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

• Illinois Launches $10 Million Public Awareness Campaign to Encourage Vaccinations in Hardest-Hit Communities (3/5/21)
• All In Illinois Vaccine Toolkit
• Vaccine Campaign Research
• Guide to Getting Vaccinated in Illinois
• Illinois Residents Encouraged to Register for the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker (3/3/21)
• Building Vaccine Confidence Toolkit 
• IDPH Vaccine Demographics 
• IDPH Vaccination Plan Overview – Equity Centric Approach  
• Chicago Vaccine Data 
• Protect Chicago Plus 

See previous COVID-19 Vaccine Updates.

State Surge Staffing Pool

• 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

Federal Updates

• An Option for COVID-19 Positive Patients: Monoclonal Antibody Treatment (3/26/21)
• IHA Letter to HHS on the Provider Relief Fund (3/12/21)
• IHA Letter to HHS Urges Delay of Accelerated Loan Repayment (3/12/21) 
• Summary of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (3/11/21)
• IHA Alert: Urge Senate to Include Hospital Priorities in COVID-19 Legislation (3/3/21)
• IHA Provider Relief Distribution Summary (3/2/21)
• IHA Statement on Virtual Care for Hearing in the Subcommittee on Health of the US House Committee on Energy & Commerce (3/2/21)
• Summary of House-passed COVID-19 Relief Bill (3/1/21)
• COVID-19 Legislative Priorities (2/22/21)
• Federal Position Paper: Extending Telehealth Flexibilities in the Medicare Program (2/22/21)

See previous Federal Updates on COVID-19.
 

State Updates

• COVID-19 Tests Administered: 7 Day Rolling Average (4/4/21)
• COVID-19 Test Positivity: 7 Day Rolling Average (4/4/21)
• COVID-19 Deaths: 7 Day Rolling Average (4/4/21)
• COVID-19 Hospitalizations (4/47/21)
• COVID-19 Cases: 7 Day Rolling Average (4/4/21)
• COVID-19 Vaccines Administered: 7 Day Rolling Average (4/4/21)
• Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutic Updates (3/26/21)
• BinaxNOW Expiration Date Extension (March 2021)
• IDPH Guidelines on Emergency Preparedness for Hospitals During COVID-19 (3/9/21)
• UPDATED Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Interim Guidance (3/2/21)

See previous State Updates on COVID-19.

Chicago/Cook County Updates

• 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)

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

• IHA COVID-19 Update – April 7, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – March 31, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – March 24, 2021
• IHA COVID-19 Update – March 17, 2021

See previous IHA Recap Memos on COVID-19.