IHA Daily Briefing: October 26

Medicaid ABE MMC Changes: Authorized Representatives and Application Agents

The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is hosting a webinar this Thursday, Oct. 29 from 1-2 p.m. CT. The webinar will review new processes and functionality in the Medicaid Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) Manage My Case (MMC) Portal for authorized representatives and application agents. To register for this webinar,click here. HFS has also posted application agent online training modules, including training on H.R. 1 Medicaid changes. For more information on these training modules, click here.

HFS to Host Meeting on RHTP, Hospital Transformation Grant on Oct. 29

The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is hosting an Oct. 29 meeting for awardees and grantees who have finalized, or who are in the process of finalizing agreements, for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), Hospital Transformation Planning Grant, CFSA #478-00-3979. To support next steps in grant implementation, regarding use of the RHTP Hospital Transformation Template Package in particular, HFS will be holding a kick-off meeting on Oct. 29 from noon-1 p.m. CT. To register for this event, please click here.

HFS has also provided answers to the following recurring questions regarding implementation activities:

When can grant activities begin? A grantee may begin grant activities and begin to incur related costs upon signature and execution of the Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) with HFS. Any expenses incurred prior to the signature and execution of a UGA are not reimbursable.

How do I bill for incurred expenses? The grant opportunity is a reimbursable grant and reimbursement for incurred expenses must be submitted via Euna.

Can you remind me if the deliverable dates will change? HFS shared in their Sept. 30 communication that deliverable dates have been pushed back as follows:

• Submission 1 - Needs assessment (due Dec. 14, 2026)
• Submission 2 - Full transformation plan (due Feb. 1, 2027)

Do I need to get approval for consultant costs? Additional guidance is being prepared on supporting grantees who are seeking approval of consultant selection or sole source approval.

Is the first quarterly report due? We just signed our agreement. To support implementation activities and experienced delays in grant agreements, the first quarterly report will not be due. As a result, HFS will provide additional guidance for required information that will be in the second quarterly report.

DEADLINE APPROACHING: RHTP Technology Innovation Grant Funding Info. Due Oct. 28

As the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) moves forward with the next phase of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Technology Innovation initiative, ICAHN is seeking information on important assessment activities that will help eligible rural hospitals identify technology needs, strengthen cybersecurity, and prepare for future funding opportunities.

Eligible rural hospitals must complete a brief hospital information form by Wednesday, Oct. 28, by 5 p.m. CT to collect the basic hospital and contact information needed to coordinate upcoming assessment activities. Click hereto access the form. Only one form should be submitted per hospital.

ICAHN recently hosted a virtual information session outlining the Technology Innovation project. If you were unable to attend, the webinar recording and presentation slide deck are now available here.

CMS Launches Program to Recruit, Retain Nurses in Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last Friday announced the launch of a new initiative to boost the recruitment and retention of nurses in nursing homes. Under the Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative, nursing students and licensed nurses interested in working in a nursing home may now qualify for up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and/or a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year commitment to work in a qualifying nursing home in a rural or higher labor-shortage area. CMS said the $275 million program is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses nationwide and will be funded through civil monetary penalties collected by CMS and states from nursing homes. The program website includes details on eligibility requirements, open positions, details on how to apply and other information.

Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data

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

Under guidance issued last week from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), patients who stopped taking GLP-1s during pregnancy may be able to resume them while breastfeeding. ACOG recommends OB-GYNs and other healthcare professionals discuss the option with their patients to decide whether GLP-1s should be included in their postpartum care plan. Currently, ACOG is advising against use of GLP-1s during pregnancy due to lack of safety data.

Leading the News

20 'most beautiful' US hospitals in 2026

Becker's Hospital Review

La Rabida Children's Hospital in Chicago has been named the most beautiful hospital in the U.S. by healthcare staffing firm Soliant. Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois was named the third most beautiful.

Proposed Rush, Endeavor merger credit positive for both systems: Moody's

Becker's Hospital Review

Moody's said the planned merger of Chicago-based Rush University System for Health and Evanston, Ill.-based Endeavor Health has credit positive aspects for both organizations.

Health systems retool PTO to boost retention

Becker's Hospital Review

Health system human resources leaders are retooling paid time off policies in pursuit of stronger retention and engagement. Yet, for some, the most important changes have less to do with how many hours employees earn than with whether they can actually use them.