IHA Daily Briefing: October 7

IHA Launches H.R. 1 Medicaid Resources Webpage, Fact Sheet

Provisions of H.R. 1, signed into law July 2025, are beginning to impact thousands of Illinoisans, with significantly broader impacts on the horizon. More than 9,000 lawfully present immigrants are affected this month, and hundreds of thousands of Illinois Medicaid beneficiaries could be impacted by new requirements beginning in 2027.

To help hospitals and health systems prepare for these changes and support patients who may be at risk of losing coverage, IHA has launched a new H.R. 1 Resources webpage, with information and resources to help hospitals understand the changes ahead; educate frontline staff; and prepare to assist patients who may be affected by the new Medicaid community engagement requirements.

IHA's H.R. 1 webpage includes:

Hospitals and health systems are strongly encouraged to begin preparing now. Please review these resources and share them with eligibility teams, financial counselors, social workers, care coordinators and other frontline staff who interact with Medicaid expansion beneficiaries. Early education and assistance will be critical to helping eligible patients maintain coverage and mitigating the harmful effects of H.R. 1 on the patients and communities you serve.

Staff contact: Elizabeth Nelson

IHA Honors Advocacy Award Recipients at Leadership Summit

Leaders from IHA-member hospitals and health systems were honored for their outstanding advocacy efforts during an awards presentation at IHA Leadership Summit last week. The awards recognized three leaders for their strong advocacy on behalf of the Illinois hospital community:

• Shawn Vincent, President and CEO, Loyola Medicine and President, Trinity Health Illinois/Indiana Region
• Michael Mutterer, President and CEO, Silver Cross Hospital
• Dia Nichols, President, Advocate Health Care

Vincent received the Grassroots Champion award in recognition of his successful efforts to educate elected officials on how major issues impact the hospital community; broaden the base of community support for his health system; and tirelessly advocate for hospitals and patients.

"This is the work of a healthcare leader that we all should be doing," said Vincent, who served as IHA Board Chair in 2025. "Being recognized for it is humbling. If you think about all the organizations represented in this room, all those communities you provide meaningful care to, all those you employ, you are truly a force to be reckoned with. Don't lose out on the opportunity because we are incredibly strong together."

Mutterer and Nichols received the Most Valuable PAC Player award that honors outstanding leaders who raise contributions on behalf of the IHA and American Hospital Association (AHA) Political Action Committees (PACs).

"This award is not about me," Mutterer said. "It's about the opportunity for us to support the PAC and the mission of IHA. A collective voice is what really matters."

Nichols, IHA Board Chair-Elect, said: "As health system leaders, as hospital leaders, we have different strategies, different things we work on within our areas of focus…but the one thing we're united on-that we need to be united on-really is having that voice in Springfield and D.C."

IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi presented the awards and was joined onstage by Damond Boatwright, President and CEO, Hospital Sisters Health System and IHA Board Chair, and Rick Pollack, President and CEO Emeritus of the American Hospital Association. IHA thanks the three leaders for their dedication to advancing Illinois healthcare through advocacy.

UPDATE: Medicaid Gender Affirming Care for Young People

The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) issued a provider notice alerting providers of a new federal rule, effective Oct. 13. The new rule prohibits the use of federal Medicaid dollars to fund gender affirming care procedures for individuals under the age of 18. HFS will use state-only funds to preserve continuity of care and coverage through June 30, 2027. Providers should continue following all existing billing instructions for these services, including those in a provider notice from Jan. 8, 2020 and a provider notice from Nov. 26, 2024. HFS' compliance with the federal rule will be achieved on the back end by not claiming federal matching dollars on impacted claims. All providers may continue covering and billing Medicaid fee-for-service or Medicaid managed care organizations for all related services.

ASH Sets New Standards for Diagnosing Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is one of the most common health conditions in the world, but many people live with symptoms for months or years before receiving a diagnosis. To address this critical unmet need, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) issued new clinical guidance to improve how iron deficiency is recognized and diagnosed across key populations, including adults, young children, menstruating and pregnant individuals, and people with inflammation. ASH's new evidence-based clinical practice guidelines address long-standing challenges in diagnosing iron deficiency, including variation in testing practices, inconsistent thresholds, and clinical scenarios in which iron deficiency can be difficult to identify.

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

Draeger has issued a letter to affected customers recommending certain VentStar Resus Neo hoses be removed from where they are used or sold, saying they are aware of cases in which obvious cracks in the hose have been detected. If a cracked hose is used, the hose may fall off or leak, resulting in restricted ventilation or delayed therapy.

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