IHA Daily Briefing: March 13

CMS Issues New Guidance for Organ Donation System
On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance citing its intent to "strengthen public trust and ensure patients and their families are treated with dignity and care" throughout the organ donation process.

According to a news release, the guidance clarifies and reinforces the responsibilities of Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and donor hospitals, both in providing patients full medical care regardless of potential donor status and allowing families the time to make decisions regarding organ donation without coercion. This action follows reports that some OPOs have rushed aspects of the organ donation and procurement process, pressuring families to make decisions during moments of grief, the announcement said.

The new guidance reinforces clear safeguards through a Quality, Safety, & Oversight (QSO) memo and State Operations Manual (SOM) appendix update:

• Medical care comes first: Hospitals must provide complete, lifesaving medical treatment without regard to potential organ donation, in accordance with preferences for end-of-life health decision-making (e.g., advanced directives, healthcare powers of attorney).
• Families are given time to make an informed decision: Families must have appropriate time to process their loss before donation decisions begin.
• No coercion: Patients and families are protected from rushed decision-making and inappropriate pressure.
• OPOs cannot influence critical decisions: OPOs are prohibited from influencing the timing of life support withdrawal or death declarations.
• Medical standards are upheld: Death must be declared according to accepted medical standards before organ recovery begins.

The QSO memo and SOM appendix reinforce existing federal regulations and strengthen oversight, according to CMS. The QSO memo specifically highlights donor hospital responsibilities and expectations regarding facility policies and processes, as well as agreements with specified organ procurement protocols. CMS is requiring surveyors to cite noncompliance related to these federal requirements once identified, even if the issue is subsequently addressed and corrected.

According to CMS, the organ donation system serves more than 100,000 Americans currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. For more information on CMS' proposed rule that updates conditions of coverage for OPOs and strengthens federal oversight of these organizations released in January, see IHA's memo.

Staff Contact: Lia Daniels

Stryker Medical Technology and Supply Company Victim of Cyberattack
Stryker, a top supplier of medical technology, services and supplies, confirmed it experienced a cybersecurity attack to its Microsoft environment on Wednesday.

While the company emphasized its connected products are not impacted and are safe to use, it confirmed the incident has caused disruptions to order processing, manufacturing, and shipping. Stryker said yesterday that it can view orders placed before the event, and the company said the orders "will be shipped as soon as our system communications are restored." Orders placed after the event are being examined. Stryker said it is working to restore its systems, and has implemented measures to continue to provide customer support. Investigation into the nature and scope of the incident is ongoing. Updates and information can be found here.

According to various reports, the Stryker attack was a "wiper" attack, allegedly by a pro-Iranian cyber hacking group, Handela, that has claimed responsibility. In this type of attack, data and applications are deleted-not encrypted and held for ransom, unlike a typical financially motivated ransomware attack. Restoration of data and systems is not possible in these types of attacks without the availability of secure and uncorrupted backups.

A Cybersecurity Advisory yesterday from the American Hospital Association (AHA) said it "is actively exchanging related threat information with the hospital field, the Health-ISAC and the federal government, including the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to understand the nature of the threat and assess any impact to hospital operations." While AHA said it isn't currently aware of any U.S. hospitals that have been directly impacted or disrupted due to the attack, it said "that may change as hospitals evaluate services, technology and supply chain related to Stryker, and if the duration of the attack extends."

IPC Joins National Effort to Educate About Poisoning Prevention, Promote Safety
The Illinois Poison Center (IPC), the nation's oldest poison center, joins poison centers around the country to raise awareness about poison dangers and educate the public on ways to further protect their loved ones during National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), which runs from March 15-21.

This year's theme is "When the Unexpected Happens, We're Here for You." For more than 70 years, poison centers have provided vital information and resources to families to help reduce the threat of poisoning and save lives.

In 2025, IPC handled 72,500 cases involving potentially harmful substances, ranging from minor to severe. Approximately one-third of IPC's poison calls come directly from healthcare professionals on behalf of their patients, seeking additional guidance about treatment plans related to harmful exposures such as overdoses, medication errors or adverse reactions, plants, household chemicals, automotive products, insect stings, lead, carbon monoxide and more.

Free educational resources about poisoning exposure can be found here and include:

• "My Child Ate..." guide;

• A complimentary safety packet featuring a sticker, magnet and first aid tips for poisonings;

• A video library; and

• Blog posts tackling urgent, trending and seasonal topics.

America's Poison Centers recognizes National Poison Prevention Week from March 15-21. March is also Illinois Poison Prevention Month. Operated by IHA, IPC is a nonprofit health service that provides the people of Illinois with comprehensive, trusted information and treatment advice on potentially harmful substances via a free, confidential 24-hour helpline (1-800-222-1222) staffed by specially trained physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

State Legislative Update

The Illinois Senate has adjourned for the week, after convening in Springfield Tuesday through Thursday; Friday's scheduled session was canceled. The Senate is off next week and will return to session on Tuesday, March 24, at noon. Today, March 13, is the deadline to pass Senate Bills out of Senate committees. As per past practice, deadline extensions are likely to be granted on a case-by-case basis. The Illinois House reconvenes Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, March 20, following a two-week break. Next week's House committee schedule is here. March 27 is the House deadline to pass substantive House bills out of House committees.

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

Eli Lilly has issued a warning of potential patient safety risks associated with compounded tirzepatide mixed with vitamin B12. Testing of compounded products that combine tirzepatide with B12 uncovered significant levels of an impurity that results from a chemical reaction between the two ingredients. The company said while the risks to patients are unknown, it said the impurity is "concerning" noting that "nothing is known about its short- or long-term effects in humans, the potential impact on the drug's interaction with the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, toxicity, immune reactions, or how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated."

Leading the News

Integration, innovation, AI: OSF's incoming CEO on what comes next
Becker's Hospital Review
As OSF HealthCare prepares for its CEO transition in April, the system is doubling down on innovation and agility as it expands access to care throughout its communities.

3 updates on potential GLP-1 uses, risks
Becker's Hospital Review
Although one GLP-1 study made national headlines about the drug class' potential use in addiction treatment, other research indicates GLP-1s could increase the risk of bone injuries and are less effective than other medications for chronic kidney disease.

Nearly 500 structures damaged by Kankakee County tornado, Gov. JB Pritzker reports
Chicago Tribune
Nearly 500 structures in Kankakee County were damaged by massive storms that produced tornadoes and hail as they swept across Illinois Tuesday night, according to Gov. JB Pritzker, who promised that state officials would seek federal aid to help those most affected. As of Thursday afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologists reported three tornadoes had hit Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois and Newton, Jasper and Starke counties in Indiana.