In The Media Archive

Udow-Phillips offers perspective as China Global Television examines U.S. health system amid coronavirus

Lending context to China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) scrutiny of the U.S health system’s response to the coronavirus crisis, CHRT Executive Director Marianne Udow-Phillips explains that lack of health coverage is “…a huge concern in the middle of coronavirus, because this is a pandemic, it doesn’t hit just people who are insured.”

The story looks at U.S. health system policy issues around the Affordable Care Act and considers how some policies can lead to varying pandemic responses at different levels of government. “There is no central entity in the U.S. which makes policy decisions for the whole health care system,” says Udow-Phillips. “Sometimes we have decisions made at the federal level which might conflict with decisions made at the state or local level.”

CGTN goes on to question whether the federal response to the pandemic occurred early enough and was adequate, and Udow-Phillips provides some historical context for the U.S. government’s approach. “One of the reasons we’re seeing this huge spike in cases is we were not prepared,” Udow-Phillips said. “Underfunding of public health is a longstanding problem.”

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE

For independent, rural hospitals, coronavirus may pose an existential threat. Udow-Phillips explains.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the healthcare system across the United States, and rural hospitals in Michigan are no exception.

In the Bridge MI article “Rural Michigan hospitals say coronavirus may soon force some to close,” Marianne Udow-Phillips, executive director of the Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan, describes the thin cash margins of independent, rural hospitals and why they’re so vulnerable during this coronavirus epidemic.

To slow the spread of the virus, elective surgeries and procedures have been canceled, which has a huge impact on hospital bottom lines.

“All hospitals are challenged,” says Udow-Phillips, a national health policy expert and a lecturer at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and Ford School of Public Policy.

“But rural hospitals have huge cash issues. They have very thin if any cash margin, so they don’t have what they need to weather the ups and downs.”

Udow-Phillips says she’s “worried about whether many of our rural hospitals will be able to weather this for any period of time.”

Alan Morgan, head of the National Rural Health Association expressed the same sentiment. “If we’re not able to address the short-term cash needs of rural hospitals, we’re going to see hundreds of rural hospitals close before this crisis ends.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE,

Udow-Phillips praises state leaders on the actions they’re taking to combat the spread of coronavirus

Marianne Udow-Phillip applauds state leaders for COVID-19 response — Marianne Udow-Phillips

As coronavirus continues to spread, U.S. leaders in our nation’s capital have struggled to roll out a national plan of action, writes ABC News reporter Ivan Pereira in “State governors taking lead on coronavirus precautions as federal government works to define plan.” State leaders are filling the gap.

Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of the Center for Health & Research Transformation (CHRT), tells ABC News that state leaders have stepped up to fill the breach with cancellations, shutdowns, and other needed interventions.

Udow-Phillips also mentioned, “the governors’ messages stick with the public in a way those from the federal government may not”.

State leaders are uniquely qualified to address the crisis because “governors hear directly from health care providers, the local business community, school leaders, and citizens at large,” says Udow-Phillips. “They are deeply attuned to local and statewide impacts.”

This familiar relationship between the governors and their communities places them in a crucial position to take the actions necessary to alleviate pressing issues.

As the nation continues to fight the pandemic, the leadership and determination of these state leaders will remain vital in the fight against COVID-19.

READ THE FULL ABC NEW’S STORY HERE

Summary by Bill Minsung Kim

CHRT to join the Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s Equitable Evaluation Initiative Collaboratory this April

Equitable Evaluation Initiative (EEI) checklist

In partnership with the Equitable Evaluation Initiative (EEI), the Michigan Health Endowment Fund is working to build our state’s evaluation ecosystem. Over the next several months, CHRT and selected Health Fund grantees will explore Michigan health equity evaluation as part of a collaboratory that brings philanthropy, nonprofit, and consultant partners together, bridging the unique perspectives of each area.

In the first full-day session, which will take place online this April, we’ll unpack the Equitable Evaluation Framework and explore current equitable evaluation practices, pinpointing improvements to bring back to our organizations. Then, three monthly calls will allow us to reflect, guide one another, and identify areas for growth. The final full-day session in late August will bring everyone back together to share experiences from the program and plot a course forward.

“CHRT has always had a commitment to shining a light on ways that inequity disproportionately impacts particular groups in our society,” says Melissa Riba, director of CHRT’s research and evaluation team. “We see the EEI Collaboratory as a way to ensure we are using equitable and inclusive approaches and that our work reflects the tremendous diversity of the communities we serve.”

Bartholomew discusses the healthcare system changes proposed by Democratic presidential candidates

Pyramid made of small wooden blocks, each with a medical icon on it

Ryan Bartholomew, a health policy analyst at CHRT, offers insight on the different approaches to improving our healthcare system proposed by Presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders in “How Democratic Presidential candidates want to change health care.”

“The largest benefit is if you are a fan of the private health insurance marketplace,” says Bartholomew of Biden’s proposal. “If you like the plan that you have, the public option doesn’t impact you in any way, […] It would be just an option that other people would be able to purchase and you would still be able to keep your current plan if that’s something that you like.”

The article by Malachi Barrett delves into the differences between to two proposed healthcare systems with Biden pushing to build on former the Affordable Care Act, while Sanders pushes for Medicare for All.

Working remotely to stem the spread of coronavirus, but fully operational and looking forward to hearing from you

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the way people work. In order to reduce the spread of the virus, many businesses have adapted remote work models as a result of social distancing and quarantines.

The CHRT team has adapted to this new normal and is working remotely and have moved our team, client, and workgroup meetings to telephone and virtual platforms.

Despite the challenges posed by this situation, the CHRT team is fully operational throughout this crisis and is always happy to speak with our clients and colleagues.

To reach key administrative staff, email chrt-info@umich.edu. Or connect with our individual staff members directly by visiting our team page.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the way we live and work, businesses and organizations must adapt to the new reality of remote work. At CHRT, we are committed to continuing our work and offering excellent support to our clients and colleagues, even as we adjust to these unprecedented circumstances.

We will continue to use virtual platforms to stay connected with our clients and colleagues, and our team members remain available to assist and support you in any way possible.

Together, we can navigate this challenging time and emerge stronger on the other side.

Shortage of medical supplies for addressing COVID-19 is a challenge. Marianne Udow-Phillips explains.

Since the pandemic outbreak, healthcare providers and hospitals have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, healthcare systems are facing a shortage of medical supplies, equipment, personnel, and other essential resources.

In an interview with China Global Television Network anchor Elaine Reyes, Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of the Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan, spoke to the challenges faced by hospitals and caregivers and the importance of managing the supply of medical equipment and drugs to treat COVID-19.

“Much of the focus is on mitigation because there is not really enough equipment here if we have a major spike in need,” said Udow-Phillips, as she discussed the emphasis on increasing the availability of testing and its importance in helping to anticipate potential surges in hospital utilization.

“The drug supply issue is another matter that is really of great concern here as well,” noted Udow-Phillips, who then went on to respond to questions about the availability of medical supplies and managing equipment challenges in rural hospitals.

By addressing these challenges and implementing effective solutions, we can ensure that healthcare providers and hospitals have the resources they need to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the population.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE

–Summary by Benjamin Kohrman

Udow-Phillips discusses Michigan proposal for Medicaid transformation office, value-based reimbursement

Michigan is taking a step towards improving the delivery and management of healthcare services for Medicaid beneficiaries by establishing a new Medicaid Transformation Office. This initiative will focus on developing innovative strategies to address health disparities, increase access to care, and improve health outcomes for Michigan’s residents.

Marianne Udow-Phillips, CHRT’s founding executive director, shares her reaction to Michigan’s proposal to create a new Medicaid transformation office to move Medicaid toward a more value-based reimbursement system.

“The Michigan Medicaid program now performs pretty well on the cost side of the equation, but where are those areas for improvement?” asks Udow-Phillips. “We do not do well on infant mortality. It is good for the state to explore that . . . With long term care, (MDHHS) doesn’t have enough resources to track how well they are doing with home and community-based services supports. This would help people qualify for available programs to keep seniors out of nursing homes.”

The article by Jay Greene further explains that Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services is focusing on modernizing the way that Medicaid uses tax dollars to improve quality, reduce costs, and address factors that cause patients to do poorly in the healthcare delivery system.

READ THE CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS STORY HERE

Summary by Mary Herran

Udow-Phillips weighs in on gravity of drug shortages as coronavirus disrupts supply chain

As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to disrupt global supply chains, many industries are feeling the impact of these disruptions. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is among the industries that could be affected. The closure of factories in China and India could result in drug shortages in the United States.

With coronavirus striking the global east, Nathan Bomey of USA Today turned to CHRT for an article about U.S. reliance on the global pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain. The article notes that overseas coronavirus-related logistics slowdowns pose a threat to domestic drug supplies, because of closed factories and policy changes in India and China.

Weighing in on the gravity of the situation, CHRT Executive Director Marianne Udow-Phillips says “supply chain disruptions could be truly serious for our access to drugs.” She also points out the importance of the issue to foreign manufacturers and suppliers. “I think it’s likely the Chinese government will do everything they can do to prevent that disruption because it’s so fundamental to their economy.”

The article provides some reassurance to readers, and clarifies the active efforts of hospitals, health systems, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to increase drug supplies and make alternative drugs available to patients.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

What’s new at CHRT: New projects that focus on integration, work requirements reporting, and mental health

The Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation’s (CHRT) latest e-newsletter brings some exciting updates and insights from our ongoing research and projects. This edition features findings from our recently completed research on behavioral health workforce challenges in rural communities and how states are addressing them. It also highlights our ninth cohort of health policy fellows, who are working on various policy projects across the state of Michigan.

One of the new projects that CHRT is working on is focused on integration, which involves collaborating with stakeholders to promote and improve integrated care models. Another project focuses on work requirements and how they impact Medicaid beneficiaries in Michigan.

In addition, the e-newsletter features a blog post from our director of research and evaluation on what we’ve learned during ten years of surveying Michiganders about health care coverage. It provides insights into the state’s progress towards achieving universal coverage and the challenges that remain.

The newsletter features information about CHRT’s Cover Michigan project, which has been surveying Michigan residents about their experiences with health care coverage for over a decade. The project has been instrumental in providing data and insights to policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders working to improve access to health care in Michigan.

Overall, CHRT’s latest e-newsletter provides a glimpse into the organization’s ongoing efforts to address pressing health care issues and improve access to care for all.

Read our February 2020 e-newsletter to learn more