IHA Daily Briefing: March 20

U.S. Sen. Durbin Now Accepting Congressionally Directed Spending Requests
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is now accepting Congressionally Directed Spending requests for Illinois projects through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Congressional Appropriations process. The deadline to submit FY 2027 appropriations requests to Sen. Durbin is staggered by bill:

• Tuesday, March 31 for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Legislative Branch requests.
• Thursday, April 2 for all other bills, including Labor-HHS-Education (subject to change).

For more information on how to submit a request, click here to visit Sen. Durbin's website, which includes application instructions and eligibility information.

IDPH Update: RSV Season Extension Update and Guidelines
In an Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) alert, the Department said in a March 19 Health Advisory Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity remains elevated in Illinois; therefore, IDPH said infant RSV immunization has been extended through the end of April 2026.

As of the week ending March 7, RSV percent positivity was 8%, remaining well above the 3% threshold for the RSV season. Hospitalizations and emergency department visits for RSV also remain elevated. IDPH said this indicates a delayed end of the RSV season at least through April.

Due to the elevated rate, IDPH recommends:

• Clinicians should actively recommend and offer RSV immunization to all infants under the age of 8 months who lack maternal RSV vaccine protection entering or in their first RSV season, and to children ages 8 months through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and in their second RSV season. Certain infants may receive RSV immunization regardless of maternal vaccination status in specific situations as detailed in the Health Advisory. Immunization should continue through the end of April 2026.
• All adults ages 75 years and older, as well as adults ages 50 years through 74 years at increased risk of severe RSV disease, should receive RSV vaccination if they have not previously been vaccinated.
• If based on clinical judgment there would be benefit from maternal vaccination (e.g., it is unlikely or uncertain that the infant will receive RSV immunization at birth), it is acceptable to continue to vaccinate pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy at this time through the end of March 2026.

Additional guidance and resources can be found in the IDPH Health Advisory.

Toolkit: Resources on Firearm Restraining Order, Extreme Risk Laws
The Ad Council, in partnership with the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) and Brady, have released a toolkit to help increase awareness about Firearm Restraining Orders (FRO), or Extreme Risk Protection Orders. A FRO is a civil-not criminal-procedure in Illinois that allows family, household members and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms while they pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. FROs are a resource that can help prevent gun injuries and deaths, including firearm suicide.

The toolkit was developed as part of Illinois' "Pause to Heal " campaign, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the important role a FROs can play in preventing tragedy. Click here to access Illinois resources, which include:

• Digital media graphics and copy in English and Spanish.
• Extreme risk law palm card in English and Spanish.
• Informational flyer in English and Spanish.
• Informational "mini mag" document.

Last year, the DuPage County State's Attorney encouraged IHA to share FRO resources with hospitals in Illinois. The new toolkit provides background that's easier to share on the issue if hospital staff are seeking to better understand or provide resources to patients on FROs or Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

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) has announced that 89,592 bottles of children's ibuprofen sold nationwide have been recalled. In an enforcement report, the FDA said that Strides Pharma's Children's Ibuprofen Oral Suspension is being recalled due to the "presence of foreign substance." The impacted children's ibuprofen has lot numbers of 7261973A and 7261974A, with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2027. The FDA labeled the recall as Class II on March 16.

Leading the News

Illinois companies could be on the hook for work-related activities before and after shifts, court rules

WTTW

Illinois law does not specifically shield companies from having to pay employees for time spent completing required pre- and post-work activities, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled.

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Hospital ads increase ED visits, Medicare spending: Penn study

Becker's Hospital Review

Increased spending on hospital advertisements is linked to a rise in emergency department visits and Medicare spending, according to research at Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania.