IHA Daily Briefing: October 28

DCFS, HFS Proposed Updates to Children's Behavioral Health Coverage

The Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) have proposed amendments to state rules governing healthcare service coverage for children and young adults, primarily focusing on behavioral healthcare. A summary of proposed amendments can be found in this Oct. 27 IHA memo. Comments are due to HFS by Nov. 16, 2026, at [email protected] and to DCFS by Nov. 23, 2026, at [email protected]. To submit questions or feedback for potential IHA comments, please contact Lia Daniels by Nov. 4, 2026, at [email protected].

Staff contact: Lia Daniels

Over 115 Hospitals Ready for Next Week's AI Cyber Exercise. Is Your Team In?

The momentum is building across Illinois, and the countdown is officially on. Next Wednesday, Nov. 4, over 115 hospitals statewide will simultaneously log on for IHA's annual emergency preparedness exercise. Healthcare partners from every corner of the state are fully locked in and ready to engage.

If your organization has not registered yet, there is still time to join the training to test your hospital's preparedness and response plans.

The threat landscape is changing faster than ever. This live, interactive webinar, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT, will directly address the increasing frequency and severity of attacks driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Cyberattacks do not wait until your team is ready, and gaps in preparation put your facility at risk. During this training opportunity, leaders and staff will be challenged to react with greater speed and scale to a sophisticated, AI-perpetrated cyber incident designed to disrupt the healthcare workforce and produce cascading impacts on clinical and business operations.

We are undeniably stronger when we prepare together, but that requires every critical player at the table. Don't leave your hospital vulnerable. Learn more about this year's exercise on our program webpage, secure your spot, and ensure your team is ready for this new era of digital threats.

Register your hospital today. For immediate registration or questions, please contact Keneatha Johnson.

IHA Webinar: Strategies for Most Frequently Cited Deficiencies Nov. 10

How can your hospital avoid survey citations and costly fines? An IHA webinar will zero in on the most frequently cited deficiencies among Illinois hospitals pulled directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services database. Healthcare compliance expert Nancy Ruzicka will lead the Nov. 10 session from 1-2:30 p.m. CT. She'll walk you through top citations, why they occur, and what your hospital can do to prevent compliance gaps.

Ruzicka is a highly rated presenter, including among IHA members. During the webinar, she will discuss:

• Compliance expectations behind frequently cited findings;
• Practical strategies to address and prevent common deficiencies; and
• How hospital teams can stay current with evolving regulations and guidelines.

Maintaining compliance is an organization-wide effort. Train your leaders and staff for one low IHA-member fee, $195 per hospital or $395 per health system. The webinar will be recorded and shared with registrants. Nurse continuing education credit is available. Register today.

Staff contact: Bridget McCarte

Reminder: Meeting Tomorrow on RHTP, Hospital Transformation Grant

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 hold a kick-off meeting tomorrow, Oct. 29, from noon-1 p.m. CT. To register for this event, click here.

Deadline Today: RHTP Technology Innovation Grant Funding Info Due Oct. 28

The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) is moving forward with the next phase of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Technology Innovation initiative. To assist this effort, 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. If you are an eligible rural hospital, complete a brief hospital information form by today at 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.

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

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new initiative to improve breast cancer screening and detection efforts. The Quality Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Follow-up Initiative will be led by the Office on Women's Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and DenseBreast-info.org to facilitate the expansion of breast density education and improving diagnostic follow-up. HHS said more than 40 health systems will expand evidence-based practices and address delays in care under the program.

Leading the News

186 top hospitals for surgery: Healthgrades

Becker's Hospital Review

Healthgrades has named 186 hospitals to its latest list of the nation's best for surgical care, singling out a small share of the roughly 4,500 U.S. hospitals it evaluated on how patients fare after common inpatient operations.

120 hospitals named among America's 50 best for outpatient procedures: Healthgrades

Becker's Hospital Review

Healthgrades has recognized 120 hospitals across the U.S. in its 2027 America's 50 Best awards for outpatient procedures, according to a Becker's analysis of the award listings.

110 healthcare organizations named 'America's Dream Employers': Forbes

Becker's Hospital Review

More than 100 healthcare organizations ranked among the 500 U.S. employers named to Forbes' 2027 list of "America's Dream Employers."