LANSING, Mich., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan employers now have a formal role in advising hospitals about health care cost, reimbursement, access and public policy issues with the creation of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Business Advisory Council.
The council, announced today by the MHA, is co-chaired by Rob Fowler, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), and chaired by Kenneth Matzick, president and CEO of William Beaumont Hospitals in Royal Oak.
“We’re pleased that hospitals and the business community have this new opportunity to dynamically address common challenges,” says Fowler. “Businesses have expertise they can bring to bear on hospital issues, but on the other side of the coin, business owners also want to learn more about how they may be affected by the challenges confronting the hospital industry today.”
Matzick said all patients and communities will benefit from Michigan hospitals and employers working more closely together. “Foremost, we want to establish a forum to listen and learn about our mutual concerns. Then we can set about advancing solutions to the vexing problems surrounding health care costs, quality and access.”
The MHA lead executive on the Business Advisory Council is Nancy McKeague, the MHA’s senior vice president for Human Resources & Employer Relations. McKeague said the council will advise the MHA on various health-care-related issues, including cost containment, quality measures, consumer education and wellness initiatives. The council will identify partnership and public policy development opportunities, examine best practices and quality of care initiatives, and discuss how hospitals can help business maintain a healthy workforce and improve the return on investment in health care premiums.
“The council provides us with the opportunity to develop relationships and share information and ideas about emerging issues in health care. This partnership builds upon the role of business leaders as hospital board members and on the role of hospitals as major employers. Our members strongly believe that purchasers of health care and providers of care must establish a dialog that does not rely on insurers as intermediaries,” McKeague said.
To launch its work, the Business Advisory Council met Wednesday with representatives of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
McKeague is a seasoned Lansing veteran and business advocate. She worked in both the state House and Senate before becoming president of the Michigan Insurance Federation. Prior to joining the MHA, she spent 13 years with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, specializing in health care and human resources issues. McKeague is the state legislative director of the Society for Human Resource Management. The Business Advisory Council will meet quarterly at MHA headquarters in Lansing. The MHA is a state association, based in Lansing that represents and supports Michigan hospitals, health systems and health care providers through education, advocacy and communication.
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
CONTACT: Sherry Mirasola of Michigan Health & Hospital Association,+1-517-323-3443
Web site: http://www.mha.org/
