The Keckley Report

MHA Monday Report Jan. 17, 2022

January 17, 2022April 29, 2022 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of Jan. 10

The state of Michigan held a press conference Jan. 11 to discuss the rapid rise in case numbers, hospitalizations (especially pediatric hospitalizations) and positivity rates. Speakers urged all residents who are eligible to be both vaccinated and boosted as quickly as possible. Representatives from Children’s Hospital of Michigan joined …

Explore Ways to Advance Health Equity, Workforce and Resilience at Breakthrough

MHA Breakthrough, which will be held in-person Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, provides a venue for crucial conversations about the healthcare crisis and ways providers can lead recovery using information …

Application Closing Soon for ED Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Initiative

In partnership with the MHA Keystone Center, the Michigan Opioid Partnership and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has launched an Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder …

Active Shooter and Workplace Violence Response Training Essential to Safety

The threat or use of physical force or harassment against a healthcare worker very often results in injury, psychological trauma or stress. Aggressive behavior and violence are becoming a too frequent reality, and healthcare employees need to understand the actions and behaviors needed to protect themselves …

Patient Safety Organization Annual Meeting Will be Held March 9

The 2022 MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization Annual Meeting will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. March 9. Participants will hear about topics related to the intersection of health equity and safety, anticoagulation-related medication events, addressing violence in …

Headline Roundup: Week of Jan. 10 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the vaccine mandate from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …

The PE Playbook: What to Expect in 2022

“Private equity’s impact in healthcare delivery accelerated during the pandemic. Next year, it’s likely to continue with profound implications for traditional providers. The facts are these …”

Paul Keckley, Dec. 20, 2021

News to Know

The MHA will host a free webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. EST Jan. 25 to provide an update on price transparency and the No Surprises Act, including what is now required for compliance.
MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled Jan. 17 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 10, 2022

January 10, 2022October 28, 2022 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Weeks of Dec. 20, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID Data Tracker, the omicron variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain across the U.S. The CDC’s model indicates that more than 95% of cases in the nation as of Jan. 1 may be due to omicron. …

Governor Signs Bill to Codify Licensure Exemptions

On Dec. 27, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Senate Bill 759, which codifies a licensure exemption provision that has given hospitals regulatory flexibility to appropriately respond to the pandemic, specifically staffing challenges. …

Pandemic and Workforce Challenges Topics at MHA Breakthrough

At the close of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic situation confronting Michigan hospitals was dire. A prolonged fourth surge drove intensive care unit occupancy rates to nearly 90 percent. Additionally, significant workforce challenges that predated the pandemic became worse and the increasing rates of …

Webinar Will Help Boards Analyze Strategic Plan

Innovation in medicine and service delivery, new competitors, payer upheaval, renewed scrutiny on the social determinants of health, and more are creating instability. There is much work ahead for hospital and health system boards as organizations reassess their strategic plans, community …

Medicaid to Cover Dialysis Services for ESO Beneficiaries in Dialysis Facilities

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently released concurrent proposed and final policies to clarify Medicaid policy for the treatment of End Stage Renal Disease for beneficiaries covered under Medicaid Emergency Services Only. …

Virtual Events Focus on Active Shooter, Workplace Violence Prevention and Response

Aggressive behavior and violence are becoming a too frequent reality, whether it is expressed as violence against caregivers or gun violence in the community. The MHA is holding two virtual events to assist members with these challenges. …

WELL-B Program Starting March 1

Well-being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance is a behavioral health training program for the healthcare workforce that delivers weekly webinars on evidence-based well-being topics, including prevalence and severity of burnout, relationship resilience and being present. Compared to …

Headline Roundup: Weeks of Dec. 20, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the omicron variant and increasing rates of violence against healthcare workers. …

The Keckley Report

The No Surprise Act Means Plenty of Surprises

“Effective last Sunday, the No Surprises Act (NSA) passed by Congress in December 2020, became law. It protects consumers against surprise bills from out-of-network hospitals and physicians which apply to 10 million patient encounters including 1 in 5 emergency room visits and 1 in 6 in-network hospitalizations.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 3, 2022

News to Know

Hospital staff are encouraged to participate in a national webinar hosted by DataGen to review the Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system final rule and impact analysis for calendar year 2022.

MHA Monday Report Dec. 20, 2021

December 20, 2021January 23, 2023 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of Dec. 13

A full year after COVID-19 vaccines were made available in the U.S., the coronavirus continues to sicken and kill people, with nationwide deaths from the illness surpassing 800,000. As demonstrated in a collection of headlines, Michigan’s hospitals are being stretched to treat COVID-19 patients across …

Michigan House Passes Healthcare Workforce Funding Bill

The Michigan House of Representatives passed Dec. 14 House Bill 5523, a $1 billion COVID-19 supplemental funding bill that includes $300 million for recruiting and retaining healthcare workers. The appropriation is a direct result of MHA advocacy efforts regarding the dire situation of hospitals confronting staff …

Bill to Codify Licensure Exemptions Awaits Governor’s Signature

The full House passed Senate Bill (SB) 759 Dec. 14 and it now awaits the governor’s signature. Introduced by Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) and supported by the MHA, SB 759 would codify a provision that has given hospitals flexibility to appropriately respond to the pandemic; however, the …

Advocacy Continues to Defend Healthcare from Harmful Federal Policies

President Joe Biden Dec. 10 signed legislation to postpone several proposed cuts in Medicare rates recently approved by Congress. The MHA and the American Hospital Association had urged lawmakers to delay the cuts that would have taken effect Jan. 1 due to …

Discuss Approaches to Pandemic, Workforce Challenges at MHA Breakthrough

In a recent video message, MHA CEO Brian Peters shared his thoughts about the MHA’s commitment to helping hospitals and health systems deal with the effects of the pandemic and the value of convening in person to study challenges, learn from

COVID-19 Impact on Strategic Planning Focus of Webinar

Hospital and health system boards will face challenges as the world transitions from a multiyear pandemic to confronting an endemic disease. The industry is experiencing instability and near-constant change: innovation in medicine and service delivery, new competitors, payer upheaval, renewed scrutiny on …

Two-part Webinar Will Review Challenging Accreditation Standards Jan. 13

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other regulatory agencies are continually revising requirements that result in changes to The Joint Commission (TJC) standards. In addition, there are problematic areas that are commonly reviewed on TJC surveys that require additional education and …

MHA Creates COVID-19 Social Media Toolkit for Hospitals

As hospitals and health systems across Michigan continue communication efforts around COVID-19 and the importance of getting vaccinated this winter season, the MHA has developed a downloadable social media toolkit with posts and graphics for healthcare organizations to share across digital …

Recording Available of Event Outlining Collection of SOGI Data Best Practices

MHA members were among those who virtually attended the webinar Collection of Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Data Best Practices for the Acute Care Setting. The event was hosted Nov. 10 by the Michigan Public Health Institute, the Michigan State University Institute for Health Policy, the MHA …

Mental Health and Resilience for Health Care Workers During the Holidays

Mental health is central to everything. This is a definitive statement because it is so true. Mental health is central to our quality of life, relationships, work experience and even participation in the economy. Many people take it for granted, but if there is any benefit to the strain of the past twenty months, it is that it …

Trustee Insights Highlights Crisis Standards of Care, Community Investment

The latest edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association, is now available. This month’s issue features an article on crisis standards of care. In this severe pandemic, one of the most challenging demands that many hospitals may face is …

Headline Roundup: Week of Dec. 13 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and workforce sustainability challenges. …

The Keckley Report

Inflation and Healthcare: Prices Matter

“Medical care services- one of two components of the Medical Care Index in the United States- increased 2.1% for the 12 months ending November 2021, after rising 3.2% in 2020 and 5.1% in 2019 over the same time period …

“A one-month or one-year look-back period doesn’t tell the full story for healthcare.”

Paul Keckley, Dec. 13, 2021