MAHP Response to COVID-19
Written on March 18, 2020As the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, I feel that it is important to update you as to our office’s position regarding workplace safety and our efforts to continue serving our membership. While the situation we […]
2020
How to Care for Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Michigan on March 10. Since then, Michiganders have had to adapt to a new reality. Social distancing, closed businesses, and panic buying has become the norm, and […]
read moreUPHP CEO Melissa Holmquist Named to Crain’s 2020 Notable Women in Health
Upper Peninsula Health Plan is proud to announce that its Chief Executive Officer, Melissa Holmquist, has been named one of Crain’s 2020 Notable Women in Health. Holmquist joins 42 other distinguished leaders from throughout the […]
read moreMAHP Response to COVID-19
As the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, I feel that it is important to update you as to our office’s position regarding workplace safety and our efforts to continue serving our membership. While the situation we […]
read moreNetflix’s The Pharmacist Depicts the True Story of Grieving Father’s Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic
In its latest addition to an ever-growing collection of documentaries, Netflix’s The Pharmacist, which premiered Feb. 5, presents a moving look at the ways grief can spur a person into activism. Spanning the early days of the […]
read moreHL7 Da Vinci Use Case Explored During Connectathon
As the healthcare industry continues to move towards true interoperability through completely connected systems, activities are underway to test use cases designed to advance value-based care among providers and payers through standards-based data exchange. In January, Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) supported a Connectathon to test a use […]
read moreAnnual Michigan Health Information Technology Conference: Early Bird Registration Now Open
This year, Connecting Michigan for Health celebrates twelve years in gathering Michigan’s health information technology leaders to share and discuss emerging issues within the health information technology community in Michigan. The 2020 Connecting Michigan for Health event series will kick off with a national InterOpathon on May 28 and […]
read moreHenry Ford Health System Announces New President and CEO of Health Alliance Plan
Following a national search, Henry Ford Health System has selected Michael Genord, M.D., M.B.A., as president and chief executive officer of HAP and executive vice president of the health system, effective immediately. Dr. Genord has been serving as HAP’s interim president and CEO […]
read moreAlternative Service Delivery Models in Cancer Genetic Counseling: Can Technology be used to Improve Access While Maintaining Satisfaction?
Traditionally, cancer genetic counseling and testing has been provided during an in-person appointment with an experienced provider. This model includes pre- and post-test counseling and generally is offered only to individuals who meet specific criteria suspicious for hereditary cancer. While comprehensive, this model is very time intensive, is […]
read moreONC, CMS – Interoperability Rules: A Review
Recently, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a draft of their Strategic IT Health Proposal for 2020-2025. This proposal addresses the deliverables included in the 21st Century Cures Act, […]
read more10 things to know about health-insurance and ACA trends in Michigan
This article appeared in MLive. Read more here. Many voters are listing health care as one of their top issues in the 2020 presidential election. And much of that debate is centering around the Affordable […]
read moreWhitmer creates task force to reduce prescription drug costs
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order creating a bipartisan task force aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs. The task force will be composed of leaders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services […]
read moreFinding their voices: Michigan residents confront mental health
Tony Moayyer is a warm and charming Grand Rapids resident with a new wife and a burgeoning career. But at times, mental illness has derailed his life. Times when anxiety has made him short-tempered and […]
read moreUPHP earns top national honor
The Integrated Care Resource Center announced this week that Upper Peninsula Health Plan MI Health Link has once again been named one of the top scoring Medicare-Medicaid Plans in the nation for overall health plan […]
read moreRichard Feldman: Surprise medical billing is overdue for legislative cure
It’s called “surprise billing.” Here’s a typical scenario: a patient presents to a hospital’s emergency department and requires a surgical procedure. The hospital and surgeon are in-network with the patient’s health insurance. It appears that insurance pays […]
read moreSurvey: Mental health care and rising costs are top concerns for Californians
The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) released its second annual California Health Policy Survey on Thursday, providing an analysis of Californians’ opinions on a broad range of health-related topics. The survey, conducted in conjunction with national survey […]
read moreIt’s time to fight the rising underlying cost of health care
This op-ed was written by MAHP Executive Director Dominick Pallone. No one should have to choose between filling a prescription or buying groceries—yet that is the harsh reality that many Michigan residents face as health […]
read moreHow some states are taking unusual action to lower prescription drug prices
Amid the issue of high prescription drug prices in the United States, “pharmaceutical tourism” is starting to become a new way out: unusual action for access to lower prescription drug prices. According to a recent report by the […]
read moreAmerica has an addiction crisis. ‘Digital rehab’ could help millions
Kara Nelson did not always do everything right. She started drinking when she was 13 years old and soon hit the harder stuff. By 19, she was injecting heroin. She struggled for years to get […]
read morePriority Health offers diaper incentive for moms on Medicaid
Michigan’s Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP), which is available to Michigan Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan recipients, connects expecting mothers with a nurse and social worker who help them through their pregnancy with in-home visits. They […]
read moreMAHP Thanks Legislators for Protecting Michiganders from Surprise Medical Billing
MAHP’s prime issue in 2020 is bringing a stop to Surprise Medical Billing. Surprise Medical Billing is a predatory practice where patients get large medical bills from out-of-network providers, those who do not participate with […]
read moreWhat is prior authorization?
What is prior authorization? Prior authorization is a collaborative utilization management process used by health insurance carriers to determine if a prescribed procedure, service, or medication will be reimbursed under the health insurance plan. Utilization […]
read moreADVANCE NOTICE 2021 – Goodbye, raps. we barely knew you
CMS’ Advance Notice part 1 came as no surprise to the industry. Since the 2019 final notice, CMS has advised on the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act, which requires that any changes made […]
read moreState of Mind: Investing in mental health care early pays dividends down the road
More than 300,000 people in Michigan use the state’s public mental health system each year, but many more are turned away because their conditions aren’t considered severe enough due to lower budgets for community mental […]
read moreSurprise medical bills upset patients, engage lawmakers
Amy Brooks flew by air ambulance from Ashland to Madison last year to be treated for seizures. Then the Madison woman got the transport bill: $41,000. Quartz, her health insurance plan, denied coverage, even though […]
read moreMDHHS announces $17.5 million in grant funds to combat the opioid epidemic
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the allocation of $17.5 million from the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to respond to the […]
read more$750K grant for teen mental health campaigns awarded to Michigan nonprofit
A southeast Michigan nonprofit will continue and expand its “UMatter” mental health campaign for teens thanks to a $750,000 grant, Friendship Circle of Michigan announced this week. The Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety gave […]
read moreCall your legislator and tell them to STOP Surprise Medical Billing
A little girl, weighing only 8 pounds and with a congenital heart disease, recently went into the hospital for a scheduled open-heart surgery to save her life. Fortunately, the heroic work by the doctors and […]
read morePriority Health talks Cervical cancer awareness
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and about 13,000 people are diagnosed with the disease annually. More than 4,000 die every year from the disease, officials say. Ann Donnelly, the Vice President of Care Management […]
read more7 Smart Tips for Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
In 2018, the percentage of Americans with a health care plan was 91.5 percent. While this rate was lower than that of the previous year (92.1 percent), it still shows how seriously Americans take health […]
read moreLead Now’s Fifth Cohort graduates following Capstone project supporting local nonprofit
On Dec. 12, 14 area professionals celebrated their completion of Lead Now Flint & Genesee, formerly known as Leadership NOW. They represent the fifth cohort to graduate from the intensive leadership development program offered through […]
read more2019
CMS Extends Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Exchange
CMS’s primary goal is to provide a seamless Open Enrollment experience for HealthCare.gov consumers and ensure that those Americans who want coverage offered through the Exchange can enroll in a plan. In an abundance of […]
read moreNursing Students ‘Teach Back’ to Promote Health Literacy
It’s Saturday morning, and the waiting room of Grace Village Medical Clinic is packed. Many of the patients are originally from Burundi, Pakistan and Burma, while others are natives of the United States. Some are […]
read moreAnalysis: 4.7 Million Uninsured People Nationally Could Get a No-Premium Bronze Plan in the ACA Marketplace
As the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period nears an end in most areas this week, a new KFF analysis finds that 4.7 million currently uninsured people could get a bronze-level plan for 2020 and pay nothing […]
read moreMichigan Association of Health Plan members rank among nation’s best
Lansing, Mich. – Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) member health plans were once again rated among the best in the nation, according to the independent 2019-2020 National Committee on Quality Assurance (NQHA) Health Insurance […]
read moreEnding surprise billing: A moral test for physicians
Not long ago, a friend tore a ligament in his knee while running and needed surgery. He found a good surgeon covered by his insurance who operated at a hospital that was within his network. […]
read moreMichigan trying to quicken insurance approval for drugs, medical treatment
When her endometriosis flares up, “it feels like a T-rex in my abdomen trying to claw his way out,” said Lyndsey Crosbie. And that’s why, when the disorder is at its worst, the Dearborn woman […]
read moreThe Changing Geography of the Opioid Crisis
America’s opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions. Opioids have killed more than 350,000 people since 1999 and nearly 50,000 in 2017 alone. In contrast to previous deadly drug epidemics like the heroin crisis of the […]
read moreMichigan health director outlines vision for integrated physical/mental health care
Taking a new tact away from the controversial Section 298 proposal for integrating physical and behavioral health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon has called for creating “specialty integrated plans” to […]
read moreSt. Luke’s Hospital announces plans to merge with McLaren Health Care
St Luke’s Hospital has announced an integration with McLaren Health Care to help improve what St. Luke’s can offer the community. McLaren has the largest network of cancer care providers in Michigan and intends to […]
read moreHealth policy priority: Dental screenings, early access
Addressing the social determinants of health Nearly 60 million people avoided seeking medical care due to lack of funds, and 12 percent of Americans skipped taking prescription drugs, according to a 2018 Federal Reserve report […]
read moreThe Class of 2000 ‘Could Have Been Anything’
The Minford High School Class of 2000, in rural Minford, Ohio, began its freshman year as a typical class. It had its jocks and its cheerleaders, its slackers and its overachievers. But by the time […]
read moreHadden: End surprise medical billing to protect our working families
When Americans consider what makes a good job, naturally they think of take-home pay. But they also know that employers contribute much more in support of their employees, including health care benefits that ensure workers […]
read moreCouple blindsided by $11,000 surprise medical bill. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself
Tom Saputo was shocked when he received a surprise medical bill for $51,000 for an air ambulance. His insurance covered most of the bill for the helicopter, but his family said they were told they […]
read moreWe Can End Surprise Medical Bills
No patient should receive a surprise medical bill. Unfortunately, too many Americans are being hit by outrageous bills from a doctor they didn’t choose or didn’t even know treated them in the first place. And […]
read moreFoundation awards grant to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
The Delta Dental Foundation recently awarded the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services a $225,000 grant for its SEAL! Michigan and Community Water Fluoridation programs. Through the SEAL! Michigan program, dental sealants are provided […]
read moreServing Smiles to Seniors hits the open road
More seniors across Michigan will receive free oral health screenings when Serving Smiles to Seniors travels to 11 sites throughout the state. The program, funded by the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) and operated through Smiles on Wheels, […]
read moreWatch for Delta Dental in Detroit Thanksgiving parade
The Delta Dental Smile Safari float will once again make its way from midtown to downtown Detroit during this year’s America’s Best Thanksgiving Parade. The 120-foot float promotes the messages “Brush for a Healthy Smile” […]
read moreMichigan Health Information Network Shared Services integrates Great Lakes Health Connect
Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN), one of the nation’s leading health information networks, will integrate Great Lakes Health Connect (GLHC), the leading health information exchange in Michigan, to improve healthcare across the state […]
read moreInteroperability Institute launched to grow health IT workforce, learning and collaboration
Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) is launching a new not-for-profit organization focused on innovative research designed to accelerate national interoperability and to attract and develop health information technology (IT) talent. The Interoperability Institute […]
read moreMary Kratz joins the Interoperability Institute as new executive vice president
The Interoperability Institute LLC has announced that Mary Kratz has joined the organization as the executive vice president where she will oversee the new not-for-profit organization focused on innovative research designed to accelerate national interoperability […]
read moreCharlevoix-Emmet ISD to provide more mental health services to students
Almost $300,000 worth of new funding from the Michigan Department of Education will allow several northern Michigan school districts to better address student’s mental health. The money will allow Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District to bring […]
read moreTaking the Pain Out of Prior Authorizations
Anyone who has been treating patients with specialty pharmacy medications for even a short time has likely encountered the challenge of navigating prior authorizations (PAs). So it may be of interest to keep up with […]
read moreWayne State University scientist leads the charge against opioid addiction
No matter how difficult the battle is, nor the weight of the stigma it may carry, every disease needs a champion. For the countless men and women fighting the opioid addiction epidemic that roared to […]
read moreHealth care continues to be hot election issue
Patients tell pollsters they are afraid of receiving surprise medical bills they can’t afford. They express anger that rising deductibles and co-payments means they pay more out of pocket for health care. They are also […]
read moreTips for people enrolling in Medicare for the first time
If you’re just turning 65 and looking to enroll in Medicare for the first time, there are several things you should be aware of regarding your health expenses. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is going […]
read moreHealth Insurance for 2020: What You Need to Do Now During Open Enrollment
In just a few short weeks, we’ll ring in a New Year – and a new decade. But before then, you have big games to watch, holiday celebrations to attend, gifts to buy, and winter […]
read moreSurprise Medical Billing Moves Through House Health Policy Committee
A package of bipartisan bills intended to protect consumers from surprise medical billing passed through the Michigan House Health Policy Committee on Thursday, Nov. 8. MAHP supports HB 4459 and HB 4460 which offer comprehensive […]
read moreMeasures aim to end ‘surprise billing’ for Michigan medical patients
In the tense hours at a Grand Rapids emergency room last year — as Lisa Grinzinger struggled to form words and a medical team scrambled to rule out a possible stroke — finances were far […]
read moreMolina Healthcare of Michigan and Partners to Give Thousands of New Coats to Area Residents at the HOPE Winter Coat Giveaway in Detroit
One of the largest new coat giveaways of the season will take place on Saturday, November 2, when Molina Healthcare of Michigan and its event partners host the Molina HOPE Winter Coat Giveaway where over 5000 new […]
read moreHAP Ranks Highest in J.D. Power 2019 Member Satisfaction Study
The study measures satisfaction based on six key factors: billing and payment; cost; coverage and benefits; customer service; information and communication; and provider choice, as well as other key aspects of member engagement. HAP received […]
read moreMedicaid-eligible individuals getting better health outcomes from managed care delivered by MAHP members
Seniors with low incomes who received Medicare and Medicaid in four regions are benefiting from a managed care approach to their health care needs delivered members of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, according to a new report on […]
read moreHealthy Michigan Plan (HMP) Work Requirements
Starting January 1, 2020, Michigan law requires some people with Medicaid health care coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) to work or do other activities, like job search, for at least 80 hours each […]
read moreProtecting Michigan Patients Against Surprising Medical Bills + How to Take Action
MAHP strongly supports House Bills 4459 and 4460 and Senate Bills 570 and 572 which provide comprehensive protections for Michigan patients against Surprise Medical Bills and strongly encourages our legislature to act quickly to pass […]
read moreUPHP one of the highest-rated health plans in the nation, top in Michigan
Upper Peninsula Health Plan is again one of the nation’s best Medicaid health plans, according to a recent national rating of Medicaid health plans. The health plan ranks in the top 15 among Medicaid managed-care […]
read moreCouple’s $10 million gift to University of Michigan aims to improve world health
A couple’s $10 million gift to the University of Michigan will aim to empower faculty and students to seek new ways to address health needs of the disadvantaged. The gift from Tadataka and Leslie Yamada […]
read moreFor Better Health Guest Column: The importance Of Health Literacy
Sam sat across from his cardiologist at his follow-up appointment, having been discharged one week ago for a congestive heart failure exacerbation. This marked his fourth time this year requiring treatment from the Emergency Department. […]
read moreMcLaren Health Plan receives Pinnacle Award from Michigan Association of Health Plans
For the 14th time since 2003 — and the fifth consecutive year — McLaren Health Plan has been awarded a Pinnacle Award from the Michigan Association of Health Plans. Nine Michigan health plans from across […]
read moreSuicide, teens, and men: Mental illness does not discriminate
Mental health does not discriminate. At some point in your life, you may suffer some kind of mental illness. And you wouldn’t be alone. There is a stigma around mental health. And that needs to […]
read moreMDHHS to host statewide meetings on work requirements for Medicaid Expansion
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is taking additional steps in its efforts to preserve coverage for Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries by launching regional forums.The goals of the regional forums are increasing […]
read moreCauses of Surprise Medical Bills Examined
Receiving a “surprise” medical bill is a common concern regarding health care and with good reason, a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation says. The foundation—not affiliated with the Kaiser medical provider—said that in a […]
read morePriority Health launches new app and member account to create simple, personalized experience
Michigan-based health insurer, Priority Health, recently launched a new mobile app and online member account to offer members an easier way to access and manage their health insurance information. Members will be able to view […]
read moreOpioid addiction can be overcome with mindfulness, study suggests
The ancient practice of mindfulness may be a powerful tool in fighting the modern-day epidemic of opioid addiction, new research suggests. In a series of studies, an eight-week course in mindfulness techniques appeared to loosen […]
read moreAfter losing son to suicide, parents work to close gaps in mental health services for young adults
When it comes to supporting and treating young people who struggle with mental illness, the safety net in Michigan has a lot of holes. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15 to […]
read moreMAHP celebrates health plan innovation at 19th Annual Pinnacle Awards
Lansing, Mich. – Nine Michigan health plans from across the state submitted 28 ground-breaking programs to the Michigan Association of Health Plans Foundation Annual Pinnacle Awards, demonstrating creative approaches to innovation in the commercial, Medicare […]
read more6 Expectations Millennials Have For Their Healthcare
You may have seen recent news headlines proclaiming that millennials are killing napkins. Or that they’re ending plastic drinking straws, the beer industry or even homeownership. While these stories may be a bit extreme, there’s no doubt millennials are shaking […]
read more75% of Patients Look at Price Transparency Ahead of Care Access
Offering healthcare price transparency has become more important than ever, as more and more patients research nearby hospitals and providers to understand their estimated out-of-pocket healthcare costs, according to new survey data from TransUnion Healthcare. […]
read moreMore Evidence Ties Social Media to Mental Health Problems
Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or other social media are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, or other internalizing problems, new research suggests. The study did not find […]
read moreBehavioral health grant could have implications for local counties
A program that helps people with serious mental illnesses or emotional disturbances might come to Wexford County. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced recently that the Michigan Health Endowment Fund gave the […]
read moreLegislation targets surprise medical billing
Legislation coming up for consideration in Lansing aims to alleviate so-called “surprise billing” in health care. The bipartisan two-bill package represents an effort in Michigan to rein in a practice that has received heightened attention […]
read moreMore Americans go without health coverage
The number of people without health insurance increased from the previous year for the first time since the Great Recession, according to new figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. “The poverty rate went […]
read moreHow To Teach Future Doctors About Pain In The Midst Of The Opioid Crisis
The next generation of doctors will start their careers at a time when physicians are feeling pressure to limit prescriptions for opioid painkillers. Yet every day, they’ll face patients who are hurting from injuries, surgical […]
read moreThe opioid and fentanyl crisis killed my brother; here’s what every family needs to know
On May 31, 2019, my life swerved off track, fell down the side of a cliff and came crashing down. On that Friday morning, my 21-year-old brother Matt, my best friend and confidant, died. His […]
read moreDoctors Need To Realize That Fear Of Sticker Shock Keeps Patients From Filling Prescriptions, Experts Say
Up to 30 percent of prescriptions don’t get filled because patients don’t know if they’ll be able to afford the drug. When prescribing medication, doctors should take that into consideration, experts say. “The best drug […]
read moreGov. Whitmer signs executive order to create Michigan Opioids Task Force
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Wednesday to bring together leaders from across state governments, in order to tackle the opioid epidemic. The order was signed on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. It creates the […]
read moreHe’s 26 years old but still sees a pediatrician: Why some young adults don’t move on
When Joann Alfonzo, a pediatrician in Freehold, N.J., walked into her office recently she mentally rolled her eyes when she saw her next patient: a 26-year-old car salesman in a suit and tie. “That’s no […]
read moreEverything You Need To Know About Health Insurance In College
Getting ready to go away to college is like the Olympics of back-to-school shopping. Between scoring your own laptop and browsing the most perfect shower caddy for your dorm room, there’s a lot to be […]
read moreRetirement Healthcare Costs: Strategies for Meeting the Challenge
In my last column, we looked at four key elements of healthcare spending risk in retirement–and I hope that rundown didn’t leave you feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. It shouldn’t, because solid […]
read morePriority Health proposes lower rates for small employers in 2020
Small employers who contract with Priority Health for their employee health benefits could pay slightly less for coverage next year. In a filing with state regulators, the Grand Rapids-based Priority Health proposes to trim rates […]
read moreTackling Teen Anxiety, Depression: U-M Focuses on Mental Health in Schools
As a counselor at Charlevoix Middle and High School, Karrie Gaffney has seen students struggle to access the mental health care they need. “Oftentimes in our area, for students to simply make an appointment with […]
read moreHundreds of Thousands of Michigan Residents Lack Behavioral Health Treatment
More than 650,000 Michigan residents with a mental illness and more than 500,000 with a substance use disorder aren’t receiving treatment, according to a new behavioral health access study from Altarum. That’s 38% of residents […]
read moreMichigan health chief: Medicaid work rules will drive up uncompensated care, cost lives
The state’s top health official predicted Thursday that Michigan’s forthcoming work and employment-reporting requirements for low-income adults on Medicaid will lead to more uncompensated care for hospitals and lower life expectancies. Robert Gordon, director of […]
read moreThe profound effects of exercise on the brain: A conversation with Dr. John Ratey
John Ratey is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, as well as the author of numerous article and books, including Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In […]
read moreMichigan health centers granted $500K for opioid telemedicine programs
The USDA awarded $500,000 to 25 healthcare facilities across Michigan to help expand the state’s telemedicine services for opioid addiction, Times Union reports. Alpena (Mich.) Community College, a recipient of partial funds, plans to use […]
read moreCommentary: It’s time for Congress to authorize price transparency for prescription drugs
This week, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta derailed an attempt to fight the high cost of prescription drugs when he blocked a Trump administration regulation that would require pharmaceutical companies to include the price of […]
read moreThe biggest medical concern for millennials is …
The biggest medical concern for millennials is mental health. That’s according to Cosmopolitan, which recently polled its readers on the issue. The majority – 52 percent – said mental health was their number one medical […]
read more24 Michigan counties are at “high-risk” in the national opioid epidemic
As Michigan joins the nation in seeking solutions to the opioid crisis, researchers at the University of Michigan have come up with an important tool for policymakers and leaders. It’s a study that identifies counties […]
read moreSurprise Billing: Another Healthcare Market Failure
Patients often assume that their health insurance will cover emergency care or major procedures. They’re caught by surprise when they find out that they’re not fully covered. Of all the euphemisms in U.S. healthcare billing […]
read moreHere’s what health care really will cost you in retirement
You won’t pay for health care in retirement with one lump sum. That’s the way these expenses are often presented, though, and the amounts are terrifying. Fidelity Investments, for example, says a couple retiring in […]
read moreImproving access to mental health services is key to reversing US life expectancy decline
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller This past month was Mental Health Awareness month, yet just having one month to address an […]
read moreOpinion: We need price transparency for medicines
As a U.S. Congressman, I hear from hundreds of constituents every month on a variety of important issues. One of the most frustrating and heartbreaking concerns for those of us who live in South Carolina […]
read moreState lawmakers seek to improve drug-pricing transparency
New Jersey lawmakers are looking to increase transparency when it comes to the prices of of pharmaceuticals marketed in the Garden State. Their goal: boost competition among drug makers in ways that will lower consumer […]
read moreSee if your child is eligible for free Michigan dental care from Medicaid
Are you or your children eligible for free dental care in Michigan? Bridge Magazine can link to you to several helpful resources below. More than 420,000 Michigan’s low-income youngsters and teens went without dental care […]
read moreGRPS launching in-school mental health services
Grand Rapids Public Schools is launching in-school mental health services in three of its schools. Alger Middle School, Riverside Middle School and City High/Middle School each are receiving a two-year grant of $100,000 from the […]
read moreHealth Alliance Plan to acquire Detroit-based Medicaid health plan
Detroit-based managed-care company Health Alliance Plan is jumping back into the Medicaid HMO business in metro Detroit, signing a deal to acquired the Detroit-based Medicaid plan Trusted HP-Michigan, the insurer said Monday. Trusted HP, which […]
read moreWhitmer shakes up ‘Michigan Dashboard’ to reflect her priorities for Michigan
(Photo: Carlos Osorio, AP) Six months in office, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer isn’t abandoning the gigabytes of spreadsheets left behind by her “nerdy” predecessor, but she is putting her own stamp on them. Former Michigan Gov. […]
read moreMichigan offers free nicotine patches, gum for smokers
Smokers can get free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges this summer from a state department urging Michiganders to ditch the harmful habit. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is offering the free products […]
read moreAn update on Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
Millions of Michigan residents need long-term care services because of the disabling conditions of chronic illnesses. Programs like Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) meet the needs of those individuals and families through capitated […]
read moreMillennials Love Wellness. But They’re Not as Healthy as People Think, Report Says
Originally published by TIME Millennials are often credited with driving the $4.2 trillion global wellness market, with their love of pursuits like yoga, meditation and boutique fitness. But despite their reputation for valuing health and wellness, […]
read moreSurvey to address wellness, health costs
Originally published by UPMatters Connect Michigan, in partnership with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and AARP Michigan, is seeking input from area residents regarding how they use or would like to use technology in relation to […]
read moreHow New York stopped surprise billing
Originally published by Health Exec As the Trump administration looks for ways to reduce the burden on Americans when they receive a surprise medical bill, it could borrow ideas from New York, which approved legislation in […]
read moreHealth insurer reports opioid usage ‘plummets’
Originally published byGrand Rapids Business Journal A local health insurer is reporting decreased opioid use among its members across all business lines. Grand Rapids-based Priority Health analyzed a year of numbers following the November 2017 […]
read moreNational study: Michigan ranks second highest for drug use as opioid abuse rates climb
Originally published by WSBT Michigan’s opioid abuse problem is getting worse, according to a national finance study. Wallethub reported Michigan is the state with the second highest rate of drug use. The ranking was based on […]
read moreMDOC launches employee mental health initiative amid concerns over stress and suicides
Originally published by Michigan Radio Working as a corrections officer can be a high stress job. Earlier this year, we spoke with Cary Johnson, a corrections officer in Jackson, about the mental health challenges facing the […]
read moreTV pitches for prescription drugs will have to include price
Originally published by Associated Press TV pitches for prescription drugs will soon include the price, giving consumers more information upfront as they make medication choices at a time when new drugs can carry anxiety-inducing prices. Health […]
read morePriority Health Promotes Skin Cancer Prevention through “Sun Smart” Campaign
Originally published by Business Wire Michigan-based health insurer, Priority Health, launches its Sun Smart campaign today to educate and encourage Michigan residents to make smart sun choices by providing sun protection solutions this summer. “Skin cancer […]
read moreHealth Plan Customer Satisfaction Challenged by New Era of Empowered Healthcare Consumers, J.D. Power Finds
Originally published by J.D. Power Customer satisfaction among commercial health plan members has improved nationwide, but health insurers are still confronting challenges when it comes to delivering on the financial and personal health expectations of their […]
read moreAn Update on Behavioral Health Integration
One of the most frustrating issues facing policymakers in Lansing today remaining is deciding how to improve access and outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs throughout Michigan. Lawmakers have already done excellent work in […]
read moreHealthcare changes remain at the forefront of concerns for Americans
Originally published by Jeff Romback Healthcare is at the forefront of talk in Washington as improvements to the care delivered to Americans is a paramount concern. A reaction to this has been the concept of […]
read moreCensus Bureau: Health insurance coverage increased across Michigan
Originally Published by Crain’s Detroit All Michigan counties saw the percentage of people without health care insurance decline, and in most cases decline dramatically, since 2013, according to a study released by the U.S. Census […]
read moreANSWERING THE CALL TO MICHIGAN’S LACK OF ADDICTION SPECIALISTS
The number of opioid-related deaths in Michigan has hit an all-time high, requiring the resources of the state’s three major research universities and one of its largest health systems to tackle the problem. Under a […]
read moreSpectrum Health joins nonprofit consortium seeking to make generic meds
Originally published by MiBiz Spectrum Health was among a dozen members to join a consortium of health systems across the nation that plan to produce their own generic medications to address a shortage. The new founding […]
read moreUnited Healthcare cites success in limit on opioid dental prescriptions for ages 19 or under
Originally Published by Crain’s Detroit Business United Healthcare’s three-day opioid dental prescription policy for those age 19 or under has contributed to 17 percent drop in all-age prescriptions. United also is targeting the top 20 percent […]
read moreHealth care access improves in West Michigan and Detroit, report finds
Originally published by MLive Fewer residents in West Michigan and the Detroit region lack health insurance, according to a new report that takes a comprehensive look health care trends in the region. Substantial insurance changes were […]
read moreAmending the Public Employee Health Benefits Act To Improve Competition and Transparency
On Dec. 28, 2018 former Governor Rick Snyder signed into law amendments to the Public Employee Health Benefits Act (PEHBA). PEHBA applies to public employers, including cities, counties, schools, and universities who offer healthcare benefits […]
read more2018
Opinion: The hazards of my hospital bill
Originally published by Oregon Live Last spring, I had the misfortune of needing medical treatment for a skin rash that had morphed into cellulitis in my left leg. I have enjoyed good health and a hearty constitution […]
read moreStudy: Average hospital outpatient visit cost approaching $500
Originally published by UPI The average outpatient visitor to a U.S. hospital will pay close to $500, a new study says. The findings, published Wednesday in The Lancet Public Health, also found that the average inpatient […]
read moreAfter her skiing accident, an uphill battle over snowballing bills
Originally publsihed by NBC News Sarah Witter couldn’t get a break even though her leg had gotten several. As she lay on a ski trail in Vermont last February, Witter, now 63, knew she hadn’t suffered […]
read moreMAHP suggests public take no action after federal court ruling that Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional
Michigan plans taking no action pending further court rulings The following can be attributed to Dominick Pallone, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans: The Affordable Care Act needs improvements that Congress […]
read morePeople with limited health insurance literacy more likely to avoid care
Originally published by Health Care Dive Dive Brief: A new JAMA Network study found that lower health insurance literacy could be connected to people avoiding healthcare services, including preventive care. The report suggested that clinicians, payers […]
read moreUVa doctor couple gets $1.8M to test one-stop breast cancer approach
Originally published by The Roanoke Times CHARLOTTESVILLE — A husband-and-wife team of doctors at the University of Virginia has pioneered a system of breast cancer treatment that allows a patient to receive a single dose of […]
read moreEditorial: Michigan can’t overlook mental health
Originally published by Detroit News Beaumont Health recently announced it will begin construction on a new 150-bed, free-standing psychiatric hospital in early 2019. This is a need in Michigan, where the mentally ill have been woefully […]
read moreComing Together to Solve the Opioid Crisis
Originally published by U.S. News SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND medical barriers need to be lowered in order to address the multiple facets of the opioid epidemic, leaders from multiple industries said during the closing keynote discussion of […]
read moreThe 6 Best Meditation Apps For 2018
Originally published by Women’s Health For something that’s supposed to mellow you out and leave you feeling refreshed, meditation can be kind of stressful sometimes: How do I do it? When should I do it? And […]
read moreHAP to start moving 1,100 workers to Troy on Nov. 26
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business Health Alliance Plan of Michigan will move 1,100 employees and contractors to its new building in Troy starting Nov. 26, with plans to complete the move in the first quarter […]
read moreMetro expands women’s health practice with new center
Originally published by MiBiz GRAND RAPIDS — A new women’s health center Metro Health-University of Michigan Health System plans to open later this year will increase patients’ access to care in eastern Kent County. The health […]
read moreWomen Healthcare Market 2018 | Analysis by Top Players Revenue, Size, Share, Demand, Trends and Forecasts 2023
Originally published by Medgadget This MRFR Market Perspective Examines the Historical Trends and Current Scenario of the “Global Women Healthcare Market” to Deliver a Highly Pertinent Growth Forecast. And Registering 5.04% CAGR Along with Top Companies […]
read moreMedical Bills ‘Toxic’ for Some Breast Cancer Patients
Originally published by U.S. News WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many women living with advanced breast cancer face significant financial strains — from paying for their care to simply covering monthly bills, a new […]
read moreHow to Help Your College Student Access Mental Health Care
Originally published by Psychology Today “Mom, why is it so hard to find a therapist or psychiatrist when you need one?” asks your daughter Emily, a college freshman. It is the week before Thanksgiving, she is […]
read moreIs Sugar-Coating Bad Childhood Memories a Winning Strategy?
Originally published by Psychology Today Do you have “purposely forgotten” or sugar-coated childhood memories about mom or dad that you’ve glossed over using amnesia? Do you think retrieval-specific “adaptive forgetting” of negative memories from your childhood […]
read moreLegislative Scorecard | October 2018
MAHP is happy to introduce our Legislator Scorecard on the web site. We’ve undertaken this initiative as a visualization of MAHP’s highest priority bills and how each Legislator has voted on these efforts. We’ve categorized […]
read moreAmid Michigan opioid crisis, drug centers say new rules mean layoffs
Originally published by Bridge As Michigan’s opioid crisis deepens, treatment experts warn that proposed state regulatory changes could lead to widespread layoffs of substance abuse workers and even force some treatment centers to close. A public […]
read moreFederal Legislation May Help With Michigan’s Opioid Crisis
Originally published by WEMU 89.1 Legislation awaiting President Trump’s signature would provide more support for people struggling with opioid addiction. Listen Listening…0:40 Laura Michels reports on federal legislation that may help with Michigan’s opioid crisis. The […]
read moreMental Health Care Critical for Battling the Opioid Crisis
Originally published by MD Magazine A recent study examining the association between opioid abuse and depression turned a searing spotlight on the need for increased access to mental health in the United States. The study is […]
read moreA New Prescription For Depression: Join A Team And Get Sweaty
Originally published by NPR Ryan “China” McCarney has played sports his entire life, but sometimes he has to force himself to show up on the field to play pick-up soccer with his friends. “I’m dreading and […]
read moreMichigan to study ways to lower health insurance premiums
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business Michigan is looking for a contractor to conduct a health insurance market study as part of the state’s overall effort to lower health insurance premiums. The study also could […]
read moreMichigan Leaders Hope Fed Opioid Abuse Legislation Would Help Michigan
Originally published by WKAR According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people dying from overdoses involving prescription opioids was 5 times higher in 2016 than 1999. Legislation awaiting President Trump’s signature […]
read moreHere’s how $1.5B will change health care in Greater Lansing
Originally published by Lansing State Journal Editors note: The time frame during which $1.5 billion in health care-related investment in the Lansing area will occur has been updated in this story. LANSING — Health care-related industries […]
read moreNon-fatal injuries cost healthcare $1.8 trillion annually, report shows
Originally published by Healthcare Finance A new analysis by researchers from Brown University and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation has found that nonfatal injuries in the U.S. in 2013 cost more than $1.8 trillion. […]
read moreMichigan’s homeless face major barriers to healthcare. Here’s how care providers are trying to help.
Originally published by Second Wave Michigan This article is part of State of Health, a series examining health disparities, how they affect Michigan’s children and seniors, and the innovative solutions being developed to address them. It […]
read moreSummit speaker offers insights from field on combining physical, behavioral health care
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business Crain’s 10th Health Care Leadership Summit debated integration of physical and mental health Keynote speakers included Washington state Medicaid integration executive Isabel Jones and Michigan HHS Director Nick Lyon By […]
read more‘Section 298′ pilot programs move ahead
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business The differences in philosophies were evident when Lisa Williams, executive director of the West Michigan Community Mental Health, met last summer with Sean Kendall, president of Detroit-based Meridian, a WellCare […]
read moreBankole: The unlikely healthcare conversion of Michigan gubernatorial candidate Schuette
Originally published by The Detriot News Despite the shortcomings of his administration on some issues, including the Flint water crisis, one of the hallmarks of the outgoing administration of Gov. Rick Snyder, is the empathy he showed […]
read moreThe big data disruption: How big data analytics can impact health care
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business Banks, grocery stores and tech companies like Amazon and Apple gather vast amounts of data from consumers to personalize experiences, become more efficient and strategize new services, product offerings and […]
read moreEasterseals to start early childhood mental health program with $2.5M grant
Originally published by The Oakland Press Easterseals Michigan, a behavioral health services agency, has been awarded a a $2.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The agency plans to use the […]
read moreTaken For A Ride: After ATV Crash, Doctor Gets $56,603 Bill For Air Ambulance Trip
Originally published by KHN It was the first — and only — time Dr. Naveed Khan, a 35-year-old radiologist, ever rode in an all-terrain vehicle. Khan took the wheel from his friend and drove circles in […]
read moreMAHP celebrates health plan innovation in 18th Annual Pinnacle Awards
Ten Michigan health plans from across the state submitted 25 ground-breaking programs to the Michigan Association of Health Plans Foundation Annual Pinnacle Awards, demonstrating creative approaches to innovation in the commercial, Medicare and Medicaid sectors […]
read moreWobbly but upright, Obamacare still standing in Michigan
Originally published by Bridge As year six approaches, the health of the Affordable Care Act in Michigan is stabilizing, with premiums expected to flatten in 2019 after years of jarring spikes that sent enrollment numbers tumbling […]
read moreQ&A: Guylaine Donavan – Vice President, Hylant
Originally published by MiBiz More than 2,600 Michigan residents died in 2017 from an opioid overdose. That’s an increase of more than 80 percent over the last five years, according to data from the U.S. Centers […]
read moreThe opioid epidemic in Michigan
Originally published by UP Matters The opioid epidemic reaches far and wide across the United States, but Michigan ranks 10th in per capita opioid prescribing rates and 18th in overdose rates. Dr. Kevin Piggot is working […]
read moreThree Qualities All Tech-Driven Millennials Are Looking For
Originally published by Forbes Born between 1981 and 1996, millennials currently make up roughly 25% of the U.S. population and are regular subjects of news analysis and public discussion. In 2014, Pew Research Center released a […]
read moreStudy: Expanded Medicaid boosted finances of Michigan’s poor
Originally published by The Detroit News Enrollment in Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program boosted the finances of many low-income residents as well as their health care status, according to a University of Michigan study released Monday. Among […]
read moreKnow the Law – Health Insurance for College Students
Originally published by Fox17 It’s that time of year again. The kids are going back to school, including college students. While you might be checking off your to-do’s, like buying textbooks and furnishing apartments, there is […]
read moreFirst timers need to ask these questions to avoid choosing the wrong health insurance
Orginally published by CNBC Like other adult things, choosing your first health insurance plan seems scary until you do it. Lots of acronyms you never heard before? Check. You know it’s going to hit your wallet? […]
read moreHow Efficiency Experts Lowered Health Care Prices at One U.S. Hospital
Originally published by Fortune Hospital bills tend to generate a knee-jerk reaction: why so expensive? Few hospitals in the U.S. have a clear answer. Now, one hospital has now done some self-criticism and examined its knee-replacement […]
read moreWellCare becomes largest Medicaid provider in Michigan after Meridian acquisition
Orginally published by The Detroit News Michigan’s largest Medicaid health-plan provider is now under new ownership. WellCare Health Plans Inc. said Tuesday that it had completed on Saturday its $2.5 billion acquisition of Detroit-based Meridian Health […]
read moreWe can’t make economically rational choices on healthcare. Our brains won’t let us
Orginally published by the LA Times Standing under a sign reading “pain relief,” I scanned the shelves, my legs throbbing after a 10K race that morning. I spotted a familiar red box: Tylenol Extra Strength, 100 […]
read morePharma chief defends 400% drug price rise as a ‘moral requirement’
Originally Published by Financial Times A pharma executive has defended his decision to raise the price of an antibiotic mixture to more than $2,000 a bottle, arguing there was a “moral requirement to sell the product […]
read moreMAHP supports federal action to repeal the Health Insurance Tax
MAHP supports federal action to repeal the Health Insurance Tax (HIT). Congress placed a moratorium on collection of the tax for 2017 and 2018 but will lapse for 2019. Re-instituting the tax will cause a […]
read moreCMS seeks help creating consumer price comparison tool
The CMS started the process of searching for a company to help create a price comparison tool for consumers. It has released a sources sought notice to see if any companies have the expertise to […]
read moreIt is with sadness that we note Bill Alvin has passed away
It is with sadness that we note Bill Alvin, former CEO of Health Alliance Plan – HAP and valued past member of the MAHP Board of Directors and the MAHP Executive Committee, has passed away. […]
read moreMAHP Strongly Supports State Embracing Innovation to Hold Down Individual Market Rates
(LANSING) The Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) today said it encourages the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) to examine and endorse key innovations other states have used to stabilize the individual health […]
read moreWhat Do Millennials Want from the Healthcare System?
The Health Care Blog The 18-34 year old segment of our population is large, growing and important in our society. They are 80 million strong. Their attitudes, beliefs, values and actions are re-shaping the way […]
read moreWhat Millennials Need to Know About Health Insurance
Originally published the The Balance If you’re a “Millennial,” born sometime in the 1980s, you’re probably as healthy as you’ll ever be, and you’re definitely young. Does this mean you can forego health insurance? Decidedly not. […]
read moreTask Shifting Could Help Lower Costs in U.S. Health Care
Originally published by Harvard Business Review If you ran a fancy restaurant, would you want the chef also to clean dishes and mop the floor? Of course not. You’d hire others to do these things and […]
read moreWhy Americans Spend So Much on Health Care
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal The U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation. It will soon spend close to 20% of its GDP on health—significantly more than the […]
read moreDoes Health Care Need to Cost This Much?
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal In “Why We Spend So Much on Health Care” (U.S. News, Aug. 1) the graphic comparison of health-care spending and life expectancy between the U.S. and some OECD nations represents a […]
read moreMAHP Commentary on New Medicare IPPS and LTCH Rules
On August 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its Final Rule for Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System. (We’ll minimize the acronyms for this […]
read moreMinnesota’s individual health insurance rates likely to fall in 2019, small groups’ could rise
Originally published by TwinCitites.com Minnesotans who buy health insurance on the individual market will likely see lower rates next year while those who buy coverage in small groups could see an increase. The Minnesota Commerce Department […]
read moreDéjà Voodoo: Pharma’s Promises To Curb Drug Prices Have Been Heard Before
Orginally published byKHN.org Prescription drug prices were soaring. Angry policymakers swore they’d take action. Pharma giant Merck responded by promising to address the problem voluntarily, vowing to keep price increases under the overall rate of […]
read moreThe Astonishingly High Administrative Costs of U.S. Health Care
Originally published by The New York Times It takes only a glance at a hospital bill or at the myriad choices you may have for health care coverage to get a sense of the bewildering complexity […]
read moreAre you getting the best price for your prescriptions? Some strategies to pay less
Originally published by USA Today Filling a prescription is pretty simple. In some states, including Maine, Minnesota and New York, your doctor electronically files the order. Elsewhere you bring the doctor’s scribbled instructions to a pharmacist. […]
read moreMichigan pharmacies filled twice as many order for this drug
Originally published by The Detroit Free Press More people are seeking the drug that reverses opioid overdoses. Michigan pharmacies filled twice as many orders for naloxone during the second quarter of the year than it did […]
read moreWhere is price transparency in healthcare?
Originally published by Cleveland.com In almost every industry in the United States, consumers are able to easily access price information to shop. The first requirement to bring buyers and sellers together in a market is to […]
read moreObamacare rate hikes In Michigan lowest in years
Originally published by Politics Central In sharp contrast to the double-digit rate increases in recent years, Obamacare health insurance purchasers in Michigan will see the smallest rate hikes in many years in the upcoming enrollment period. […]
read moreHaving a baby is costly and confusing, even for a health policy expert
Originally published by Philly Voice It is hard to believe that it has been just over since five months since our second son, Lukas, was born on Feb. 3. His mother, Hollyanne, is doing well, which […]
read moreCutting health care costs: Michigan employers find strategies to stem rate plan increases
Originally published byCrain’s Detroit Business Average health care costs in Michigan for midsized employers are projected to increase by 5 percent in 2018 after benefit plan changes, the same rate as last year but higher […]
read moreIndividual market health insurance rates moderate for 2019
After significant rate increases in recent years, Michigan’s insurers in the individual market plan much smaller rate hikes for 2019 – and some plans are cutting rates for plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. […]
read moreGetting the Most Out of MAHP Summer Conference
Michigan Association of Health Plan’s 33rd Annual Summer Conference is just around the corner. Summer Conference is always a highlight of the year, with a chance for members to mingle, learn from great speakers, visit […]
read moreA baby was treated with a nap and a bottle of formula. The bill was $18,000.
On the first morning of Jang Yeo Im’s vacation to San Francisco in 2016, her 8-month-old son, Park Jeong Whan, fell off the bed in the family’s hotel room and hit his head. There was […]
read moreDrugmakers defy Trump’s call to drop prices
President Donald Trump in May said that drugmakers would soon announce “massive” price cuts, and his administration rolled out a plan to bring down the cost of medicines. But the companies don’t appear to have […]
read moreMillennials and the Health Insurance Marketplace in Michigan
Authored by: Jeff Romback, Deputy Director, Policy and Planning And Millennial Health Insurance… fun topic, right? One of these real “adult” decisions you’ve had to make every year at work or through the Marketplace. Also, who […]
read moreMichigan’s Medicaid expansion a boon to primary care providers
Michigan’s decision to expand Medicaid has paid dividends for both patients and primary care providers in the state, with residents experiencing better access to care and the ability to live and work independently, and physicians […]
read moreSolutions to Michigan’s opioid epidemic
Last week, the Michigan state legislature passed a law prohibiting physicians from prescribing more than a seven-day supply of opioids. Across the state and the country, lawmakers at both the local and national levels have […]
read moreHealthcare costs increasing at unsustainable pace
Medical costs are poised to continue their relatively flat growth in 2019, but researchers say the steady trend is unsustainable for consumers. The expected 6% growth in 2019 aligns with the 5.5% to 7% trend […]
read morePrice transparency is sound health-care policy
Americans agree on one thing: health care costs too much, both individually and to our nation. In 1960, the average U.S. health care cost per person was $146. As a nation, we expended $27.2 billion, […]
read moreMichigan ACE Initiative Launches New Video
The Michigan ACE Initiative is focused on expanding efforts toward a statewide awareness of the Adverse Childhood Experiences and our new video will help increase that awareness–and showcase the work being done to create trauma […]
read moreAfter Surgery, Surprise $117,000 Medical Bill From Doctor He Didn’t Know
Before his three-hour neck surgery for herniated disks in December, Peter Drier, 37, signed a pile of consent forms. A bank technology manager who had researched his insurance coverage, Mr. Drier was prepared when the […]
read moreFront-line medical providers say Michigan’s Medicaid expansion helped patients’ health and ability to work
Extending medical insurance to low-income Michigan residents meant they had better access to health care, earlier detection of serious illnesses, better care for existing health problems and improved ability to work, attend school and live […]
read moreHow the High Cost of Medical Care Is Affecting Americans
•A bill of over $40,000 for the 20 minutes it took a doctor to stitch a cut. • An ambulance ride of only 200 feet that cost $3,421. • A healthy, insured couple “slowly going […]
read moreThe Odd Math of Medical Tests: One Scan, Two Prices, Both High
Len Charlap, a retired math professor, has had two outpatient echocardiograms in the past three years that scanned the valves of his heart. The first, performed by a technician at a community hospital near his […]
read moreEven Small Medical Advances Can Mean Big Jumps in Bills
Catherine Hayley is saving up for an important purchase: an improved version of the tiny digital pump at her waist that delivers lifesaving insulin under her skin. Such devices, which tailor insulin dosing more precisely […]
read moreThe Price of Prevention: Vaccine Costs Are Soaring
There is little that Dr. Lindsay Irvin has not done for the children’s vaccines in her office refrigerator: She remortgaged her home to afford their rising prices. She packed them in ice chests and moved […]
read morePatients’ Costs Skyrocket; Specialists’ Incomes Soar
Kim Little had not thought much about the tiny white spot on the side of her cheek until a physician’s assistant at her dermatologist’s office warned that it might be cancerous. He took a biopsy, […]
read moreAs Hospital Prices Soar, a Stitch Tops $500
With blood oozing from deep lacerations, the two patients arrived at California Pacific Medical Center’s tidy emergency room. Deepika Singh, 26, had gashed her knee at a backyard barbecue. Orla Roche, a rambunctious toddler on […]
read moreThe Soaring Cost of a Simple Breath
The kitchen counter in the home of the Hayes family is scattered with the inhalers, sprays and bottles of pills that have allowed Hannah, 13, and her sister, Abby, 10, to excel at dance and […]
read moreIn Need of a New Hip, but Priced Out of the U.S.
Michael Shopenn’s artificial hip was made by a company based in this remote town, a global center of joint manufacturing. But he had to fly to Europe to have it installed. Mr. Shopenn, 67, an […]
read moreAmerican Way of Birth, Costliest in the World
Seven months pregnant, at a time when most expectant couples are stockpiling diapers and choosing car seats, Renée Martin was struggling with bigger purchases. At a prenatal class in March, she was told about epidural anesthesia and was […]
read moreThe $2.7 Trillion Medical Bill
Deirdre Yapalater’s recent colonoscopy at a surgical center near her home here on Long Island went smoothly: she was whisked from pre-op to an operating room where a gastroenterologist, assisted by an anesthesiologist and a nurse, performed […]
read moreA Hospital ER Charges An ‘After-Hours’ Fee. Who Has To Pay It?
Originally published by Kaiser Health News. This week, I responded to readers who were unhappy with their health plan’s decision not to pay an emergency department surcharge for after-hours care and concerned about difficulties getting Medicare […]
read moreVAI names insurance exec to board
Originally published by Grand Rapids Business Journal A local health insurance leader has joined the board of the Van Andel Institute. VAI said yesterday it appointed Joan Budden, president and CEO of Grand Rapids-based Priority Health, which […]
read moreWhere Does Your Health Care Dollar Go?
Originally published by AHIP. As health care costs take a bigger bite out of consumers’ wallets year over year, Americans deserve more information about where their health care dollars go. That’s why America’s Health Insurance Plans […]
read moreFor opioid addicts in Michigan, online help when no doctor is near
Originally published by Bridge In Ann Arbor, a clinic called Workit Health has an innovative approach to addiction: Why not harness the Internet to take treatment anywhere the patient lives? Launched in 2015 as a web-based treatment […]
read moreThe tiniest addicts: How U.P. babies became part of opioid epidemic
Originally published by The Detroit Free Press. The new baby arrived at UP Health Systems in Marquette by ambulance on a January evening, well past dark and nearing, maybe, the end of a long shift for […]
read moreFueling Food for Flint Initiative
For the past two years, Meridian has been dedicated to helping the Flint community through our partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Most recently, we sponsored a 12-hour RadioThon hosted by Flint-based radio […]
read moreMaking health care markets work: Competition policy for health care
Originally published by Brookings. The U.S. health care system does not work as well as it could, or should. Prices are high and rising,[1] there are serious quality problems,[2] and many characterize the system as rigid and unresponsive, […]
read morePilot programs to include unenrolled Medicaid patients
Originally published by Crain’s Detroit Business. Michigan state health officials plan to add an additional layer of complexity this fall to projects designed to test integration of Medicaid behavioral and physical health by requiring the mental […]
read moreMore communities join lawsuit to get drugmakers to pay for costs of opioid crisis
Originally published by Michigan Radio. The prescription opioid drug addiction problem not only takes its toll on individuals and families. It also costs local governments in many different ways — from emergency medical services to more […]
read moreTexas ruling on $11,000 ER bill may have long-lasting effects
Originally published by Denton Record-Chronicle The health care industry is closely watching a recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court that some say could have broader implications on how hospitals and health insurers negotiate their rates. […]
read moreAI offers health care industry new ways to control costs, manage care
Originally published in MiBiz. Get ready for the rise of the machines in the health care industry. The future of health care could very well depend on it, as artificial intelligence ushers in a new era […]
read moreShining the Light into Pharmacy Pricing
Michiganders, the healthcare industry, employer groups, and citizen advocates believe access to the pricing of ever-increasing drug costs serves consumers. Shining a light into their costs would be a step to bringing them to the […]
read moreResults Of Statewide Drug Take-Back
Originally published by WSJM A drug take-back event this past Saturday resulted in more than 966 pounds of unneeded prescription medications being collected across the state. Michigan State Police tell us the agency’s 30 posts served […]
read moreState Rep. Mary Whiteford said there’s a lack of transparency when it comes to the cost of prescription drugs and the powerful companies that set those prices.
Originally published by Holland Sentinel. State Rep. Mary Whiteford, with the support of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, introduced legislation last week to help protect consumers against rising prescription drug costs. Whiteford, R-Casco Township, said there’s a lack […]
read moreHundreds of pound of drugs collected during northern Michigan drug take-back day
Originally published by Up North Live. Northern Michigan Law Enforcement teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The country-wide event encourages people to drop off their expired, used or […]
read moreSee Michigan counties with highest percent on public health insurance
Originally published by MLive. About 39% of Michigan residents have public insurance coverage — i.e., Medicare, Medicaid or Veterans Administration benefits, based on estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Those numbers vary considerably by age group, […]
read moreMichigan Reports Progress Against Opioid Use
Originally published by Occupational Health & Safety. The number of opioid prescriptions issued in 2071 was 10.7 percent below the number in 2015, and the overall number of schedules 2-5 controlled substance prescriptions dispensed fell by […]
read moreA Michigan where all kids thrive
Originally published in the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 2018 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book. In 2016, more than 1 in 5 children in Michigan still lived in poverty. That is an improvement from 23% […]
read moreReport: HMOs, feds reshape Michigan’s health insurance
Originally published by The Detroit News. Michigan’s health care landscape is being reshaped by the renewed strength of health maintenance organizations and the growing role of government health insurance programs, according to report released Wednesday. The […]
read moreBill would require locks on opioid prescription bottles
Originally published by the Detroit Free Press. To deter opioid abuse, Michigan lawmakers say it’s time to rethink the child-resistant prescription vial. In a Tuesday press conference, Republican and Democratic state representatives unveiled a bill requiring […]
read moreU.S. healthcare spending to climb 5.3 percent in 2018: agency
Originally published by Reuters. United States health spending is projected to rise 5.3 percent in 2018, reflecting rising prices of medical goods and services and higher Medicaid costs, a U.S. government health agency said on Wednesday, […]
read moreOpioid Study Launches In Michigan
Originally published by Pharmaceutical Processing. An innovative, genomics-based pilot program to study opioid abuse and addiction was launched in Kalamazoo County recently. The program, made possible by funding provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), […]
read moreAs opioid addiction is on the rise, Pine Rest offers help
Originally published by WZZM13. The experts at Pine Rest are helping people understand opioid addiction and how they can help. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, In 2016, 2.1 million people had […]
read moreColumn: There’s more to do on opioids
Originally published by The Detroit News. Over three years ago, I co-authored an article with recommendations on how Michigan should tackle the opioid epidemic. Chief among these recommendations include physicians limiting the number of opioids prescribed to patients and […]
read moreSoutheast Michigan to benefit from $3.4 million in Michigan health grants
Originally published by Crain’s. Southeast Michigan will benefit from $3.4 million in grants as part of a statewide program intended to improve health and reduce health care costs for residents. The Michigan Health Endowment Fund will […]
read moreObamacare sign ups remained strong in 2018, but next year is uncertain
Originally Published by CNN. Obamacare remained popular with millions of Americans in 2018, despite the Trump administration’s repeated attacks. Nearly 11.8 million people selected coverage for this year on the federal and state-based exchanges during a […]
read moreSessions proposes plan to limit amount of opioids manufacturers can produce
Originally published by The Washington Post. Attorney General Jeff Sessions proposed a change to national drug policy Tuesday by limiting the amount of opioids that certain companies can manufacture each year in an effort to fight what […]
read moreThe opioid epidemic from a transplant surgeon’s point of view
Originally published by Michigan Radio. Recent reports show that the number of organ transplants is rising. While this may be good news to those on an organ waitlist, the reason for the rise — opioid overdose […]
read moreMcLaren invests $1.1 million to establish epilepsy care unit
Originally published by Crain’s. McLaren Health Care Corp. has equipped itself with an epilepsy sub specialty team as the Grand Blanc-based medical system focuses on an expected increase in diagnoses of the neurological disease. About $1.1 […]
read moreFor a CEO, what’s a good day?
Originally published by Crain’s. Joan Budden of Priority Health has some advice for her fellow CEOs, even those whose companies have nothing to do with health insurance. Start small. Adjust fast. Grow to scale. “Think big […]
read moreU.P. Perinatal Care Focus of Newly-Formed Collaborative Effort
Originally published by Sunny FM Radio. The Upper Peninsula Health Plan and U.P. Health Care Solutions have partnered up to form a collaborative group addressing the health of mothers and their babies in Upper Michigan. The […]
read moreHAP to open innovation center in Detroit, move more employees to Troy
Originally Published By Crain’s. Health Alliance Plan of Michigan is considering a plan to move some of its workforce from its longtime Detroit New Center headquarters to Troy and also intends to open an innovation center […]
read moreHealth insurers push patients away from hospitals
Originally published by Crain’s. Health insurers are increasingly creating programs to encourage patients to move away from hospitals and instead use lower-priced outpatient providers or in-home services to reduce health care costs and hold down premiums. […]
read moreInstitute for Clinical and Economic Review Announces New Program to Make Available Draft Executable Economic Models During Drug Assessment Review Process
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) today announced plans for the first phase of a new program in which ICER will work with its academic collaborators to share executable versions of draft cost-effectiveness models with […]
read moreBill would require pharma companies to report data on high-cost drugs
Originally published by MiBiz. In 2014, the narcotic overdose treatment Naloxone cost $690. Today, the same drug sells for $4,500. That’s just one example of recent dramatic drug price increases that a group of health care […]
read moreAnalysis: State Saves $2.5M From 3K People Keeping Healthy MI Coverage
Originally published by MIRS. Of the 13,550 people warned they could be moved from Healthy Michigan to a plan on the federal health insurance exchange, 27 percent of them have jumped through the hoop necessary to […]
read moreMichigan falls short in frontline treatment for opioid crisis
Originally published by Bridge Magazine. A little more than three years ago, William Powers was well on his way to death from an opiate overdose. A self-described longtime drug addict, Powers, 61, said he had been […]
read moreDrug deaths among Michigan women up 24% in 2 years, report says
Originally Published by MLive. Michigan is No. 29 among the 50 states in a 2018 ranking of women and children’s health indicators, according to a new report by the United Health Foundation. Michigan ranked 32nd in […]
read moreAs Drug Price Hikes Outpace Inflation, Vaupel Proposes Transparency Commission
Originally published by MIRS. The price of prescription drugs has increased so dramatically that they have produced a public outcry, such as when the EpiPen jumped from $57 in 2007 to $600 in 2017. In 2015, […]
read moreHow other states are fighting prescription drug costs
Originally published by Bridge Magazine. As the Michigan Legislature cautiously considers measures aimed at cutting prescription drug prices, other states are aggressively enacting their own approaches. Most of the states have Democrats controlling at least […]
read moreOpioid Misuse in Rural America
Originally Published by the USDA. The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose deaths. In 2016, nearly 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. At 174 people each day, this is more than the […]
read moreOn Drug Pricing, States Step In Where Washington Fails
Originally posted by The New York Times. President Trump continues to vent about high drug prices, most recently in his State of the Union speech. Democrats like Senators Bernie Sanders and Claire McCaskill keep proposing legislation […]
read moreLegislation Introduced To Reform Michigan’s Mental Health Care System
Originally published by WHMI 93.5 FM. New legislation introduced by a mental health task force co-chaired by a local lawmaker. A bipartisan group of legislators were appointed to the House CARES Task Force to investigate the […]
read moreHAP and Oak Street Health Partner to Enhance Care for MI Health Link Recipients
HAP and Oak Street Health are partnering to offer HAP Midwest MI Health Link members a new way to manage their health. At Oak Street Health centers, MI Health Link Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) beneficiaries will […]
read moreLansing provides sluggish response to Michigan’s rising drug prices
Originally published by Bridge Magazine. Lansing resident Garrett Clinard could be the poster child for the kind of spiraling prescription drug costs that have moved states from Maryland to Utah to try to curtail their price. […]
read moreStudy finds Affordable Care Act resulted in better surgical care
Originally published by The Boston Globe. Harvard researchers have found that the Affordable Care Act was linked to better access to surgery and higher quality care, the university said. “What was most striking was that we […]
read moreHow Prescription Drugs Get Their Prices, Explained
Originally published by Newsweek. After years of promising to repeal the Affordable Care Act, House Republicans last week introduced their replacement, the American Health Care Act, or AHCA. The proposed legislation has been ripped from both sides of […]
read moreObamacare Helped More Young Women Get Prenatal Care: Study
Originally published by HealthDay News. One of the main features of Obamacare — providing insurance for adults under age 26 through their parents’ health plan — allowed many pregnant young women to obtain prenatal care, new […]
read moreKHN On NPR: The Uniquely American Problem Of High Prescription Drug Costs
Originally published by Kaiser Health News Kaiser Health News Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal discussed drug costs with Scott Simon, the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition on Saturday, Feb. 10. This is a transcript of that conversation. […]
read moreU.S. spending on drugs will grow faster than on other health-care services over the next decade
Originally published by The Washington Post Prescription drug spending will grow faster than any other major medical good or service over the next decade, according to a projection from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. […]
read moreMAHP applauds Gov. Snyder’s continued support for Healthy Michigan Plan
Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2018-19 budget proposal including sufficient funding to maintain the Healthy Michigan Plan is a vital step in ensuring health care coverage for more than 650,000 low-income Michiganders and helps hold down insurance […]
read moreMeridian Winter Blast attendance hits 100,000; nonprofits earn $30,000
Last weekend’s Meridian Winter Blast in downtown Detroit drew about 100,000 people, $30,000 in nonprofit contributions and 17,500 pounds of donated food. Attendance was up from 90,000 last year and hit a 10-year high, organizers […]
read morePremiums increasing and enrollment decreasing on the Michigan Health Insurance Exchange
Enrollment in the Michigan Health Insurance Exchange came to a close on December 15, 2017. The final enrollment report from the Center for Medicare Services showed Michigan’s enrollment at 293,940. Our enrollment showed a nine […]
read moreYpsilanti celebrates $17.9M housing development with UnitedHealthcare as the largest investor of the development
Ypsilanti celebrates $17.9M housing development Ypsilanti — After being displaced from Flint in the midst of the city’s water crisis two years ago, Janea Davis found living in homeless shelters. The 36-year-old mother of four now […]
read moreMAHP Medicare-Medicaid members rank among nation’s best
Two Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) Medicare-Medicaid members were ranked first and third in the federal Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey that measures consumer experiences. Upper Peninsula Health Plan, based […]
read more2017
The Impacts of the ACA’s Tax on Health Insurance in 2019 and Beyond
On October 10, Oliver Wyman, who partnered with United Health Care, released an actuarial study regarding taxes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Health Insurance Tax (HIT) is imposed on fully insured Such taxes […]
read more2017 Pinnacle Awards
Eleven Michigan health plans from across the state submitted 34 ground-breaking programs to the Michigan Association of Health Plans Foundation Annual Pinnacle Awards, leading the health care industry with innovative programs to improve patient health […]
read more2016
Gratitude and Celebration
As I mentioned in my previous post, there are several people I’d like to thank: Thank you to Drs. Myron Wegman, Sy Axelrod, Avedis Donabedian—giants in their feld of public health and who made the […]
read moreA Time to Reflect
This is one of my last two blog posts as executive director of MAHP. A bittersweet moment to be sure, but one that naturally forces you to look both backward, to appreciate what changes may […]
read moreIntegration: Rebuttal of Allegations
First, in the Medicaid managed care system discussed in the last blog post, our members embrace risk. They must accept every patient that chooses them or is assigned to them by the state. There is no […]
read moreIntegration: A Win-Win for Patients and Taxpayers
As a longtime student and participant in the public health world, I know that our current bifurcated system of mental and physical health is based on decades of history. It is no surprise to me […]
read moreReforming Michigan’s Insurance Code
For more than two years now, MAHP and its members and consultants have been working through a comprehensive review and update of Michigan’s Insurance code provisions that affect health insurance. This effort started internally following […]
read moreRepurposing of the Medicaid Health Plan Use Tax
Michigan has historically relied on various special taxes to support the general fund and therefore Medicaid services. A prime example of this is the current imposition of Michigan’s sales and use tax (6 percent) on Medicaid […]
read moreF17 Budget & Impact for MAHP members
We finished the legislative session before summer recess and the results of several key legislative decisions were in play: the budget for FY 17, Senate passage of “repurposing” use tax on Medicaid health plans, and […]
read moreA Crisis in Trust: Health Care Credibility
I feel the need to touch on an underlying issue that I think we all should be concerned about from the public policy perspective. This issue is credibility. The concern is that we allare at risk of […]
read moreMichigan’s Access to Healthcare
Dustin Collins is a second year medical student at Michigan State University and participates in the Rural Physician Program, which is a clinical option for students who wish to practice in the rural community. He’ll […]
read moreChildhood Trauma: A Lifetime of Medical Expense
Researchers are proving that for better or worse, your childhood shapes the person you become. It molds your personality, influences your education and social life, and has a lasting effect on your personal health and […]
read more2015
Direct Primary Care: Does it Really Save You Money?
To paraphrase Mark Twain, in today’s Internet-connected world, a really bad public policy idea can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. An example is the notion that […]
read moreAn Accountable and Cost-Effective System of Care
This is the final post in the series that offers ideas to help Michigan address a looming fiscal cliff caused by the end of certain revenue devices that have funded Medicaid and other low-income health […]
read moreIdeas to Move On
My earlier posts in this series have considered how Michigan can dodge a looming financial bite caused by cuts in revenues and increases in health care costs through smart policies aimed at being more efficient […]
read moreAddressing Our Industry Challenges
As I noted in a previous post, the health industry is facing some serious financial challenges as it seeks to provide quality health care and health insurance to all in the state, particularly low income […]
read moreAccountability and Integration
Let’s keep looking at ways the health industry – insurers and providers of all health services – can help reduce the cost of health care to our state as a whole while improving services. You […]
read moreCrisis or Opportunity
The next 16 months will see a number of far-reaching decisions made those of is in the health insurance industry, health care providers and policymakers. I’m advocating that our industry take advantage of what some […]
read more2015 Award Winners
I want to take a moment to once again congratulate the MAHP award recipients announced at our recent summer conference. Randy Narowitz, CEO of Total Health Care received the Bonner Award. He has demonstrated countless […]
read moreSustaining Success
Successful government programs – those that provide important services or save consumers money — deserve to be promoted and grow. Giving low-income workers whose employers do not provide health insurance need a way to access […]
read moreCensus Release
It’s official: federal and state policy changes aimed at increasing health insurance access in Michigan has proven to be a win for the state. The U.S. Census Bureau released data for 2014 revealing that the […]
read morePlanned Parenthood
As the Michigan Legislature prepares to “investigate” Planned Parenthood, I thought it might be useful to review what this organization is doing in Michigan to help improve the lives of thousands of women. And what […]
read moreHealth plans managing pharmacy give better care to patients
In my last blog, I indicated our pleasure in the Administration’s reversal of the proposed carve out of the pharmacy benefit in Medicaid managed care. As noted in the publication released by AHIP on April […]
read moreManaged care + pharmacy services = Great deal for Michigan
The recent announcement that the delivery of prescription drugs to Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan patients will continue to be managed by Medicaid Health Plans rather than carving out this benefit to manage separately by […]
read more2014
Michigan falls in state ranking of health insurance competition
By: Rick Murdock We’re number 3! And that’s not good. The latest American Medical Association (AMA) annual review of health insurer competition found that Michigan has the third least competitive health insurance market in the […]
read morePinnacle Awards: Showing what health care leaders do
By: Rick Murdock MAHP’s Pinnacle Awards are always one of the high points of the year for our association – and for me, personally. Yes, I’m an association executive, and I know that we need […]
read moreReady, set…Go on Nov. 15 for open individual enrollment
By: Rick Murdock Michigan’s health plans are preparing now for the next open enrollment period for individual health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. If you are interested in purchasing or renewing your individual […]
read moreHICA tax passes muster
By Dominick Pallone, Deputy Director MAHP was very pleased to get word recently that Michigan’s Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) tax has passed muster with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the […]
read moreCompetition is working
By Rick Murdock Competition has been a key focus for the members of the Michigan Association of Health Plans. We believe vigorous competition on a level playing field among many companies is the right way […]
read moreGood news: Michigan residents are signing up for affordable health care
By Rick Murdock The latest enrollment numbers for Michigan’s Affordable Care Act Exchange have been announced, and it looks like there has been some progress made in getting Michigan residents signed up for affordable health […]
read moreHealthy Michigan Plan: It’s working, but we’ve got to keep it up!
By Rick Murdock All of us at the Michigan Association of Health Plans were strong supporters of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Healthy Michigan Plan, providing health insurance to low-income working men and women. So we have […]
read moreFor a robust Medicaid Managed Care system to work, companies must be reasonably compensated
By Rick Murdock Many people don’t fully realize that members of the Michigan Association of Health Plans are largely responsible for delivery of Medicaid services in Michigan for nearly 1.3 million persons – a number […]
read moreAmerican’s still learning about federal health care reform
By Rick Murdock A new national survey you can learn about on our media page shows that Americans are split in thirds about the new federal health care reform – a third like it, a third don’t […]
read moreWorking together to create a Healthy Michigan in 2014
By Rick Murdock As we celebrate a new year, I’m happy to report that we’re starting things off on a positive note – the Healthy Michigan plan has officially been given the OK by the […]
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