COVID-19

IHA is in close contact with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) as they respond to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and its impact on individuals, communities and healthcare providers. For the latest information for healthcare providers and the public, see the updates below.

COVID-19 Vaccines

• IDPH Recommends Booster Doses for All Eligible Individuals (11/19/21)
• CMS Issues Rule on Healthcare Worker Vaccination Requirements (11/4/21)
• IDPH Adopts CDC Recommendations for Booster Doses (10/22/21)
• Important COVID-19 Vaccine Announcement for Immediate Review (10/20/21)
• State Requirement on Education of Unvaccinated Staff Members (10/4/21)
• IDPH Emergency Rule for Hospitals (Sept. 2021)
• IDPH FAQ on Face Covering & Vaccination Requirements (9/7/21)
• Executive Order COVID-19 Testing Deadline Extended to Sept. 19 (9/3/21)
• Executive Order 2021-22 (COVID-19 EO No. 88) (9/3/21)

See previous COVID-19 Vaccine Updates.

Federal Updates

• FEMA Public Assistance Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Administration to Children (11/3/21)
• CMS Issues Rule on Healthcare Worker Vaccination Requirements (11/4/21)
• NETEC Recorded Webinar: Pediatric Surge Responses and Crisis Standards of Care (10/15/21)
• HRSA Extends Phase 4/ARP Rural Application Deadline (10/26/21)
• AHA Special Bulletin on HRSA Opening Application Process for Additional Distributions of COVID-19 Relief Funds (9/29/21)
• CDC Alert re COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People (9/29/21)
• Update on PRF and Rural ARP Funds (9/10/21)
• CDC Alert: Rapid Increase in Ivermectin Prescriptions and Reports of Severe Illness (8/26/21)
• FEMA Medical Staffing Requests Advisory (8/18/21)

See previous Federal Updates on COVID-19.

State Updates

• IDPH Update: Variant Testing and Genomic Sequencing to Identify Omicron (12/3/21)
• IDPH Weekly Update (12/3/21)
• IDPH Weekly Update (11/19/21)
• IDPH Recommends Booster Doses for All Eligible Individuals (11/19/21)
• IDPH Weekly Update (11/12/21)
• IDPH: Cycle 08 Antibody Therapy Allocations to Healthcare Partners (11/5/21)
• IDPH Weekly Update (11/5/21)
• IDPH: Cycle 07 Antibody Therapy Allocations to Healthcare Partners (10/29/21)
• IDPH Weekly Update (10/29/21)
• IDPH: Cycle 06 Antibody Therapy Allocations to Healthcare Partners / Interest Survey for Pharmacy Based COVID-19 Therapy (10/22/21)
• IDPH Adopts CDC Recommendations for Booster Doses (10/22/21)

See previous State Updates on COVID-19.

Chicago/Cook County Updates

• COVID-19 Data Update: Chicago (8/12/21)
• CDPH Public Health Order Amendment and Hospital Visitation Recommendations by COVID-19 Risk Level (12/16/20)
• CDPH Travel Order Exceptions (11/18/20)
• CDPH Order re: Phase 3 Cautiously Reopening (6/3/20)
• Statement re: McCormick Place Alternate Care Facility (5/1/20)
• Chicago HAN Alert: Updates on Public Health COVID-19 Reporting Orders (4/30/20)
• McCormick Place Alternate Care Facility Intake Criteria (4/22/20)
• McCormick Place Alternate Care Facility Update (4/14/20)
• Free Resources to Health Care Workers and First Responders (4/13/20)

See previous Chicago/Cook County Updates on COVID-19.

Disparity Issues

• IDPH Vaccine Demographics 
• IDPH Vaccination Plan Overview – Equity Centric Approach  
• Chicago Vaccine Data
• Protect Chicago Plus
• IDPH Health Equity Checklist (6/29/20)
• Guidance Relating to Non-Discrimination in Healthcare Services in Illinois (6/26/20)
• Rapid Racial Equity Response Outreach (5/1/20)
• Rapid Racial Equity Response: Suggested Practices (4/30/20)
• Guidance re: Non-Discrimination in Medical Treatment (4/10/20)

State Surge Staffing Pool

• Resources for COVID-19 Care (8/27/21)
• Local EMA Directory (8/27/21)
• IHA Update re: Surge Staffing Pool (12/30/20)
• Surge Staffing Webinar Recording (12/22/20)
• Surge Staffing PowerPoint Presentation (12/22/20)
• Surge Staffing Hospital Request Form

Personal Protective Equipment

• PPE Preservation Planning Toolkit (10/19/20)
• PPE Preservation Planning Tool Guide (10/19/20)
• PPE Preservation Tracking Spreadsheet (10/19/20)
• IHA Fact Sheet on PPE Supply Issues (May 2020)
• Nursing Home PPE Packages (4/24/20)
• Indicators of Fraudulent 3M Personal Protective Equipment
• IDPH: Clarification on the Use of Imported KN95 Masks (4/17/20)
• Health Alert: Imported KN95 Masks (4/16/20)
• CDC Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators

See previous Personal Protective Equipment Updates.

Clinical Guidance for Providers

• Crisis Standards of Care and COVID-19 (Webinar): What’s Working and What Isn’t? (12/1/20)
• New: Hospital Operations Toolkit for COVID-19 (12/1/20)
• Designated COVID-19 Hospitals: Case Studies and Lessons Learned (Nov. 2020)
• Patient Surge Management Strategies During COVID-19 (Nov. 2020)
• Recommendations for Testing Individuals with Signs or Symptoms Consistent with COVID-19 Infection and/or Close Contact with a Confirmed or Probable Case of COVID-19 (10/20/20)
• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (5/21/20)

See previous Clinical Guidance Updates.

COVID-19 Waiver Requests

• Hospital Licensing Waivers Re-Issued Through Executive Order (12/18/20)
• Granted State Waivers (12/17/20)
• Granted Federal Waivers (6/15/20)
• CMS Issues Partial Approval of Medicaid COVID-19 Section 1135 Waiver Request (4/15/20)
• Medicaid & CHIP COVID-19 Disaster Relief Flexibilities (4/9/20)
• IHA Section 1135 Waiver Request for All Illinois Hospitals (3/26/20)
• Illinois HFS Section 1135 Waiver Request (3/21/20)
• IHA Letter: Notice of Intent to Operate Under and Request Section 1135 Waiver (3/20/20)

Immigrant Issues

• Updated Consulate of Mexico in Chicago Contact Information (4/14/20)
• CDC Resources in Non-English Languages (4/14/20)
• ICIRR Healthcare Resources for Immigrants (3/16/20)
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services COVID-19 Alert (3/16/20)
• Mexican Consulate in Chicago
• Stay-at-Home Flyer (in Spanish) (4/7/20)

Behavioral Health

• COVID-19 Behavioral Health Update (8/7/20)
• State Operated Psychiatric Hospitals: Admissions Resumed (4/7/20)
• Resources, Grant Updates, CARES Act (4/3/20)
• DHS Alert #2 - State Operated Psychiatric Hospitals: Reimbursement (3/23/20)
• IHA Follow-Up: SOPH COVID-19 Protocols (3/16/20)
• IDHS: Temporary Suspension of Civil Admissions to Three SOPHs (3/14/20)

Payment Policy

• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services COVID-19 Update (2/26/21)
• Telehealth Policy and Payment Updates (2/5/21)
• LTAC Hospital COVID-19 Covered Services for Certain Non-Citizens (8/20/20)
• IHA Memo: COVID-19 Reimbursement Options for the Uninsured (8/14/20)
• Uninsured COVID-19 Reimbursement (8/14/20)
• IHA Update: COVID-19 Private Payer Guidance (5/20/20)
• Table: COVID-19 Private Payer Guidance (5/20/20)
• Requirement to Publicize Cash Price for COVID-19 Testing (4/15/20)
• Updated Information on COVID-19 DRG Coding and CARES Act Funding (4/15/20)
• HHS Announces Immediate Distribution of Federal Relief Payments to Hospitals (4/10/20)

See previous Payment Policy Updates for COVID-19.

Legal Policy

• IHA Memo: EMTALA & Patient Non-Discrimination – Reminder of Legal Requirements and Guidance (11/18/20)
• Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act Summary (11/18/20)
• IHA COVID-19 Legal Resources (5/7/20)

IHA Press Releases

• Statement From A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President & CEO, Re: COVID-19 Vaccines (12/16/20)
• Leading Business and Health Care Groups Urge Safe Holiday Celebration (11/20/20)
• IHA Statement on Governor Pritzker's Action Today to Mitigate COVID-19 Surge (11/17/20)
• Hospitals, Doctors and Nurses Plead: “Don’t Let Your Guard Down. Keep Your Mask Up” (11/13/20)
• Illinois Business and Healthcare Groups Encourage Use of Face Masks to Save Lives, Protect Jobs (7/15/20)
• IHA Statement: Addressing Health Disparities (6/15/20)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Causes Surge in Cleaning Products Exposures (4/13/20)
• Help Us Help You: IHA Press Release (3/23/20)
• Illinois Hospitals Issue Plea for Medical Supplies (3/19/20)

IHA COVID-19 Recap Memos

• State Requirement on Education of Unvaccinated Staff Members (10/4/21)
• Executive Order COVID-19 Testing Deadline Extended to Sept. 19 (9/3/21)
• IHA COVID-19 Update: State Announces Vaccination, Mask Requirements (8/26/21)
• IHA COVID-19 Update – June 11, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – June 2, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – May 26, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – May 19, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – May 12, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – May 5, 2021

See previous IHA Recap Memos on COVID-19.