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

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

MHA CEO Brian Peters

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.

Holiday Headline Roundup

The MHA received media coverage over the holidays during the weeks of Dec. 18, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31. Topics covered include the healthcare workforce, the MHA Keystone Center, air ambulance services and a review of 2023.

MHA Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Ruthanne Sudderth spoke with Crain’s Detroit Business about registered apprenticeship programs.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state, which include interviews with MHA CEO Brian Peters; Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, MHA; and Sarah Scranton, vice president, safety & quality and executive director, MHA Keystone Center.

Monday, Jan. 1

Saturday, Dec. 30

Thursday, Dec. 21

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Monday, Dec. 18

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

Headline Roundup: Nurse Degree Programs & Telehealth

MHA CEO Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of Dec. 11 related to post-secondary nurse degree programs and telehealth. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state, which include an interview with MHA CEO Brian Peters.

Thursday, Dec. 14

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Monday, Dec. 11

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

Headline Roundup: Nurse Staffing & Auto No-fault

MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.
MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.
MHA EVP Laura Appel discusses auto no-fault legislation with the Michigan Business Network.

The MHA received media coverage the week of Oct. 16 regarding auto no-fault legislation passed in the Michigan Senate and nurse staffing ratio legislation.

The coverage is based on interviews conducted with MHA CEO Brian Peters and MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, Oct. 19

Wednesday, Oct. 18

Monday, Oct. 16

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

Headline Roundup: Andary No-Fault Decision

Brian Peters

Brian PetersThe MHA received media coverage the week of July 31 regarding Michigan Supreme Court decision in Andary v. USAA, which the MHA published a media statement on following the opinion release. The MHA is also mentioned in several stories regarding price transparency and healthcare workforce shortages.

MHA CEO Brian Peters is quoted in multiple stories. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, August 3

Wednesday, August 2

Monday, July 31

Friday, July 28

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

Headline Roundup: Chemo Drug Shortages & Workforce Challenges

MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.
MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.
MHA CEO Brian Peters with Paul W. Smith of WJR during the Mackinac Policy Conference.

The MHA received media coverage the week of May 28 regarding the continued shortage of cancer drugs carboplatin and cisplatin and hospital workforce shortages.

MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters and Executive Vice President Laura Appel.

Below is a collection of headline from around the state.

Thursday, June 1

Wednesday, May 31

Tuesday, May 30

Monday, May 29

Sunday, May 28

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

MHA Celebrates ACA Anniversary with Congresswoman Slotkin

Speakers of the Protect Our Care press conference.
Laura Appel speaks during a press conference on the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
Laura Appel speaks during a press conference on the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel joined U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and other healthcare advocates March 23 as part of a virtual press conference organized by Protect Our Care to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Appel emphasized the MHA’s long-standing support of the ACA and Michigan’s Medicaid expansion through the Healthy Michigan Plan, which provided millions of Americans with health insurance, provided access to care for millions of residents with preexisting conditions and saved billions of healthcare dollars. More than one million Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries are currently covered by Michigan’s Medicaid expansion program allowed by the ACA and more than 320,000 Michiganders receive coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace created by the ACA. Appel also referenced the $10 billion reduction in Medicare payments that Michigan hospitals committed to experience in order to ensure state residents have access to expanded health insurance coverage under the ACA.

Additional speakers during the press conference included Laura Bonnell, CEO of the Bonnell Foundation, and Sarah Stark, a Type 1 diabetic who benefitted from the original ACA expansion.

Media representatives from The Detroit News, WWJ Newsradio 950, WOOD TV8 and WLNS-TV joined the press conference.

A press release was published following the conclusion of the press conference by Protect Our Care and a recording of the press conference is available on the Protect Our Care Michigan Facebook page.

Headline Roundup: COVID-19 Anniversary, Workforce Challenges

MHA CEO Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of March 13 regarding conversations around workforce funding and current challenges amid the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.

Thursday, March 16

Wednesday, March 15

Monday, March 13

Sunday, March 12

Saturday, March 11

Friday, March 10

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