State Issues
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.
- Advocacy
- Policy
IHA Comment Letter to Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services on Change Healthcare incident
IHA respectfully requests that the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services swiftly implement the flexibilities allowed by CMS as a result of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident.
IHA Comment Letter to Illinois Dept. of Insurance regarding Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident
IHA respectfully requests that the Illinois Department of Insurance direct insurers to implement flexibilities encouraged by HHS and DOL, as a result of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident.
2023 End of Session Report
See an overview of the key bills and issues IHA worked on during the General Assembly’s spring 2023 legislative session to ensure the best possible outcomes for Illinois' hospital community.
2022 Spring Session Overview
See an overview of the key bills and issues IHA worked on during the General Assembly’s spring 2022 legislative session to ensure the best possible outcomes for Illinois' hospital community.
2022 Legislative Session Results
During the spring legislative session, IHA secured an extraordinary package of proposals of over $300 million in new General Revenue Funds to be allocated to Illinois hospitals in Fiscal Year 2023.
Urge IL House Legislators to Support and Cosponsor Nurse Licensure Compact Legislation HB 4269
IHA asks members to urge House legislators to support and co-sponsor House Bill 4269, which would establish the Nurse Licensure Compact in Illinois.
Urge IL House Labor Committee to Reject Nurse 'Reporting Time' Pay Bill
IHA asks hospitals to contact members of the House Labor and Commerce Committee and urge them to oppose and vote NO on House Bill 2642.
Urge Revenue Committees to Pass Tax Exemption and Credit
Contact House and Senate revenue committee members and urge them to support SB 2951 and HB 4184, which will preserve the nonprofit sales tax exemption and extend the investor-owned tax credit.
Urge Legislators to Support Amendment to Health Care Right of Conscience Act
House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1169 was filed to amend the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. The General Assembly is expected to vote on the amendment later this week.
Letter from IHA and ICAHN on UHC's Proposed Benefit Change
IHA and the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) sent a joint letter to the Illinois Department of Insurance outlining our concerns with UnitedHealthcare’s proposed benefit change.
IHA Summary: Medicaid Managed Care and Prior Authorization Reform Bills
This memo summarizes recent state legislation to reform clinical and reimbursement policies implemented by commercial health insurance issuers and Medicaid MCOs.
IHA Summary: Senate Bill 2153 - Nurse Staffing Improvement Act
This memo summarizes recent state legislation intended to strengthen the existing Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act.
Community Benefits Act, Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act and Fair Patient Billing Act Legisla
This memo summarizes recent state legislation intended to advance health equity by improving access to care for low-income and uninsured individuals.
IHA Detailed Summary of Telehealth Legislation– HB 3308
On May 30 and 31, groundbreaking telehealth legislation passed unanimously in the Senate and the House respectively, and will be sent to the Governor.
Agreement Reached on Groundbreaking Telehealth Legislation
IHA is pleased to report that an agreement has been reached on groundbreaking telehealth legislation (HB 3308/SCA 1).
IHA Alert: Urge Your Legislators to Restore Medicaid Funding to Hospitals
Ask state legislators to urge their legislative leaders and state budgeteers to repeal the FY2013 SMART Act cuts to hospitals.
IHA Position Paper: Repeal FY2013 SMART Act Cuts, Restore Funding 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.
IHA Alert: Urge Senate Committee to Pass Telehealth Bill (5/14/21)
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.
IHA Alert: Urge Your State Senator to Co-Sponsor Telehealth Bill (HB3498)
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.
Urge Your State Rep to Oppose HB3657: Onerous, Costly CON Bill
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.
IHA Fact Sheet: Oppose House Bill 3657 as Amended
HB3657 attempts to make changes to the CON process that will discourage healthcare transformation and result in more service line and hospital closures.
Urge Illinois House Labor Committee to Reject Nurse Reporting Time Pay Bill
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.
Urge House Health Care Licenses Committee to Reject Mandatory Staffing Ratios
Proponents of mandatory nurse staffing ratios have again introduced legislation (House Bill 3871), strongly opposed by IHA and American Nurses Association-Illinois.
IHA Obtains Concessions on Pre-Judgment Interest Legislation
As a result of obtaining several important concessions from the bill sponsors and proponents, IHA has withdrawn its opposition to the legislation.
IHA Alert: Urge Senators to Co-Sponsor Medicaid Managed Care/Prior Authorization Reform 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).
Contact Your State Senator: Support IHA/ANA-IL Nurse Staffing Initiative
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.
IHA Summary: Governor’s FY2022 Budget Proposal
This memo provides details on the Governor’s FY2022 budget proposal, which does not include any Medicaid eligibility, service or rate reductions.
Position Paper on HB3360/Prejudment Interest
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.
Prior Authorization Reform Act Position Paper
Comprehensive legislation has been introduced to address concerns about bureaucratic delays caused by prior authorization processes.
Your Care Can’t Wait Coalition Press Release
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.
IHA Update: Legislative Black Caucus Health Care Proposal Reintroduced
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ Health Care Pillar legislation (HB158 ad HB159) has been reintroduced in the General Assembly.Summary: HB158/HB159 - Health and Human Services Reform Act
This document summarizes the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ Health Care Pillar legislation to be considered in the Spring session.
IHA Letter to the Governor re: HB3360
IHA strongly urges Governor J.B. Pritzker to veto HB 3360 on prejudgment interest. If signed into law, it would place an even greater financial burdern on hospitals on the front lines against COVID.Statement from IHA Re: Hospital and Healthcare Transformation – Senate Bill 1510
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.
Statement from IHA Re: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch
IHA congratulates State Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch on his historic election as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 102nd General Assembly.
IHA Summary: General Assembly's Lame Duck Session
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.
Vote Yes on HB3840 as Amended (Sponsored by Sen. Mattie Hunter)
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.
Vote No or Present on SB558 - House Amendment 4
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 Position Paper on HB5548 HAM1/HB3840 SAM1
IHA released a state position paper on House Bill 5548 House Amendment 1 / House Bill 3840 Senate Amendment 1.
HB5548 HA1 / HB3840 SA1 Legislative Summary
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.
IHA Recap of November 3 Election Results
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 Alert re: Graduated Income Tax Proposal
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.
Coalition to Protect Our Telehealth Letter to General Assembly
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.
Suggested Talking Points on 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.
IHA Comprehensive Overview of General Assembly’s Spring 2020 Session
This report provides a detailed summary of the key bills that IHA worked on to ensure the best possible outcomes for the hospital community.
IHA Alert: Contact State Lawmakers Now to Pass Legislation Supporting Hospitals
The Illinois General Assembly will return to Springfield on Wednesday, May 20 for a special session.
IHA Letter to Legislative Leaders re: COVID-19 Requests
IHA urges legislative leaders to consider enacting several important COVID-19 related requests for hospitals and health systems.
IHA Alert: Contact Senators to Co-Sponsor SB3636
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.
IHA Resources re: Opposing Mandatory Nurse Staffing Ratios
IHA resources regarding opposing Mandatory Nurse Staffing Ratios.
Governor Pritzker's FY2025 Budget Proposal
The following memo summarizes the recent budget proposal announced by Governor Pritzker on Feb. 21, 2024.
Notice to Hospital Nursing Staff of Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Requirements (PA 103-0211)
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, P.A. 103-0211 requires hospitals to annually notify hospital nursing staff of the protections or rights under the Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act.
Governor Pritzker's FY2024 Budget Proposal
The following memo summarizes the recent budget proposal announced by Governor Pritzker on Feb. 15, 2023.
Nurse Staffing Improvement Act: Educational Resources and Information
On Aug. 27, Gov. Pritzker signed into law SB2153 (PA102-0641), bipartisan legislation to strengthen the existing Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity Act as an alternative to proposed ratio legislation.
Medical Records Copy Legislation – House Bill 714
This new law will expand the circumstances that a healthcare facility must provide a patient one complete copy of their medical records free of charge.
Regulatory and Patient Care Legislation Acted Upon by General Assembly
This memo summarizes legislation passed by the General Assembly in the Spring 2021 session addressing issues of patient care and hospital regulation.
IHA Responds to Healthcare Affordability Report
IHA provides written comments responding to options outlined in “Feasibility Report for Coverage Affordability Initiatives in Illinois”, released by the state.
IHA Summary: State Healthcare Affordability Report
This memo summarizes “Feasibility Report for Coverage Affordability Initiatives in Illinois”, a report from the Depts. of Healthcare and Family Services and Insurance.
IHA Summary of HB 158: Health Care and Human Service Reform Act
See IHA's summary of House Bill 158: Health Care and Human Service Reform Act.
IHA Position Paper: Hospital and Healthcare Transformation Program – Investing for Health Equity
Illinois should invest in systemic hospital and healthcare transformation to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity. IHA shares its principles for legislation.
$50 Million State Broadband Funding Opportunity
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.
Hospital Transformation: Opportunity & Challenge
IHA made this presentation to the Medicaid Legislative Work Group on August 19.
State Telehealth Coverage and Reimbursement Announcements
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.
IHA Summary: Governor’s FY2021 Budget Proposal
This memo provides a detailed overview of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s FY2021 state budget proposal.
$50 Million Broadband Investment Encourages Hospital Partnership
The state has released funding for the first round of matching grants of Connect Illinois for statewide broadband expansion.
Raising Awareness About 2020 Census – How Hospitals Can Help
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.