IHA has a strong presence in Springfield, where we work with elected officials and policy makers in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that laws and regulations advance healthcare in Illinois.
A detailed overview of key bills/issues that IHA worked on during the General Assembly’s Spring 2021 session to ensure the best possible outcomes for the hospital community.
This memo summarizes recent state legislation to reform clinical and reimbursement policies implemented by commercial health insurance issuers and Medicaid MCOs.
This memo summarizes recent state legislation intended to strengthen the existing Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act.
This memo summarizes recent state legislation intended to advance health equity by improving access to care for low-income and uninsured individuals.
On May 30 and 31, groundbreaking telehealth legislation passed unanimously in the Senate and the House respectively, and will be sent to the Governor.
This is a brief overview of the key legislative achievements of IHA and the hospital community in the Spring legislative session.
IHA is pleased to report that an agreement has been reached on groundbreaking telehealth legislation (HB 3308/SCA 1).
Ask state legislators to urge their legislative leaders and state budgeteers to repeal the FY2013 SMART Act cuts to hospitals.
Illinois hospitals have absorbed more than $800 million in reductions from 3.5% Medicaid rate cuts under the SMART Act passed in 2012.
The Illinois Senate Insurance Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 3498 on Wednesday, May 19. Please urge the Senate Committee to pass the telehealth bill.
On April 23, the Illinois House voted 110-0 to pass and send to the Senate major telehealth legislation strongly supported by the Coalition to Protect Telehealth.
The Illinois House is poised to vote on HB3657, legislation strongly opposed by IHA that would make significant and onerous changes to the CON process.
HB3657 attempts to make changes to the CON process that will discourage healthcare transformation and result in more service line and hospital closures.
House Bill 2642 is posted for two hearings of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, Wednesday at 12 p.m. and Friday at 8 a.m., with the Committee facing a Friday deadline to move bills.
Proponents of mandatory nurse staffing ratios have again introduced legislation (House Bill 3871), strongly opposed by IHA and American Nurses Association-Illinois.
As a result of obtaining several important concessions from the bill sponsors and proponents, IHA has withdrawn its opposition to the legislation.
IHA is strongly supporting legislation to reform the unfair policies and practices of the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and state-regulated commercial health plans (Senate Bills 2006 and 177).
IHA urges the General Assembly to enact the practical reforms in Senate Bill 2006, grounded by three key principles—transparency, standardization, and accountability.
IHA urges the General Assembly to exercise its critical oversight authority by supporting initiatives in SB 2006 to improve transparency, standardization and accountability in the state’s MCOs.
In an effort to improve quality and patient safety at hospitals, ANA-IL and IHA are supporting bipartisan legislation–SB2153–to strengthen the existing Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act.
See IHA's fact sheet on House Bill 3498 to Protect Access to Telehealth, sponsored by Rep. Deb Conroy, Leader Greg Harris, Rep. Norine Hammond, Rep. Ryan Spain and Rep. Bob Morgan.
This memo provides details on the Governor’s FY2022 budget proposal, which does not include any Medicaid eligibility, service or rate reductions.
We ask state legislators to urge Governor Pritzker to veto House Bill 3360, which would undermine the civil justice system and harm patients, hospitals and healthcare.
Comprehensive legislation has been introduced to address concerns about bureaucratic delays caused by prior authorization processes.
The Your Care Can’t Wait Coalition, a group of healthcare and patient advocacy organizations including IHA, announced their support of the Prior Authorization Reform Act.
This document summarizes the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ Health Care Pillar legislation to be considered in the Spring session.
IHA and the Illinois hospital community want to thank Representative Greg Harris, Senator Heather Steans, and HFS Director Theresa Eagleson for their leadership in moving this legislation forward.
IHA congratulates State Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch on his historic election as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 102nd General Assembly.
On Jan. 13, the outgoing 101st General Assembly adjourned its "lame duck" session. See an IHA summary of several critical issues of importance to the hospital community.
IHA commends the bill’s sponsors for efforts to address important healthcare issues and for including many of IHA’s recommendations in HB3840 as amended. We urge a Yes vote on HB3840 as amended.
IHA commends efforts to address important healthcare issues but cannot support the bill as currently amended due to the inclusion of an unworkable moratorium on hospital and service line closures.
IHA released a state position paper on House Bill 5548 House Amendment 1 / House Bill 3840 Senate Amendment 1.
IHA has summarized key provsions of the Health and Human Services Reform Act, which covers issues including COVID-19 data reporting, implicit bias education and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.
Members of the General Assembly’s Black Caucus introduced companion bills calling for major healthcare system/Medicaid program changes: HA 1 to HB 5548 and SA 1 to HB 3840.
In one of the most contentious and closely watched elections in recent memory, IHA has been closely tracking key local, state and national races from Nov. 3, 2020.
IHA urges support of a proposed constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax, allowing the state to impose higher tax rates on those with higher incomes.
The Coalition to Protect Our Telehealth sent a joint letter to all members of the General Assembly and key officials in the Administration urging them to protect coverage to innovative telehealth.
The Coalition to Protect Our Telehealth, which includes IHA, urges the General Assembly to protect telehealth approaches so Illinoisans can continue to safely access needed care beyond COVID-19.
This document summarizes key bills IHA worked on in the session to ensure the best possible outcomes for the hospital community.
This report provides a detailed summary of the key bills that IHA worked on to ensure the best possible outcomes for the hospital community.
The Illinois General Assembly will return to Springfield on Wednesday, May 20 for a special session.
IHA urges legislative leaders to consider enacting several important COVID-19 related requests for hospitals and health systems.
ANA-IL and IHA are supporting bipartisan legislation - The Nurse Staffing Improvement Act of 2020 - to strengthen the existing Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act.
This testimony was submitted to the Illinois House Energy & Environment Committee.
We are pleased to provide this detailed overview of the key bills that IHA worked on to ensure the best possible outcomes for the hospital community.
On May 30, 2019, the General Assembly passed a Medicaid Omnibus Bill (SB1321) designed to stabilize Illinois’ Medicaid managed care program.
The General Assembly adjourned its spring session on June 2. This summary provides an overview of the outcomes on our key issues.
IHA is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached on a comprehensive Medicaid managed care reform package.
IHA has prepared talking points and background information for you to use when meeting with legislators on Tuesday.
A brief overview of the legislative proposal on nurse staffing ratios (House Bill 2604).
Meet with your state Representative and Senator when they are home in their districts over the next two weeks.
Urgent: Call/Meet with Your State Rep to Oppose Nurse Staffing Ratios (HB2604)
The following resource documents reference opposing mandatory nurse staffing ratios.
This bill increases regulatory burdens and costs for healthcare projects, makes the process less predictable, and undermines confidence in the health planning program.
To achieve the vision of a healthy Illinois, $500 million in State capital funds should be invested in hospitals that need to transform their aging facilities.
To improve the health and well-being of every Illinoisan, the State must invest in its healthcare infrastructure.
The issue of mandatory nurse staffing ratios is headed to a key vote in the General Assembly on March 27. It is critical that the hospital community keep up the pressure and oppose House Bill 2604.
National Nurses United, the powerful union that successfully pushed for nurse staffing ratios in California, is now backing HB3585.
As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, IHA will hold a special Hospital Advocacy Day in Springfield on Tuesday, April 30.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker today signed IHA-backed legislation, Senate Bill 1469 (PA100-1181), at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
HB 3585 is overreaching, harmful and excessive and will be a major barrier to hospitals and health systems transforming healthcare to best serve their patients and communities.
A comprehensive legislative package of Medicaid managed care reform bills developed and strongly backed by IHA was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly.
IHA’s 2019 State Advocacy Agenda—Healthy Communities—outlines nine principle healthcare policy issues, including Medicaid Managed Care oversight and an adequately funded State budget.
The General Assembly took final action on several important hospital issues that IHA strongly advocated for during the Veto Session.
IHA’s memo summarizes key results from the Nov. 6 election.
This is a detailed summary of the key budget and healthcare bills that IHA worked on this spring.
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned after passing the state budget for FY2019 without any Medicaid rate cuts, and with a five-year renewal of the tax credit for investor-owned hospitals.
Testimony to the Illinois Senate I and II Committees, given by David Gross, IHA Senior Vice President, Government Relations
Testimony to the Illinois House Appropriations-Human Service Committee, given by A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President & CEO
IHA testimony to the Illinois House Appropriations-Human Services Committee re: Hospital Assessment Program Redesign
Map of Federal contribution per Medicaid beneficiary and State ranking chart
IHA urged state officials to ensure health plans are fully complying with parity laws. IHA supports legislation to increase transparency of health plan practices and improve parity law enforcement.
In public testimony, IHA expressed the commitment of the hospital community to address workplace safety issues in the wake of incidents of violence involving nurses.
IHA provides written comments responding to options outlined in “Feasibility Report for Coverage Affordability Initiatives in Illinois”, released by the state.
This memo summarizes “Feasibility Report for Coverage Affordability Initiatives in Illinois”, a report from the Depts. of Healthcare and Family Services and Insurance.
See IHA's summary of House Bill 158: Health Care and Human Service Reform Act.
Illinois should invest in systemic hospital and healthcare transformation to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity. IHA shares its principles for legislation.
On Oct. 19, Gov. Pritzker announced the state released $50 million in funding for the second round of matching grants of Connect Illinois, the state's $420 million statewide broadband expansion.
IHA made this presentation to the Medicaid Legislative Work Group on August 19.
An Executive Order issued March 19 requires commercial insurers to cover costs of all clinically appropriate, medically necessary telehealth services rendered by in-network providers.
This memo provides a detailed overview of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s FY2021 state budget proposal.
The state has released funding for the first round of matching grants of Connect Illinois for statewide broadband expansion.
IHA is working with Cook County and the state of Illinois to raise public awareness about the importance of residents completing the 2020 Census for a full and accurate count.
IHA requests that HFS clarify submission and documentation requirements and resolution timeframes and ensure balance between the rights of MCOs and providers.
Policy must strike a careful balance between the appropriate regulation of EtO and patients’ access to sterile medical supplies.
IDPH adopted rules to implement PA 98-690.
IDPH has issued emergency rules concerning a healthcare worker’s ability to refuse an influenza vaccination.
This memo highlights major components and requirements of a new state law that takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.
Two new laws make the following changes—updating required HIV testing for pregnant women and outlining the home health and health services referral policy for healthcare providers.
The AHA Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities examined ways in which the access to and delivery of care could be improved.
Changes to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act (PA 99-0690) require healthcare facilities to develop protocols to ensure conscience-based objections are handled in a timely manner.
Effective Jan. 1, 2016, the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act requires hospital emergency rooms to post a public notice with human trafficking resources.
An amendment of the Illinois AIDS Confidentiality Act clarifies and streamlines procedural and documentation requirements for obtaining informed consent for HIV testing in healthcare facilities.