our shortage of behavioral health professionals is dire. When a person is in crisis, any change is frightening, but the system is just not adequate right now.”