Committees & Councils

MHA Committees, Councils and Task Forces

Participation in an MHA committee, council or task force allows MHA members to influence and guide policy making decisions for the association.  The call to serve on its committee, councils and task force is now closed until June 2021.

MHA committees, councils and task forces have specific purposes:

• MHA Committees focus primarily on programmatic issues.
• MHA Councils explore and examine issues unique to a specific group within the MHA membership.
• Participating Hospital Advisory (PHA) Committees provide nonbinding input on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan PHA activities including billing, payment practices, utilization management and quality assurance.
• Task Forces work primarily on a single issue, generally over a short time period. Work groups convene as circumstances warrant or input is required.

The MHA also convenes work groups when circumstances warrant their creation or input on a specific issue is required.  

MHA Committees

Health Information Technology Strategy

Identifies and develops strategies to help the MHA and its members with health information technology (HIT) issues by reviewing regulatory and industry trends with significant implications for member hospitals.
Staff secretary: Jim Lee

Hospital Affiliated Legislative Officers (HALO) 

Complements the MHA Legislative Policy Panel through the coordination of day-to-day advocacy efforts with members and by monitoring and reviewing healthcare policy, state budget activities and proposed/pending state and federal legislation.
Staff secretary: Adam Carlson

Legislative Policy Panel

Identifies and analyzes healthcare legislation impacting MHA members and Michigan’s healthcare community. Recommends formal association positions on legislation and helps guide association advocacy efforts based on the MHA Board of Trustees’ legislative and political priorities.
Staff secretary: Chris Mitchell

Michigan Green Healthcare

Promotes sustainable strategies for healthcare facilities and generates new ideas and initiatives to respond to emerging needs or concerns and meet environmental, economic and social objectives. Learn more about the Michigan Green Healthcare Committee »
Staff secretary: Kristen Hammock

Quality and Accountability 

Provides input on MHA policy issues related to safety, quality management and compliance issues, including performance improvement and accreditation/regulatory compliance. The committee also identifies, develops and recommends policy solutions, guided by the MHA data principles, to position the MHA as the primary source for hospital and health care data and information. As delegated by the MHA Board of Trustees, the committee will provide member feedback for the www.verifymicare.org website, including measure addition, removal and maintenance.

The committee will routinely review accreditation standards and policy changes that affect providers as proposed by organizations such as the Joint Commission, MPRO, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Additionally, facilitate MHA feedback to national quality initiatives including those of the AHA, National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission.
Staff secretary: Sam R. Watson

MHA Councils

Behavioral Health Integration

Guides the MHA's policy efforts for behavioral/physical health integration. Develops recommendations addressing access to behavioral healthcare services and fostering integration with the greater healthcare delivery system. 
Staff secretary: Laura Appel

Council on Children's Health

The Council on Children's Health focuses on issues unique to the advancement of children's health in Michigan.
Staff secretary: Sam R. Watson

Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council (PFEAC)

The PFEAC promotes and accelerates person and family engagement and the principles of person- and family-centered care in Michigan hospitals, and gives a voice of patients and families within the MHA and MHA Keystone Center. Learn about Person- and Family- Centered Healthcare »
Staff secretary: Sam R. Watson

Physicians in Healthcare Leadership

The Physicians in Healthcare Leadership Council focuses on the unique issues related to physicians, including physician integration and interaction within hospitals, healthcare systems, and physician practices. This council will promote and advance the role of physician leadership and facilitate their education; provide insight, advice and recommendations to the MHA and the MHA governing boards; and serve as a catalyst for the delivery of healthcare.
Staff secretary: Gary Roth, DO

Small or Rural Hospitals

Identifies and examines issues unique to the small and rural provider from a regulatory and policy development viewpoint. Informs policy- and decision-making bodies of the MHA.
Staff secretary: Sam R. Watson

Participating Hospital Agreement Committees

Benefit Administration

Provides input to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) on billing issues and claims processing issues.
Staff secretary: Vickie Kunz

PHA Advisory

Provides input to BCBSM on Participating Hospital Agreement contract matters.
Staff secretary: Peter Schonfeld

Utilization Management & Quality Assessment

Provides input to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) on billing issues and claims processing issues.
Staff secretary: Rob Wood

MHA Regional Councils

Hospital Council of East Central Michigan

Janet Herbert, president
Chair: Dan Babcock, CEO, Marlette Regional Hospital, Marlette

Upper Peninsula Hospital Council

Ruthanne Sudderth, president
Chair: Karen Cheeseman, CEO, Mackinac Straits Health System