Podcast Summary:

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Guest: Brian Peters, CEO, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Host: Will Riley, Becker's Healthcare
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Will Riley speaks with Brian Peters, the long-standing CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA). Peters covers the organization’s multi-faceted advocacy for Michigan’s hospitals, major funding and policy concerns facing providers, the evolving threat of cybersecurity, payer-provider dynamics, and how technology—especially AI—can be a force multiplier for the strained healthcare workforce. The discussion gives a comprehensive look at both statewide and national challenges and opportunities as the healthcare landscape enters 2026.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Role and Scope of MHA

[00:59]

• Peters has been with MHA 36 years, 10 as CEO.
• MHA represents all hospitals/health systems in Michigan, of every size and ownership type.
• Advocacy focus: state legislature, legal/regulatory arenas, and improving quality via the MHA Keystone Center.
• Priorities: protecting patient access by securing fair funding, especially through Medicaid.
• Other arms include quality improvement, unemployment comp, and data services.

2. Current Top Concerns for Michigan Hospitals

[02:41]

• Besides Medicaid/Medicare funding, the 340B drug pricing program is vital, especially for small/rural and inner-city hospitals.
  • “Many of the critical access hospitals in our state tell us that without the 340B program, they would be unable to continue to provide services to many of the residents of their respective communities.” —Brian Peters at 03:15
• Medical liability costs, despite prior reforms, are on the rise—jeopardizing care access.
• Michigan’s Certificate of Need (CON) program: MHA defends against yearly challenges, believing it keeps care affordable and rationalizes service delivery.
• Cybersecurity: FBI identifies hospitals as top cybercrime targets.

3. Cybersecurity Challenges and MHA’s Response

[04:59]

• Smaller hospitals are especially vulnerable yet resource-constrained.
• MHA proactively established a Healthcare Cybersecurity Operations Center (HSOC) with members about a decade ago—functions as early-warning for cyber threats.
  • “It serves as an early warning system so that if we detect an emerging threat, we can get the word out very quickly to our members...” —Brian Peters at 05:56
• HSOC now includes smaller hospitals who buy in at low cost, with support from Cyber Force Q for expertise.
• Parallels drawn to federal Patient Safety Organizations in sharing and learning: “We want to make sure that everyone, regardless of size, can do the right thing in terms of protecting data and protecting information—and protecting patient care.” —Brian Peters at 07:21

4. Federal Policy Environment—Uncertainty and Risks

[08:00]

• The passage of the OBBBA bill brings significant economic changes to healthcare.
• Loss of premium tax credits at the end of the year (without Congressional action) could spike Michigan’s uninsured rate, reduce access, and potentially force layoffs, service cuts, or even closures.
  • “We know that translates to uncompensated care for our member hospitals, and ultimately that translates to a lack of access...” —Brian Peters at 08:39
• Site neutral payment reform concerns: hospitals justify higher reimbursement due to complexity and 24/7, open-access care.
• Advocacy for making assault on healthcare workers a federal felony (as it is for airline workers)—due to rising violence and staffing challenges.

5. Reimbursement Landscape: Commercial & Public Payers

[11:02]

• Michigan’s patient mix has shifted: 50–60% now covered by Medicare/Medicaid.
• Private insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield have moved into Medicaid/Medicare managed care.
• Shift toward value-driven reimbursement: Contracts increasingly include metrics and incentives to direct patients to high value, cost-effective providers.
  • “We're really starting to steer those patients and incentivize those patients to go to the high value, high quality, low cost providers...” —Brian Peters at 11:50

6. Payer-Provider Relationships & Advances in Prior Authorization

[13:16]

• Michigan boasts better insurer-provider relations than many states, with formal dialogues (e.g., with Blue Cross Blue Shield).
• Persistent challenges: prior authorization, payment denials.
• State-level legislation passed to improve fairness of prior authorization (for non-ERISA, non-Medicare/Medicaid plans).

7. Technology’s Potential for Workforce & Care Delivery

[14:57]

• Strong believer that technology—AI, virtual nursing—can help mitigate workforce strains.
  • “These can be what I like to call force multipliers for our workforce...” —Brian Peters at 15:01
• Expresses optimism about continued technological advances benefiting Michigan and U.S. hospitals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Access and Funding:
  “Our real priority in this current environment... is protecting access for patients. We're very concerned about that issue.” —Brian Peters at 01:36

• On 340B Importance:
  “Many of the critical access hospitals in our state tell us that without the 340B program, they would be unable to continue to provide services to many of the residents of their respective communities.” —Brian Peters at 03:15

• On Cybersecurity Innovation:
  “It serves as an early warning system so that if we detect an emerging threat, we can get the word out very quickly...” —Brian Peters at 05:56

• On Staff Safety and Federal Law:
  “If we assault a nurse in a Michigan hospital or a hospital anywhere throughout the country, it's not [a federal offense]. What's wrong with this picture?” —Brian Peters at 09:11

• On Value-Driven Care:
  “We're really starting to steer those patients and incentivize those patients to go to the high value, high quality, low cost providers...” —Brian Peters at 11:50

• On Technology & Workforce Optimization:
  “I'm a big believer that technology can be a game changer... These can be what I like to call force multipliers for our workforce.” —Brian Peters at 15:01

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Background on MHA & Priorities: 00:59–02:41
• Top Issues Facing Michigan Hospitals: 02:41–04:59
• Addressing Cybersecurity Threats: 04:59–07:41
• Federal Policy Landscape: 08:00–10:42
• Reimbursement Environment: 11:02–12:52
• Payer-Provider Relationships: 13:16–14:50
• Workforce and Technology Future: 14:57–15:32

Conclusion

Brian Peters provides a candid, deeply informed look at how the Michigan Health & Hospital Association navigates funding, policy, cybersecurity, and workforce challenges on behalf of its remarkably diverse membership. He balances ongoing concerns (uncompensated care, payer dynamics, safety, and tech vulnerability) with optimism about collaboration and the transformative possibilities of innovation and partnership in healthcare.