IHA Daily Briefing: October 20

RHTP Technology Innovation Grant Funding: Next Steps for Eligible Hospitals

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

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

Eligible rural hospitals will participate in two assessment activities designed to evaluate current technology capabilities, identify opportunities for improvement, and help guide future technology investments. Upcoming assessment activities include the:

• Digital Readiness and Needs Assessment: This assessment will evaluate each hospital's current digital maturity, identify technology needs and gaps, and help establish a practical, achievable vision for digital transformation that aligns with the hospital's mission and strategic priorities.
• Cybersecurity Assessment: This assessment will evaluate each hospital's cybersecurity readiness using a standardized tool based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework 2.0. Activities will include a gap analysis, risk prioritization, remediation roadmap, and vulnerability scan to help identify and address cybersecurity risks.

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.

HFS Alert for Providers: Action May Be Necessary Due to Department Fax Offline

IHA is aware that the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has issued an alert to notify providers that the Department's fax machine was down over the weekend and important documents may not have been received while the fax was offline. Providers who faxed documents to HFS' fax line (217-557-5061) between Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 19 at 12 p.m. CT are asked to re-fax their materials to ensure receipt.

Proposed Rule Targets MA Plan Provider Directory Accuracy, PBM Transparency

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule seeking to codify regulations intended to improve the accuracy of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan provider directories, establish transparency and compensation requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their affiliates, and reduce copayments for generic drugs to $0 for low-income Medicare Part D beneficiaries. The proposed rule also establishes limits on PBM payments and requires MA plans to validate and update their provider directory information at least every 90 days. They would also be required to report to CMS an accuracy score that would be displayed publicly on the plans' public-facing directories. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule through Dec. 15, 2026. The agency said it plans to release another proposed rule on policy and technical changes for MA and Part D later this fall.

New Women's Health Division Created Through National Institutes of Health

The White House has issued an executive order directing the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Women's Health Division through the National Institutes of Health, which will focus on conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women. The order emphasizes the need for more research into cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, osteoporosis, mental health, chronic pain, endometriosis, fibroids, polyendocrine metabolic ovary syndrome, infertility, maternal health, menopause, neurological disorders, aging, and other conditions. The order also establishes the White House Women's Health Task Force to coordinate federal efforts on women's health. The task force will be co-chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Click hereto view the fact sheet.

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

Nova Biomedical is recommending that all affected StatStrip Glucose Hospital Meters be removed from where they are used or sold until a software update becomes available. This removal only applies to the most recent model of the StatStrip Glucose Hospital Monitoring System, the "Gen 2.0" model, and does not apply to any previously released model of the StatStrip Glucose Hospital Meter System, such as the "Gen 1.86." As of Oct. 5, Nova Biomedical has reported one serious injury and no deaths associated with this issue.

Cardinal Health is recommending all convenience kits containing infusion sets affected by the BD and CareFusion BD Alaris Pump Infusion Set Recall be corrected prior to continued use. The recalled device can lead to unpredictable pump behavior, such as under- or over-infusion or failure to infuse, that may lead to severe adverse events. As of Aug. 19, BD has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with this issue.

Leading the News

St. Mary's Hospital named to the state honor roll for antibiotic use

Shaw Local

St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee has been named to the Illinois Department of Public Health's Gold-Level Honor Roll for antimicrobial stewardship, the hospital's effort to make sure antibiotics are used correctly.

Pritzker optimistic lawmakers will pass data center regulations, Bears bill during veto session

KFVS

State lawmakers will return to Springfield a month from Friday to address key issues during veto session. Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters Thursday he is optimistic the General Assembly can pass plans to regulate data centers and keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois.

The hospital finance divide: 15 things to know

Becker's Hospital Review

Hospital and health system margins are beginning to reveal two different realities as a growing number of hospitals lose money and cut costs while the strongest add services, shed what doesn't fit and post gains.

More than 1.5 million pounds of meat and poultry recalled nationwide

NBC News

More than 1.5 million pounds of meat and poultry have been recalled because they may have been affected by a temperature issue during storage.