IHA Daily Briefing: November 7

Register: Webinar Series on Navigating ICE Audits
Employers across the country are facing increased scrutiny from Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), making compliance knowledge more important than ever. Part 2 of Polsinelli Law Firm's three-part webinar series, "When ICE Knocks: What Employers Should Know About Navigating ICE Audits and Raids," will take place from noon-1 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 18, focusing on immigration compliance.

Jeffrey Bell, Immigration & Global Mobility Chair, and Kurt Erskine, Government Investigations Chair, will lead the discussion, walking attendees through the ICE investigation process. Topics include what triggers an inspection, what to expect during the visit, potential penalties, workforce impacts and practical strategies to prepare organizations in advance.

Part 3 of the series will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, and will cover "What Health Care Providers Need to Know," offering guidance on navigating ICE interactions while protecting patients, staff, and sensitive data.

Employers interested in joining this series can register here. For questions, contact [email protected].

Guidance Released on Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices
The National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and international partners have released joint guidance on best practices for Microsoft Exchange server security. The guidance emphasizes, "The threat to Exchange servers remains persistent. Exchange environments are continuously targeted for compromise and should be considered under imminent threat."

Included in the guidance are recommendations and prevention measures specifically for on-premises Exchange servers to help mitigate the risk of being compromised. The agencies said that Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition is the only supported on-prem version of the product, as Microsoft ended support for previous versions Oct. 14. Older versions are now at a heightened risk of compromise, and the guidance recommended users migrate to Exchange Server SE or an alternative supported email server software or service. As a result, hospitals still using these versions of Exchange should pay particular attention to this bulletin and closely monitor security settings in your environment.

CMS: All 50 States Apply for Rural Health Transformation Program Funds
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday announced that all 50 states submitted applications for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) under H.R. 1. Every state was invited to submit a plan for transforming its rural healthcare system by the Nov. 5 deadline. The proposal criteria required states to outline how they intend to expand access, enhance quality, and improve outcomes for patients through sustainable, state-driven innovation. IHA submitted formal comments in September to the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) providing input on the state's application to CMS for funding through the RHTP. In October, IHA submitted a follow-up letter to HFS expressing support for the state's final RHTP application.

All submitted applications will now undergo CMS review to ensure completeness and compliance with the requirements outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. States that meet these requirements and have approved applications will receive baseline funding-representing 50% of total available program funds-distributed equally among approved states.

Applications that meet baseline criteria will then undergo a rigorous, data-driven merit review for the remaining 50% of available program funds. This in-depth review-led by federal and non-federal rural health experts and overseen by senior federal review directors-will assess each state's proposed initiatives and alignment with program goals to ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent merit review process across all states.

CMS will announce approved awardees by Dec. 31, 2025, with funding distributed over five years beginning in federal fiscal year 2026.

FDA Warning Over Illegal Marketing of Botox, Related Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week it has issued 18 warning letters to owners of websites illegally marketing unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, commonly called Botox. The FDA said it is aware of adverse events associated with unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, including botulism symptoms. The FDA announcement includes the names of websites that received warning letters.