A virtual media roundtable hosted April 3 by the Michigan League for Public Policy included MHA CEO Brian Peters as a panelist, where he discussed the consequences for potential Medicaid funding cuts by Congress.
Crain’s Detroit Business, CBS Detroit and MIRS published stories as a result of the roundtable.
“When Medicaid funding reductions force hospitals to curtail services or in fact eliminate entire service lines or in fact close hospitals … the services are no longer available to Medicaid recipients, but they’re no longer available to anyone in the community, either,” said Peters. “The cuts that are being contemplated in Washington, D.C. right now, if those were to be implemented, they would cost jobs. And more importantly, I can tell you, they would cost lives,”
Joining Peters during the roundtable were:
- Monique Stanton, President & CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy
- Russ Kolski, Interim Executive Director, Ingham Community Health Center
- Susan Harding, Executive Director, Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency
- Jenny Wagemann, Manager, Allen Farmers Market and Breadbasket Food Pantry
On a separate note, MLive also published a story April 3 that references the MHA’s healthcare workforce data and the 44% reduction in nursing vacancies in Michigan hospitals from 2023 to 2024. The story shares news on a nursing student loan repayment program announced by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Detroit Free Press also published an article on the program, citing the MHA’s Economic Impact of Healthcare Report.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.