Master services agreement aligns patient care and clinical services to build healthier communities, extend impact of partnership
East Lansing, Mich. – Patients will benefit from the latest evolution of the 30-year partnership between Michigan State University and Henry Ford Health, following the signing of a master services agreement, or MSA, that creates unparalleled opportunities to deliver high-quality coordinated care.
The MSA, effective Jan. 1, solidifies the future of a meaningful integration of clinical services, a vision outlined in the 2021 Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership agreement. Clinical integration goals include expanding the scope of services, improving access to quality care for Michigan residents and implementing best practices.
“We’re excited to work alongside our colleagues at Henry Ford Health to strengthen patient care,” said Seth Ciabotti, CEO of MSU Health Care, the university’s faculty-led clinical practice. “This agreement means our patients will have more options for medical services and access to the latest technology and innovation with the same commitment to excellence. Our goal is to scale the power of Spartan providers, researchers and academics to build healthier communities across the state.”
The Henry Ford Medical Group, a nationally respected team of more than 2,700 providers, is providing the operational and financial expertise to help achieve these goals through shared leadership with MSU. MSU Health Care will adopt Henry Ford Health’s established systems, leverage economies of scale, access their vendor networks and utilize their expertise.
“One of the many qualities that initially drew MSU and Henry Ford Health together in 2021 is our shared respect for each other’s clinical expertise,” said Steven Kalkanis, M.D., CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group and Henry Ford Hospital. “By working together with a relentless focus on improving care for each patient, we will transform health care.”
The new agreement paves the way for:
- Joint recruitment for highly specialized care, allowing patients at both organizations to stay within the state to receive high-quality care.
- MSU Health Care to join Henry Ford Health’s newly launched Clinically Integrated Network, a network of health care providers that collaborates to manage and coordinate care and negotiates contracts collectively to improve care outcomes and reduce cost.
- Migration to Henry Ford’s electronic health record system in January 2026, creating a better experience for patients and providers.
- Future investments and improved services across pharmacy and laboratory operations.
Additional financial investments from both institutions to strengthen MSU Health Care and expand capacity for research, innovation and teaching.
“Research, medical education and medical care are foundational to our partnership vision, and this clinical integration gives us the structure to significantly impact health care outcomes,” said Adnan Munkarah, M.D., board chair of Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences.
“We’ve established a joint research enterprise, broken ground on our Detroit research center, strengthened medical education and started our journey toward a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center,” said Norm Hubbard, president of Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences. “Clinical alignment paves the way to complete our original vision.”