Michigan Association of Health Plans recognizes health care leaders and health plan innovation at annual conference
State Senator Mike Webber (R-Rochester Hills), State Representative Will Snyder (D-Muskegon), Karen Jonas, a pharmacy consultant, and Kathy Stiffler, a senior policy advisor at the Institute of Health Policy and executive director of the Michigan Health Policy Forum, along with the Allen Neighborhood Center, were honored today for their remarkable efforts in addressing health care issues in Michigan. This recognition took place during the annual conference of the Michigan Association of Health Plans at the Grand Traverse Resort. Additionally, the Upper Peninsula Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, and Priority Health were also acknowledged for their innovative programs.
Sen. Webber and Rep. Snyder received 2024 Legislator of the Year awards, which recognizes lawmakers who have demonstrated initiative and leadership in support of issues that advocate for high quality, affordable, equitable, and accessible health care for Michigan citizens.
Sen. Webber represents the Greater Rochester Area, Troy, Sterling Heights and Utica. In 2022, he was elected to the Michigan Senate and currently serves as the minority vice chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee. He is also a member of the Economic and Small Business Development and Regulatory Reform committees. MAHP is working closely with Sen. Webber on Senate Bill 921, which proposes the establishment of a Mandate Review Commission to analyze the social impact, financial impact, and medical efficacy of proposed health insurance mandates in the state.
“Sen. Webber’s outreach and willingness to work with us on health care issues is unprecedented and we are truly grateful,” said Dominick Pallone, executive director of MAHP. “We’re proud to recognize him for his outstanding contributions and commitment to improving health care for Michigan citizens with this year’s Legislator of the Year Award.”
Rep. Snyder represents Muskegon and serves on the House Appropriations Committee in addition to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human services. Upon his arrival in Lansing, Rep. Snyder expressed an interest in health care policy. He met with MAHP long before he was even elected to better understand the nature of health plans and health care policy. This led to his sponsorship of the Healthier Michigan Act which reformed and modernized Michigan’s Medicaid program and successfully made it law.
“Rep. Snyder has been a staunch advocate for working families, quality healthcare, reproductive rights, affordable education, and infrastructure improvements in West Michigan and across the state,” said Pallone. “Rep. Snyder stands out for his ability to rise above partisan divides. We can’t thank him enough for his leadership on behalf of our members and we’re proud to recognize him with this year’s Legislator of the Year Award.”
The Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) took great pleasure in presenting the prestigious Eugene Farnum Award to Karen Jonas. This esteemed accolade is bestowed upon individuals whose lifelong contributions embody the core principles upheld by Gene Farnum: collaboration, compromise, fairness, and integrity. Moreover, it recognizes their unwavering commitment to advancing the vision of ensuring accessible, high-quality, and affordable healthcare for the citizens of Michigan.
Karen Jonas consulted on pharmacy services for more than 34 years and had worked with MAHP for eight of those years from 2015 to 2022. Karen Jonas provided her insight and expertise tirelessly during her tenure with MAHP consulting on policy and regulatory issues.
“She’s one of the most dedicated practitioners and most deserving of the Eugene Farnum Award,” said Christine Shearer, deputy director of legislation and advocacy at MAHP. “It’s been an honor to work beside her on health care issues facing Michiganders.”
MAHP’s most prestigious award is the Ellis J. Bonner Outstanding Achievement Award. The recipient of this year’s award is Kathy Stiffler, the senior health policy advisor at the Institute for Health Policy. She also serves as the executive director for the Michigan Health Policy Forum.
The Bonner Award recognizes an MAHP member nominated by colleagues based upon exemplary service, leadership and contributions to the managed care industry and community. The late Ellis Bonner was a leader of the health maintenance organization movement in Michigan, a mentor to many, and was a tireless advocate for an accessible health care system for Michigan citizens.
Kathy Stiffler has been working in health care for more than 35 years, including hospital and HMO health education. She has served in countless capacities for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is well known for her collaborative efforts while serving as Michigan’s Acting State Medicaid Director.
Stiffler continues to be relied upon for her Medicaid policy and operational knowledge, as well as her work in Medicaid managed care and Medicaid expansion. She served as Michigan’s first Adolescent Health Coordinator, one of the first in the country and implemented the state’s first school-based health centers, she successfully led the transition of children and youth with special health care needs into Medicaid-managed care and led the implementation of the Healthy Michigan Plan.
“Kathy Stiffler’s exemplary service to the health care community and her contribution to the managed care industry make her the perfect choice for this year’s Bonner Award,” said Pallone. “MAHP has sought her counsel on many strategies to promote healthy behaviors in the Medicaid population and we are thankful for her leadership.”
The final award presented at the MAHP Annual Conference was the Presidential Merit Award, which was accepted by Joan Nelson, previous executive director and Matt Jones, kitchen and facilities manager of Allen Neighborhood Center. This is a discretionary award that the MAHP president may present to an organization in recognition of outstanding service, achievement or collaboration consistent with the MAHP mission.
The Allen Neighborhood Center has worked with state leaders and a local county health department to bring life to the Allen Neighborhood Community Health Center, which joins a network of community health centers that serve tens of thousands of patients each year. The neighborhood clinic serves more than 17,000 residents.
The community center next to the health center includes a food pantry that distributes over 1,000 pounds of baked goods and produce each week and has a year-round farmers’ market, gardening classes, and a community-supported agriculture program. The center also enrolls low-income residents in Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage.
“Allen Neighborhood Center has championed equity in access to health care services, as well as improved health outcomes by providing many valuable benefits,” said Nancy Jenkins, president and CEO of McLaren Health Plan and MAHP board president. “The Allen Neighborhood Center understands precisely the social determinants of health barriers in its neighborhoods and is proactively tackling them head-on. This organization has proven again and again to be a valuable and leading community benefit organization throughout the years.”
MAHP also awarded three health plans with the biennial Pinnacle Awards in three categories: Measuring Clinical Outcomes, Improving Member Experience and Community Collaborative and Member Outreach. Below are brief descriptions of the winning programs from Upper Peninsula Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and Priority Health:
Award Category: Measuring Clinical Outcomes
The Upper Peninsula Maternal Opioid Misuse (UP MOM) Initiative
Upper Peninsula Health Plan
Addressing the pressing issue of maternal opioid misuse in Region One, the Upper Peninsula Maternal Opioid Misuse (UP MOM) Initiative, led by UP Health Plan (UPHP) and UP Health Care Solutions, implements a groundbreaking care coordination model. Over three years, UP MOM leverages community health workers (CHWs) to provide comprehensive support from behavioral health treatment coordination to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services. Remarkable outcomes include high rates of prenatal and postnatal care compliance, reduced inappropriate emergency department visits, and increased engagement with providers for MAT. Notably, the initiative significantly decreases neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) severity and NICU admissions.
As UPHP assumes fiscal responsibility, UP MOM transitions into a permanent care coordination initiative, with plans for expansion into additional counties. This innovative model not only addresses the complexities of opioid use disorder during pregnancy but also serves as a beacon of hope for improved maternal and infant health outcomes in the region.
Award Category: Improving Member Experience
Primary Care Partnerships to Support Preventive Care Services
UnitedHealthcare Community and State Plan
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (UHCCP) improved engagement in preventative care services amongst their members by engaging primary care providers (PCPs) in a cobranding initiative. This initiative promotes collaborative member outreach by UHCCP on behalf of the provider alleviating the administrative burden on the provider and fostering increased engagement amongst members. Member outreach includes a cobranded letter identifying preventive services due and education regarding the importance of receiving those services. Cobranded letters include the PCPs direct scheduling phone number as well as information on contacting community health workers for additional assistance and transportation. Among participating PCPs, there was a 42.64 percent improvement in Adults’ Access to Preventive/Ambulatory Health Services and a 34.62 percent improvement in Child and Adolescent Well-Care Visits.
Award Category: Community Collaborative & Member Outreach
Housing Chronic Disease
Priority Health
Safe and stable housing has a critical impact on our health and well‐being. Sadly, Kent County witnessed a 27 percent increase in homelessness from 2021‐22. During this period, Priority Health found unhoused patients had 8 times the ED visits than housed patients.
A partnership with Priority Health, Corewell Health’s Medical Group and Start Now Program and Community Rebuilders, was created to build synergy between historically fragmented solutions of primary care services, health‐related social needs, technology, and housing. Born out of this partnership was the Housing‐Chronic Disease Management Project.
The pilot project concluded December 2023 with a cohort of 30 participants who had a 58 percent improved SDoH score along with:
- 35 percent improved Quality‐of‐Life score
- 68 percent of diabetics improved blood sugar levels
- 99 percent of COPD patients achieved/maintained green zone
- 100 percent of heart failure patients achieved/maintained green zone
- 97 percent retained permanent housing post‐6‐months project