State budget for fiscal year 2023 advances the health of individuals and communities

The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The FY 2023 State Budget approved by the Michigan Legislature provides the resources needed to help hospitals and health systems advance the health of individuals and communities across our state. We appreciate the work and consideration of legislators who continue to protect hospital priorities.

These priorities include continued funding for the Healthy Michigan Plan, advanced medical training for resident physicians, disproportionate hospitals that treat the greatest number of uninsured and underinsured patients, the rural access pool, and the obstetric stabilization, and critical access hospital reimbursement rates which all support access to health services in rural areas. Each of these areas is critical to ensuring the financial security of hospitals, especially in areas serving vulnerable and underserved populations.

We are also extremely pleased to see new funding to improve and strengthen the capacity of state behavioral health facilities and to reach out to health care personnel. Michigan does not have adequate capacity to treat patients with behavioral and mental illnesses and this new funding is an important and necessary step to address the shortage. The investment of public funds to expand access to bachelor’s degree nursing programs at community colleges across the state is an important move toward replenishing Michigan’s healthcare talent pool.

We look forward to a signed budget that will provide the necessary resources for hospitals and health systems to care for all Michiganders.