Headline Roundup: House Budget Reaction

The MHA received a host of media coverage from across the state during the week of Aug. 25 after the MHA issued a media statement reacting to the state budget bill passed Aug. 26 by the Michigan House of Representatives.

House Bill 4706 would institute several harmful changes to hospital funding, which could result in more than 20,000 job losses in Michigan hospitals. The statement from MHA CEO Brian Peters expressed the MHA’s strong opposition to this version of the state budget, expressing the harmful consequences it would bring and the need for a state budget that protects existing hospital funding.

Friday, Aug. 29

Thursday, Aug. 28

Wednesday, Aug. 27

Tuesday, Aug. 26

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

Setting the Record Straight on OBBBA Impacts

The MHA received media coverage during the week of July 21 that focused on setting the record straight about the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on hospitals.

The Detroit News published an opinion response from MHA CEO Brian Peters and Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton about the harmful consequences to Michiganders and healthcare from the OBBBA. This response follows an editorial from The Detroit News published July 12 that defended the cuts to Medicaid.

“Michigan hospitals are bracing for a $6 billion loss in Medicaid funding over the next decade,” said Peters and Stanton. “When coverage declines, so do reimbursements, but the volume of those seeking care does not. That means fewer resources to staff emergency rooms, provide specialty care or keep maternity units open. When that happens, everyone, not just Medicaid recipients, feels the impact.”

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel also appeared on The WILS Morning Wake-up on WILS-AM 1320 in Lansing on July 22 to discuss the OBBBA with host Mike Austin.

Lastly, Peters also provided a statement for a FOX 47 story on July 24 expressing the MHA’s opposition to Senate Bills 296 and 297, which would limit any hospital’s ability to require mandatory overtime to just during declared emergencies.

“Requiring nurses to work overtime is rarely used, but hospitals and nursing leaders need the flexibility to make decisions that may require staff to work outside of their normal schedules to ensure patient care when unforeseen circumstances occur in their local communities,” said Peters.

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

Headline Roundup: Medicaid Cuts

The MHA received media coverage during the weeks of June 30 and July 7 on Medicaid cuts included in the federal budget reconciliation bill.

MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel participated in a series of print, radio and TV broadcast interviews, outlined below. Additional coverage resulted from a virtual press conference hosted by the Protect MI Care coalition where Peters spoke to the impact Medicaid cuts will have on Michigan hospitals, patients and communities.

Friday, July 11

Thursday, July 10

Wednesday, July 9

Tuesday, July 8

Monday, July 7

Thursday, July 3

Wednesday, July 2

Tuesday, July 1

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

Peters Pens Medicaid Detroit News Op-ed

MHA CEO Brian Peters

The Detroit News published an op-ed Feb. 19 from MHA CEO Brian Peters expressing the importance of protecting the Medicaid program from any potential federal funding cuts.

Peters highlighted the high number of people supported by Medicaid, the value of the Healthy Michigan Plan and the harm cuts would have on healthcare providers, particularly in rural Michigan.

“Medicaid expansion under the ACA has saved lives, kept hospitals open and improved the overall well-being of countless individuals,” said Peters. “As the CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, I know firsthand what Medicaid cuts would do to hospitals, essential services, Michigan’s healthcare industry and the economy as a whole.”

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

Headline Roundup: Radiology Shortages & Hospital Challenges

The MHA received media coverage the week of April 28 that includes coverage on the national shortage of radiologists and radiology technicians, recently introduced bills at the federal level and rural hospital challenges. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state, which include quotes from MHA CEO Brian Peters.

Tuesday, April 30

Monday, April 29

Sunday, April 28

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

The Detroit News Highlights MHA Keystone Center Infection Prevention Funding

The Detroit News published an article April 15 on all Michigan projects that were earmarked in the final government spending bill for 2024, which included $756,000 for the MHA Keystone Center to support the development and deployment of evidence-based best practices and hands-on training to nursing home staff for the prevention of infections.

“The Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s Keystone Center got $756,000 to put toward staff training and technical assistance in nursing homes for infection prevention. MHA spokesman John Karasinski said the training will focus on emerging pathogens, particularly Candida auris, a yeast that’s often resistant to antifungal treatments and spreads easily in healthcare facilities.”

By implementing these best practices, hospitals and nursing homes can collectively improve patient outcomes by reducing infection risk and unnecessary hospitalizations, while improving post-acute care bed availability.

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

Media Recap: Auto No-fault & Executive Insights

Laura Appel

The MHA received media coverage since March 15 on efforts to reform the state’s auto no-fault insurance system as well as the future for healthcare teams.

The Detroit News published an article March 17 describing how auto no-fault insurance reforms have reduced access to care for auto accident survivors and impacted providers. Senate Bills 530 and 531 have passed the full Michigan Senate and would address reimbursement for providers, including simplifying and increasing Medicare hospital reimbursements, clarifying the definition of Medicare and creating a new post-acute care provider fee schedule. MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel is quoted in the article expressing the importance of including hospitals in any reform efforts.

“Everything is not only more expensive but much more expensive,” said Appel.

Becker’s Hospital Review also published a story where they asked 35 C-suite healthcare executives across the U.S. to share areas of growth for the next few years. MHA CEO Brian Peters participated, sharing insights on technological innovation, advocacy engagement and health equity.

“First, we need to look at every emerging challenge through the lens of technological innovation; in other words, is there a better, more effective way to deal with an issue by deploying technology, which will become even more robust in the years ahead,” said Peters. “Second, because more and more of the people we serve will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental programs, everyone in healthcare needs to have a comfort level with the public policy and political arena — how the process works, and the elected officials who make the decisions in state capitols and in Washington, DC. Politics is not a spectator sport! And third, while we are clearly on the health equity journey, we need to continue to embed it firmly in our organization’s cultures.”

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

Headline Roundup: Cybersecurity & Nurse Staffing Ratios

The MHA received media coverage since Jan. 4 related to hospital cybersecurity, proposed legislation mandating hospital nurse staffing ratios and maternal health. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state, which include interviews with MHA CEO Brian Peters.

Friday, Jan. 12

Wednesday, Jan. 10

Sunday, Jan. 7

Thursday, Jan. 4

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