IHA Daily Briefing: March 5

REGISTER: Medical Solutions Webinar on Leading Through Change March 19
Times of great change, both organizational and industry-wide, can increase stress and decrease trust among employees. A March 19 webinar, "Leading Through Change: Rebuilding Trust and Stability in Uncertain Times," will offer practical strategies for restoring trust, strengthening team stability, and leading through change with resilience.

Medical Solutions, an IHA Strategic Partner since 2018, will present the complimentary session from noon-1 p.m. CT. Patti Artley, the company's chief clinical officer and chief nursing officer, will discuss:

• Core leadership behaviors that cultivate trust and psychological safety amid change;

• Strategies to support stability, communication and engagement across nursing teams; and

• Actionable approaches for leading through uncertainty with confidence and authenticity.

There is no fee to attend. Click here to register. See IHA's flyer to learn more about Medical Solutions, a successful, long-term IHA Strategic Partner benefiting Illinois hospitals and health systems.

Staff contact: Gary Drain

ALERT: 340B Legislation Is Positioned for a Vote-Outreach to House Representatives Is Critical
IHA's Illinois Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act (HB 2371 SA 2) has been moved to the Illinois House floor and may be called for a vote at any time. In response, Big Pharma has escalated their opposition campaign, investing millions of dollars to mischaracterize the 340B program and undermine and discredit the hospitals that rely on it. At this pivotal time, lawmakers must hear directly from you and other key stakeholders and supporters of your hospital. Ask your Representative to co-sponsor the legislation and share their support directly with House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and urge him to call the bill for a vote.

ACTION REQUESTED:Contact your House Representative immediately to request a meeting while House legislators are in district prior to returning to Springfield on March 18. IHA members can click here to identify your House lawmaker and their contact information. Click here to access IHA's digital messaging platform to send a pre-populated message directly to your House legislator urging a vote on HB 2371 SA 2.

Staff contact: Dave Gross

FDA Issues RFI on Potential New Standards for In-home Opioid Disposal Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on potential new standards for in-home opioid disposal products. The FDA said companies selling opioid analgesics are currently required to make available prepaid mail-back envelopes to outpatient pharmacies and other dispensers. Now, the agency is considering whether to require that opioid sponsors, through dispensers, make available in-home disposal systems, noting in its news release that having unused opioids laying around at home can pose a significant risk to those struggling with opioid addiction.

Today's RFI seeks input from industry, healthcare providers and advocates on appropriate criteria for in-home disposal kits. Responses to the RFI are due by 10:59 p.m. CT on April 6. All interested parties are invited to submit comments to the docket.

UPDATE: Core Competencies for Injury and Violence Prevention
Safe States has announced the release of the Core Competencies for Injury and Violence Prevention - 2026 Edition. This is the first update to the Core Competencies for Injury and Violence Prevention (IVP) in more than 20 years. Safe States said that as the field of IVP and technology have evolved, so has the understanding of what competencies are needed for the broad and varied IVP workforce to be effective in addressing the burden of injury and violence in the U.S.

The updated core competencies provide guidance for individual competency assessment and professional development-helping individuals to define and develop the mix of skills required to best serve IVP in their setting and community-while also providing a framework for IVP workforce development and performance growth within teams and organizations.

Deadline March 31 to Apply for AHA Next Gen Fellowship
Nominations and applications are being accepted until March 31 for the 2027 class of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Next Generation Leaders Fellowship. This scholarship is open to emerging leaders at AHA-member hospitals and health systems who are committed to advancing innovative solutions that improve access to care. AHA will award up to five scholarships. Scholarship recipients will participate in a year-long program that pairs Fellows with executive-level mentors and culminates in a capstone project. Click here for additional information.

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. maternal mortality rate fell to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, which is statistically similar to the 2023 rate of 18.6 per 100,000, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said that in 2024, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was significantly higher than rates for white (14.2), Hispanic (12.1) and Asian (18.1) women.

Leading the News

Bill expanding access to discounted drugs awaits House action

Capital News Illinois

Advocates for health care providers that treat low-income and uninsured patients are pressuring state lawmakers to pass legislation they say would prevent drug manufacturers from restricting access to medications that are discounted through a federal pharmacy program.

93 hospital and health system simulation and education programs to know | 2026

Becker's Hospital Review

Becker's Healthcare is proud to honor 93 hospitals and health systems with exceptional simulation and education programs. These innovative initiatives give students and healthcare professionals the opportunity to sharpen their skills in realistic, controlled environments that closely replicate real-world clinical scenarios.

Hospitals and health systems moving to new EHR platforms

Becker's Hospital Review

EHR decisions rarely happen in isolation. They reflect broader shifts in strategy, finances, clinical alignment and digital ambition.