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.

Headline Roundup: Hospital Viability

Brian Peters

The MHA received media coverage the week of Dec. 5 following a virtual press conference Dec. 6 on the financial and staffing challenges impacting hospital viability, as well as topics including hospital capital improvements, mergers and acquisitions and respiratory illness hospital admissions driven by RSV and COVID-19. Stories include comments from MHA CEO Brian Peters, MHA Executive Vice President Laura Appel and MHA Board Chair T. Anthony Denton.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that includes interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Friday, Dec. 9

Thursday, Dec. 8

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Monday, Dec. 5

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

 

Media Join Hospital Viability Press Conference

Dec. 6 Teleconference Speakers
Dec. 6 virtual press conference speakers.

The MHA conducted a virtual press conference Dec. 6 to discuss the economic and staffing challenges impacting hospitals across the state to generate awareness with lawmakers of these issues and the potential impact on access to timely, high-quality healthcare for Michiganders.

The event occurred while children’s hospitals continue to operate near capacity levels as they continue to care for a surge of children suffering from respiratory illnesses amid staffing shortages. Speakers also referenced how the loss of 1,700 staffed adult inpatient hospital beds across the state has led to longer wait times in the emergency department, reduced services and more difficulty transferring patients. Lastly, the point was made that no other industry is prevented from responding to inflationary pressures and growing expenses to the degree that healthcare is.

Speakers included:

  • T. Anthony Denton, senior vice president and chief operating officer, University of Michigan Health System.
  • JJ Hodshire, president and chief executive officer, Hillsdale Hospital.
  • Dan Hurley, chief executive officer, Michigan Association of State Universities.
  • Brian Peters, chief executive officer, Michigan Health & Hospital Association.
  • Susan Smith, executive director, Economic Development Partnership of Hillsdale County.
  • Rudolph P. Valentini, chief medical officer at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, group chief medical officer at Detroit Medical Center.

Over a dozen media outlets from across the state joined the call, with stories published from Bridge Michigan, The Detroit News, Gongwer, MIRS, Michigan Business Network, MLive, SBGTV and WXYZ.

Following the press conference, a press release was also distributed to statewide media.

Members with questions related to media should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.

Media Recap: Pediatric RSV Surge

Laura Appel

Laura AppelThe MHA received media coverage during the weeks of Nov. 21 and 28 on the capacity status of hospital pediatric units amid the surge of hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses driven by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The Detroit Free Press published an article Nov. 23 on the status of hospitals throughout the state caring for a large number of children and requests made by hospitals to add additional licensed beds. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, is quoted in the story on how staffing challenges continue to hamper hospitals, even for those with declining pediatric patient census.

“It’s worth noting that even where hospitalizations have receded, many of our members continue to face severe space and staffing challenges,” said Appel

Additional stories were published by The Detroit News, The Center Square and Chief Healthcare Executive.

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

Media Recap: Hospital Financial Viability

Laura Appel

Laura AppelThe MHA received media coverage during the week of Nov. 14 on financial and staffing challenges impacting hospitals in Michigan and the potential for further state funding support.

The Detroit Free Press published an article Nov. 14 that reviewed the factors influencing declining financial performance, including lower patient volume, increased supply costs, higher workforce expenses and stagnant reimbursement. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, is quoted throughout the story. Appel expressed appreciation for the one-time $225 million state grant for the recruitment, retention and training of healthcare workers and discussed the increased rates for staffing agencies.

“We are immensely grateful for that,” said Appel. “But the $225 million (is) a one-time payment that really only offsets a small amount of what we’re paying in 2022 … and none of it is designed to help us in 2023.”

Additional stories were published by Crain’s Detroit Business and The Detroit News.

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

Headline Roundup: Pediatric Hospital Capacity & Medical Respite

Laura Appel

Laura AppelThe MHA received media coverage on the continued surge of RSV cases across Michigan’s pediatric hospitals that is stressing hospital capacity during the week of Nov. 6. Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, also contributed to a story on the importance of medical respite with Michigan’s vulnerable population who need continued care after discharge from the hospital.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Friday, Nov. 11

Thursday, Nov. 10

Monday, Nov. 7

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

Headline Roundup: RSV Straining Pediatric Hospitals

The MHA received media coverage on the surge of RSV cases across Michigan’s pediatric hospitals during the week of Oct. 31. The coverage included several comments provided to news outlets and the distribution of a press release Nov. 4 to statewide media.

Below is a collection of headlines from around the state that include interviews or statements from MHA representatives.

Sunday, Nov. 6

Friday, Nov. 4

Wednesday, Nov. 2

Monday, Oct. 31

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