IHA Daily Briefing: March 11

AHA Releases 2026 Cost of Caring Report
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced the release of the latest edition of its annual Costs of Caring report, which shows that hospitals and health systems continue to face increases in the costs of people, supplies, medicines and infrastructure needed to provide care and services to their communities. The report outlines key factors that are putting pressure on hospitals as they care for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Key findings from the report include:

• Workforce spending remains top expense. About 60% of total expenses went to paying doctors, nurses, specialists and other professionals who allow hospitals to provide around-the-clock care and services. In 2025, workforce costs rose 5.6% from the previous year.

• Hospital costs to care for patients grew twice as fast as hospital prices. In 2025, total hospital expenses grew 7.5%, more than twice the rate of growth in hospital prices. Hospital expenses for supplies increased 9.9% and drugs increased 13.6%.

• Hospitals are caring for more patients who are sicker. From 2019 to 2024, about 36% of hospital expense growth reflected treating more patients, and about 19% reflected caring for sicker, more complex patients, as hospitals devote more staff time, monitoring and specialized treatment to these higher need patients.

• Hospitals spend billions to address administrative burden from insurer claims denials and prior authorization. Hospitals in 2025 spent $43 billion trying to collect payments from insurers for care already delivered. Excessive prior authorization, claims denials and delays, repeated documentation requests, and evolving billing and coverage rules have contributed to these mounting expenses for hospitals, as well as taking clinicians away from direct patient care.

• Most hospital costs are tied to service lines where reimbursement falls short of the cost of delivering care. About 56% of hospital costs are tied to service lines where reimbursement falls short of (or is less than) the cost of delivering care, including behavioral health, obstetrics, infectious disease, and burns and wounds.

REGISTER: Applications Due April 23 for Upcoming P/A SANE Didactic Training
The Office of the Illinois Attorney General (OAG) announced a pediatric/adolescent (A/A) sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) didactic training opportunity May 12-15, from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. CT. The training will take place at the Jesse White State of Illinois Building in Chicago.

This training is for registered nurses, advanced practice providers and physicians who will be providing medical forensic services to sexual assault survivors under age 18. Applicants must complete the application and return along with a recent resume. All participants are required to have an established mentor who has received specialized training in the care of both acute and non-acute sexual assault survivors. Applications are due April 23, and more information can be found in this training invitation.

Staff contact: Cassie Yarbrough

White House EO Targets Cyberattacks by Threat Groups
A March 6 Executive Order (EO) issued by the White House seeks to combat cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes by criminal organizations. The order notes that in many cases foreign regimes provide willing or tacit state support for cybercrimes, which include ransomware and malware, phishing, financial fraud and other extortion schemes.

The EO gives certain federal agencies 120 days to create an action plan that would be carried out by the National Coordination Center to identify criminal organizations "responsible for scam centers and cybercrime" and to propose solutions to prevent or dismantle these organizations. The plan must describe technological capabilities, threat intelligence, and operational insights from cybersecurity firms and other non-federal entities that can be used to improve attribution, tracking, and disruption of cybercriminal activity. The plan must also include mechanisms to improve information sharing, operational coordination and rapid response across the federal government.

The EO also requires the Attorney General to submit a recommendation regarding a Victims Restoration Program designed to attempt to restore funds for victims of cybercrimes. More information can be found in the White House fact sheet.

IAFN to Transfer Membership, Education to ENA
The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) announced March 9 a formal program transfer through which ENA will assume stewardship of IAFN's membership, continuing education courses, and practice resources. Forensic nurses frequently operate at the intersection of emergency care and trauma-informed practice, serving survivors of violence, abuse, and neglect. Notably, IAFN offers the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Pediatric/Adolescent (SANE-P) certifications. Under the terms of the agreement, IAFN will transfer to ENA all rights, title, and interest in the assets that form the foundation of its programs and professional community.

The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.

Briefly Noted

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Early Alert yesterday that Erbe USA has recommended discontinued use of certain Cryoprobes following reports they have ruptured or burst during activation, which can cause injuries, including hearing loss, and burns. Erbe USA has reported five serious injuries and no deaths associated with this issue.

Leading the News

10 drugs expected to lead US sales in 2026

Becker's Hospital Review

Statista, a global data company that publishes insights for 170 industries, projects four cancer therapies will be among the top 10 best-selling pharmaceutical products in the U.S. this year.

140 hospital and health system CHROs and chief people officers to know | 2026

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Chief human resources officers and chief people officers are instrumental in shaping the workforce strategies that power hospitals and health systems.

Bloomington OKs plan to develop Carle Health medical campus on east side

WGLT

A three-party, public-private partnership to develop a large mixed-use medical campus on Bloomington's east side will allow Carle Health to expand services in the Twin Cities.