Three rural Michigan hospitals are at high risk of closing due to federal Medicaid funding cuts from the recent 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which could significantly impact healthcare access in the region, with experts warning of broader consequences for rural hospitals nationwide.
Many hospitals in metro Detroit, Michigan received "B" grades or lower for patient safety in a report by The Leapfrog Group. Out of 82 assessed hospitals across the state, 24 received "A" grades, 27 received "B" grades, 27 received "C" grades, three received "D" grades, and one hospital received an "F" grade. The report measures patient experience measures related to nurse and doctor communication, staff responsiveness, communication about medicine, and discharge information.
Michigan hospitals received more "C," "D," and "F" grades on their safety report cards this fall compared to last year, with 19 healthcare facilities receiving lower grades than in 2022, according to a evaluation by The Leapfrog Group. However, 51 out of 82 assessed hospitals still received an "A" or "B" grade.
Twenty-one Michigan hospitals have received 5-star ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, out of a total of 4,654 hospitals evaluated nationwide. These ratings indicate high healthcare quality and performance.
Some Michigan hospitals and health systems posted increases in operating profits and overall net assets during the pandemic, with a large portion of those profits coming from COVID-19 relief programs established by the federal government. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Paycheck Protection Program, and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act provided a total of $178 billion to hospitals and healthcare providers across the U.S. on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Michigan providers received a total of more than $4 billion from those programs.
Nineteen Michigan hospitals received a lower safety grade this spring than they did last fall using criteria like how well their caregivers protect patients against preventable injuries. Of the state’s 82 assessed hospitals, there were 22 that received an “A” for spring 2023, which was three fewer than fall 2022 and below the national average, according to data published Wednesday, May 3, by Leapfrog Group. Grades are based on more than 30 measures, including how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections.