Get the healthcare news you need to stay on top of legislative proposals, industry trends and local issues. This section has news articles, IHA's Daily Briefing, IHA press releases and our Member News Spotlight. You can sort by category.
President-elect Joe Biden outlined his COVID-19 relief proposal in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday. CBS News
President-elect Joseph R. Biden chose Dr. David Kessler to help lead Operation Warp Speed to accelerate development of Covid vaccines and treatments according to transition officials. New York Times
A team led by a researcher at SIU Carbondale discovered a new variant of the COVID-19 virus specific to and dominant in the US, adding to the growing list of mutations. The Southern
Illinois’ COVID testing positivity fell to its lowest point since Christmastime as public health officials on Thursday announced 6,652 new cases and 88 more deaths. Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago is opening more mass vaccination sites as the city prepares to expand COVID-19 vaccine availability to essential workers and people over 65. WGN TV
A pair of coalitions of hospital and community leaders hope to tap tens of millions of dollars in just-approved state money to fund initiatives to address healthcare inequities. Chicago Sun-Times
State Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, a Democrat from suburban Chicago, became the first Black speaker of the Illinois House, succeeding longtime Speaker Michael Madigan. State Journal-Register
Small numbers of at-risk older Chicagoans could start getting COVID-19 vaccines as soon as next week, the city’s health commissioner said Wednesday. Chicago Tribune
As soon as COVID vaccines began arriving at hospitals across Illinois in mid-December, doses were put into the arms of healthcare workers at the greatest risk of virus exposure. Daily Herald
Hamilton Memorial Hospital District announced Tuesday that it received more than $500,000 through the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program to replace its roof. The Southern
General Assembly Wraps Up “Lame Duck” Session
IDPH is now reporting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination data on its website, with data to be updated daily and additional data to be provided as available. River Bender
Chicago is at least a month or two from vaccinating essential workers and initially there won’t be nearly enough shots for the large group that includes teachers, police and more. Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago on Tuesday relaxed and simplified its emergency travel order, convinced the city has turned the corner on the second wave of the coronavirus. Chicago Sun-Times
Nearly all air travelers will need to present a negative coronavirus test to enter the United States under expanded test testing requirements announced on Tuesday. Reuters
Cancer death rates in the US hit a record 2.4% decrease in 2018, marking a record for the second year in a row and contributing to a 31% drop since 1990, the American Cancer Society said. Fox News
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.
Competing Versions of Black Caucus Healthcare Bill
A House committee advanced a bill to end hiring private insurance companies to manage the state’s Medicaid program and replace it with a fee-for-service system. Capitol News Illinois
State health officials hope to make significantly more progress in vaccinating citizens before a COVID-19 mutation that is thought to be 50% more contagious takes root in Illinois. Chicago Sun-Times
One zip code on the Gold Coast has less than half as many COVID-19 cases than Chatham, but seven times more vaccinations than the predominately South Side neighborhood. Chicago Crusader
If Chicago Public Schools are safe enough to re-open for pre-K and special education students, why are the rest of us being advised to stay home through Jan. 22? Chicago Sun-Times
COVID-19 one-day positivity rate was 6.5 percent Saturday as Illinois reached one month since the seven-day rolling positivity rate was above 10 percent. State Journal-Register
President-elect Biden is planning to take a dramatic step aimed at increasing the amount of vaccine available to states. NPR
The city of Chicago will follow the state’s lead and offer the next round of vaccine shots to people 65 and older. Chicago Sun-Times
In December, healthcare added 39,000 jobs, including 32,000 jobs in hospitals and 21,000 jobs in ambulatory services. Health Leaders Media
In her last trimester, in the midst of dealing with family and work issues as well as preparing for a new baby, Michelle Emebo felt stressed. Chicago Tribune
IHA is pleased to announce its newly elected 2021 Board of Trustees. Board officers serve a one-year term beginning January 1, 2021.
Karen Teitelbaum, president and CEO, Sinai Chicago, is the chair of IHA's 2021 Board of Trustees as of Jan. 1, 2021. The Board of Trustees is the policymaking body for IHA.
2021 IHA Board of Trustees Announced
IHA Opposes Health Bills as Currently Proposed
Illinois Hospital Leader Named to AHA Rural Council
Governor Announces Next Phase of Vaccine Plan
Illinois COVID-19 cases are inching up to average more than 6,000 new cases a day, even as testing for the respiratory disease dropped sharply over the last few weeks. Daily Herald
About three weeks ago, we saw history being made as OSF HealthCare employees got their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. WEEK TV
New rules require hospitals to post price information they have long sought to obscure: the actual prices negotiated with insurers and discounts they offer cash-paying customers. Kaiser Health News
The merger of Arlington Heights-based Northwest Community HealthCare and Evanston-based NorthShore University HealthSystem took effect Friday. Daily Herald
Updated PRF FAQs and Single Audit Requirements
HHS' general counsel on Wednesday [Dec. 30] advised drugmakers that they must provide 340B discount prices to pharmacies that contract with covered entities. Modern Hlthcare
HHS Issues Advisory Opinion on 340B Discounts
Experts at the Illinois Poison Center are alerting the public to dangerous drug combinations that could interact poorly with HIV medication, or cause a rapid increase in blood pressure.
Illinois hospitals are working around the clock with Gov. Pritzker, IDPH, the entire state pandemic response team and local health depts. to ensure the vaccine is administered. We urge patience.
The state’s leading business and healthcare organizations are urging Illinoisans to safely celebrate the holidays and help slow the spread of the coronavirus by following all health guidelines.
IHA and our member hospitals and health systems commend Governor Pritzker for his exceptional leadership in this extraordinary time, including his action to mitigate the alarming surge in COVID-19.
MAPS PSO awarded the MAPS PSO Patient Safety Champion award to DuPage Medical Group in Downers Grove and gave an Honorable Mention to Pinckneyville Community Hospital.
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surging, IHA has launched a new statewide campaign to communicate the importance of taking reasonable precautions to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Jordan Powell joins IHA as Senior Vice President of Health Policy and Finance on Dec. 14. He will provide leadership on strategic policy, payment system, health equity and healthcare reform issues.
IHA urges Illinoisans to vote Yes on a proposed constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax.
The Coalition to Protect Our Telehealth, which includes IHA, urges the General Assembly to protect telehealth approaches so Illinoisans can access critically needed, affordable care beyond COVID-19.
Illinois hospitals of all shapes and sizes are the cornerstones of their communities and provide some of the highest quality healthcare in the world.
Illinois public health officials on Monday reported 1,373 new COVID-19 cases and a seven-day positivity rate of 3.6%. Chicago Sun-Times
Coronavirus positivity rates declined in seven of Illinois' 11 COVID-19 resurgence mitigation regions during the first week of September. Patch
Carol DesLauriers, PharmD, DABAT, Assistant Vice President of the Illinois Poison Center (IPC), has been named president-elect of the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
“A lot of the people I’m working with now, I had seen at Sophia’s Kitchen, but they didn’t speak to me or use my services for various reasons. Rockford Register Star
The University of Chicago Medicine’s Center for Asian Health Equity has received a five-year, $4.25 million federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WBBM Radio
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his sister Penny Pritzker announced that a private fund formed to provide relief to communities hard hit by the pandemic will wind down. The Southern/Capitol News Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported more than 1,300 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday. KWQC TV
Roughly half a million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The Hill
In the early days of the pandemic, doctors noticed something about the people severely ill from COVID-19: Many were obese. Associated Press
Patients hospitalized with a severe coronavirus infection still had lung damage and breathing problems weeks after leaving the hospital. Fox News
The chief executives of nine pharmaceuticals signed a pledge Tuesday saying they won’t submit their coronavirus vaccines for regulatory approval . Forbes
AstraZeneca Plc stopped giving shots of its experimental coronavirus vaccine after a person participating in one of the company’s studies got sick. Bloomberg News
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are reporting symptoms of depression. Illinois News Room
The Senate will vote Thursday on a scaled-down GOP coronavirus relief bill. The Hill
In America's four largest cities, at least half of people say they have experienced the loss of a job or a reduction in wages in their household since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. NPR
The number of new coronavirus inpatients at Edward Hospital in Naperville is back in the double digits. Patch
Bradley University is imposing a mandatory two-week quarantine on all students and switching to remote learning only due to an outbreak of coronavirus on campus. WGN TV
Several states in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast have seen new COVID-19 cases increase for two weeks in a row. Reuters
Nineteen percent of the 1.4 million new coronavirus cases in the U.S. between Aug. 2 and Sept. 2 can be traced back to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. MSN
Almost 600,000 healthcare workers are uninsured, with workers in Texas having the largest uninsured rate. Becker’s Hospital Review
Schools play a pivotal role in U.S. vaccination efforts. Laws require children to have certain immunizations to enroll and attend classes. Kaiser Health News
The University of Illinois Board of Trustees filed a lawsuit seeking to stop nurses at the University of Illinois Hospital from going on strike this weekend. Chicago Sun-Times
A statement from IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi urges the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to allow emergency rules on face coverings to move forward to help ensure health and safety.
Christopher Jessup has joined the Illinois Health and Hospital Association as Community and Local Government Relations Manager, effective August 3.
Eighty quality improvement projects from Illinois hospitals and health systems represent the dedicated efforts of healthcare professionals to advance quality care and enhance health and well-being.
A diverse coalition of business groups renewed calls for Illinoisans to wear face masks when in public to save lives and protect the state’s economy.
As Illinoisans venture outside for summer fun, the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) reminds you that some of the season’s most attractive plants can be harmful—or even deadly.
Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, which has highlighted glaring health disparities. Illinois’ hospital community is engaged on this issue.
IHA, along with ANA, ISAPN and ISMS, submitted an amicus brief on April 29 in the legal case challenging Governor Pritzker's stay-at-home executive order.
There is no evidence that sunlight can cure coronavirus on the human body. New York Times
Many hospitals are struggling financially right now, and in some cases, jobs are on the line. CBS 2 TV
The Illinois Poison Center (IPC) urges people to use caution with cleaning products, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
IHA along with its 200 member hospitals and nearly 40 health systems called on all Illinois residents to help hospitals prevent a surge of COVID-19 patients.
IHA issued a plea to the construction industry, dentists, veterinarians and other groups that may be able to help Illinois’ more than 200 hospitals protect staff as they care for COVID-19 patients.
The phones are ringing off at the State of Illinois’ coronavirus hotline. CBS Chicago
Illinois hospitals and health systems infuse more than $100 billion in state and local economies. They are the number one creator of jobs supporting working families.
MAPS PSO has released Patient Safety Focus: Top 10 Safety Issues for 2020, a white paper offering strategies to address some of healthcare’s top challenges.
IHA is pleased to announce its newly elected 2020 Board of Trustees. Board officers serve a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2020.
The Illinois Poison Center--the nation's oldest poison center--warns of gastrointestinal distress from three common holiday plants.
Over 1.4 million Illinoisans live in rural regions and rely on their local hospital as a vital—and often only—source of care. IHA and ICAHN are proud to recognize National Rural Health Day on Nov. 21.
MAPS PSO awarded Suzanne Khoury, a senior medical technologist at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, with the MAPS PSO Patient Safety Champion award for preventing patient harm.
Nation’s oldest poison center offers rodent removal and prevention safety tips
Hospitals and health systems in Illinois devote significant resources to advancing patient care and safety. IHA recognizes those dedicated efforts through its Quality Excellence Achievement Awards.
Chances are, you or someone you know has gotten a surprise medical bill. Kaiser Health News
Gov. Pritzker said people applying for Medicaid benefits in Illinois will see those applications processed more quickly and healthcare providers will be paid more promptly. Capitol News Illinois
Hospital and health system leaders from across Illinois are urging the General Assembly to pass legislation on needed reforms to the state’s Medicaid managed care program before it adjourns May 31.
4th Annual IHA Quality Advocacy Showcase on April 3 highlights statewide efforts to advance patient care, improve communities and reduce costs.
This week, the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) kicks off Illinois Poison Prevention Month, which serves as a timely reminder of the substantial harm poisoning can cause to people of all ages.
Patients in Illinois are benefiting from reduced sepsis infection rates and enhancements in antimicrobial stewardship due to the efforts of two exceptional IHA members.
A comprehensive legislative package of Medicaid managed care reform bills strongly backed by the IHA and the hospital community has been introduced in the General Assembly.
Karen Harris will join the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective March 1.
On Jan. 31, IHA will lose its longest serving employee.
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association is pleased to announce its newly elected 2019 Board of Trustees.
Illinois hospitals and health systems are extremely deeply disappointed by the district court's decision. This ruling threatens access to healthcare coverage for one million Illinoisans.
The Illinois Poison Center notes an increase in carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter.
Sarah Macchiarola will join the Illinois Health and Hospital Association as its Vice President, Federal Government Relations, effective Nov. 29.
We are pleased that the Illinois Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the state’s hospital property tax exemption law.
Statement from A.J. Wilhelmi, President & CEO
The Midwest Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS) Patient Safety Organization (PSO) awarded Valerie Skroch of Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers with the MAPS PSO Patient Safety Champion award.