The Michigan Health & Hospital Association said 1,700 beds have been taken offline between October 2020 (19,300 beds) and Dec. 6 (17,600), according to the report.
Staffing challenges are a significant cause of the hospitals’ financial challenges, according to the report. Michigan hospitals are expected to spend $1 billion more this year in contract labor, recruitment and retention expenses than they did prior to the pandemic, according to a September Michigan Health & Hospital Association report.
Leaders are not asking for a specific dollar amount from the state Legislature, according to the report. Michigan Health & Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters said they are hoping to secure funding either by the end of this year or when the new Legislature convenes in January.
The additional funding would most immediately help hospitals recruit and retain staff as they face respiratory syncytial virus and other health challenges, according to the report.
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