Lansing Lines presented in cooperation with MIRS, a Lansing-based news and information service.
Hospital Association CEO: ‘Pipeline Issue’ Remains The Bottom Line For Healthcare
Although an economic report from the state’s hospital association discovered that healthcare maintains its place as Michigan’s largest private-sector employer, struggles with attracting and training newcomers has put a damper on things.
“There are some 1,700 fewer staff hospital beds throughout the state of Michigan than there were pre-pandemic,” said Brian Peters, chief executive officer of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA). “We have lost staff—both frontline (and) clinical staff, as well as non-clinical staff, who are so important to making a hospital operate on a 24-7-365 basis.”
Overall, Peters said the bottom line is “we have a pipeline issue.”
Peters spoke on the MIRS Monday Podcast , referencing a September report that found that healthcare in Michigan directly employed nearly 572,000 residents in 2020.
According to The Economic Impact of Healthcare in Michigan report, released earlier this month, direct healthcare workers in the state obtained $44.2 billion total in wages, salaries and benefits. Healthcare-affiliated workers additionally contributed $15.2 billion in local, state and federal taxes.
However, the American Hospital Association has also revealed occupied nursing and residential care jobs dropped by 11,000 while compensation hopped by $200 million.
Nationally, per-patient labor expenses within hospitals also skyrocketed by 19% through 2021 in comparison to 2019.
“There’s going to be a tremendous demand going forward because many of our current healthcare workers are close to 65 and we know, COVID or no COVID, they would be retiring and creating opportunities for the next generation,” Peters said on the podcast. “I think it’s a wonderful career path. It’s a place where you can make a difference . . . and who wouldn’t want to do that? And that’s really going to be our argument to the public.”
Earlier this year, the Governor signed off on Public Act 9 of 2022, infusing $300 million into healthcare recruitment, retention and training efforts. Under the successful legislation, 75% of funding was assigned to assisting acute care and behavioral health professionals, and 25% was dedicated to long-term care providers and federally qualified health centers.
“There’s a lot of exciting developments as a result of that, but that funding alone did not solve this healthcare workforce problem,” said Peters. “When you look at the fact that our hospitals now have contract labor costs that are at record highs – those are nurse traveling agencies that are charging, in some cases, exorbitant rates for hourly nursing – that has caused our underlying costs to skyrocket.”
Peters said unlike other sectors of the economy, “we cannot pass that cost along to the end consumer . . . at least not very easily.”
He added Michigan has a long way to go from a public policy perspective. He listed off making it easier for professionals from other states and countries to begin providing care in Michigan facilities, as well as improving high speed internet quality for telemedicine, will continue to be items the MHA will advocate for.
However, Peters said “it certainly doesn’t help that we have this rise in both verbal and physical abuse leveled against healthcare workers.”
He said the MHA is working to shine a very bright light on the aggression being made toward healthcare professionals, and is calling on state and federal lawmakers to ramp up penalties against those who act inappropriately in a healthcare setting.
“The gowns and gloves, all of the protocols for infection control, in terms of visitation policies . . . frankly, these are some of the triggers that cause verbal and physical abuse,” Peters said. “It’s like going from one world to another because outside of the hospital, the perception is that the pandemic is over. We’re back to normal . . . but it’s certainly not the case inside of our healthcare facilities.”
GOP Members Defend Deadlock As Abortion Proposal Makes The Ballot
With back-to-back 4-0 votes, the Board of State Canvassers approved the constitutional initiatives for abortion and voting reform today to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot after a decision from the Michigan Supreme Court.
The majority of the Supreme Court justices defined the Board of State Canvassers’ duty as certifying if a form is correct or if the petition received enough signatures to proceed onward, not to rule on the substance of the proposal.
“The Supreme Court did a wonderful job of clarifying the limited nature of the board’s power and I hope the board will understand that in the future,” said Board Vice Chair Mary Ellen Gurewitz, a Democrat.
However, Board Chair Tony Daunt, a Republican, said the clarification from the court was something that was needed by the board, but there would still be disagreements over form issues.
“When people come to us in the future for approval of form, I still think it will be important that we lay out to them any grammatical issues, any typos, things like that, because I think it’s important that that stuff is correct when it goes out for the people,” Daunt said.
He said the reason for the deadlock on the Reproductive Freedom for All ballot initiative was a matter of form. The issue brought up was an issue of spaces between some of the words.
“It was a serious mistake. Again, something that I don’t think any of us would have voted to approve the form had they brought that to us back in the spring,” Daunt said.
Daunt said the board deadlock on the Promote the Vote 2022 was simply a matter of wanting clarification from the courts regarding disagreements over a legal question.
Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack wrote in her opinion that it was not the board’s role to determine the legality of a petition.
“I want everybody here to understand there was nothing partisan at all in the conversation we had last week. There was nothing partisan at all in the questions that were asked for clarification,” said Board Member Richard Houskamp during the meeting.
Daunt was rankled by the question of partisanship and said it was a sign of the divided political environment in Lansing. He said it only helped irresponsible people enter politics and drove out those who truly wanted to make a difference.
“Ultimately, the system works. It may be put under great stress at times, but it works and that’s a testament to the founding fathers and to, in this instance, the four people on this board,” he said.
Committee To Protect Health Care Endorses 38 Candidates
The Committee to Protect Healthcare (CTP) announced their slate of 38 endorsed legislative candidates, including 27 Representatives and 11 Senate candidates.
The committee, which is made up of doctors and health care professionals, endorsed candidates who they say are committed to making health care more affordable and accessible to Michiganders, said CTP Michigan State lead and Lansing family physician Dr. Farhan Bhatti.
“These candidates’ support for important health care policies reflects the mission of the Committee and our national mobilization of doctors, health care professionals and advocates who are building a pro-patient health care majority in states across the nation,” Bhatti said. “Physicians and health care workers in Michigan look forward to working with our outstanding ‘Care for MI’ candidates to expand health care access and affordability in 2023 and 2024.”
Endorsements were decided through responses to a candidate questionnaire, and endorsed candidates pledged to expand health care access, lower prescription drug costs and protect reproductive freedom.
Of the endorsed candidates, all were Democrats.
House endorsed candidates include Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) (HD-4), Mike McFall (HD-8), Rep. Lori Stone (D-Warren) (HD-13), Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit) (HD-16), Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) (HD-17), Noah Arbit (HD-20), Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth Township) (HD-22), Rep. Alex Garza (D-Taylor) (HD-29), Reggie Miller (HD-31), Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) (HD-44), Maurice Imhoff (HD-46), Carrie Rheingans (HD-47), Sarah May-Seward (HD51), Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac) (HD-53), Shadia Martini (HD-54), Sharon MacDonell (HD-56), Aisha Farooqi (HD-57), Cheri Hardmon (HD-68), Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Township) (HD-76), Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) (HD-81), John Fitzgerald (HD-83), Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Walker) (HD-84), Jeffrey Lockwood (HD-93), Brian Hosticka (HD-102), Betsy Coffia (HD-103), Chris Lopez (HD-108) and Jenn Hill (HD-109).
Senate endorsed candidates include Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Twp.) (SD-4), Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) (SD-8), Rep. Padma Kuppa (D-Troy) (SD-9), Former Rep. Sam Singh (SD-28), Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) (SD-29), Rep. David LaGrand (D-Grand Rapids) (SD-30), Kim Nagy (SD-31), Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) (SD-32), Kristen Rivet (SD-35), Barbara Conley, M.D. (SD-37) and John Braamse (SD-38).
COVID Deaths Sit At 38,121, Roughly Population Of Muskegon
An average of 33 people have died every day this year of COVID-19, according to statistics reported by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), putting Michigan’s total COVID death total at 38,121 since 2020. That’s the equivalent of the population of the city of Muskegon, Michigan’s 31st largest city.
Since the pandemic recorded its first reported Michigan fatality on March 19, 2020, Michigan has averaged 42 COVID-19 related deaths every day. Michigan now reports the state has had 2,786,213 cases of COVID.
Averages are back on the downswing, though. In January 2022, the number of COVID deaths was 92 a day. For August, it was 19.
With schools back in full swing after the Labor Day weekend, COVID-19 numbers are starting out with a downturn.
The DHHS data showed 15,854 new cases and 83 new deaths over a seven-day period. The average daily case rate for the start of September is 2,265.
In the five weekly reports from August, the average new caseload was 19,609 for a week.
MDHHS officials said SC Health donated more than 500,000 medical gloves to health care workers treating COVID-19 patients.
“Michigan’s health care workers have stepped up throughout the pandemic to take care of Michigan families,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “This generous donation from SC Health will help protect the health and safety of these heroes as they care for our friends and family in need of care.”
The gloves were sent to Federal Qualified Health Clinics and the five State of Michigan inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
Michigan Primary Care Association CEO Phillip Bergquist said the Federally Qualified Health Centers take care of people in poor communities with services that are tailored to each community.
“Donations like this one help our dedicated staff continue our mission to provide high-quality, affordable and comprehensive medical services to our patients,” Bergquist said.