IHA Daily Briefing: September 18

Urgent: 340B Action Needed Before Veto Session, Meet With Your State Rep.

The Illinois General Assembly will reconvene in Springfield Oct. 14-16 and Oct. 28-30 for the fall Veto Session. During this critical time, House Representatives will have the opportunity to act on IHA's Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act (HB 2371 SA 2)-essential legislation to safeguard the 340B drug discount program.

Your engagement is urgently needed. Please contact your House Representative today to request a meeting before the Veto Session begins. Use this opportunity to underscore the vital importance of HB 2371 SA 2, highlighting the critical role the 340B program plays in expanding access to essential healthcare services and lifesaving medications at no cost to the state. Click here to access IHA's Sept. 18 memo for additional talking points and guidance, key provisions of the legislation, and 340B background information.

Make clear the urgency of passing HB 2371 SA 2 in light of looming federal Medicaid cuts facing Illinois hospitals and ask your Representative to share their support directly with House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and urge him to call the bill for a vote during the Veto Session.

ACTION REQUESTED: Contact your House Representative and schedule a meeting before the October Veto Session to advocate for a House vote on HB 2371 SA 2. Click here to access IHA's digital messaging platform to send a pre-populated message directly to your House legislator requesting a meeting.

Staff contacts: Dave Gross, Jordan Powell

Overcome and Thrive: IHA Summit Closing Session Will Inspire

He was a high school wrestling powerhouse, a standout collegiate-style wrestler, and a fierce martial arts fighter with 13 wins and two losses. Yet, the greatest battle Justin Wren faced was staring down depression, suicide and drug addiction. You'll hear how the 38-year-old emerged stronger than ever-with new purpose and conviction-during the closing session of the 2025 IHA Leadership Summit, held Sept. 25-26 in Oak Brook.

During a life-changing trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wren founded Fight for the Forgotten to provide clean water and education to African Pygmy communities and to empower them to build a sustainable future. The nonprofit organization works with the communities to provide land, water, housing, education, healthcare and skills development.

"My journey is one of going from fighting against people to fighting for people," Wren said on the Culture Leaders podcast. "My childhood dream at 13 years old was to be an MMA fighter… When I got there I was getting my hand raised and thinking, 'Is this it? Is that all?' There's got to be something more."

At the Summit, Wren will show you how to harness your dreams, purpose and the meaningful impact you can have. Join us next week for this can't-miss session and more. Register today.

Staff contact: David Strickland

Regulatory Legislation Enacted During 2025 Spring Session

The 2025 spring legislative session resulted in passage of several hospital regulatory bills by the Illinois General Assembly that were signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. Click hereto access an IHA memo that provides a summary of those laws, which include:

Information on additional policy action that took place during the 2025 spring legislative session can be found in IHA's 2025 End of Session report.

Staff contact: Lance Kovacs

REMINDER: Upcoming October, November SANE Training Opportunities

The Office of the Illinois Attorney General (OAG) announced the remaining adult/adolescent (AA) and pediatric/adolescent (PA) sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) didactic training opportunities for 2025. The trainings, listed below, are for registered nurses, advanced practice providers, and physicians, and include pre-coursework that must be completed before in-person training begins. NOTE: Applications for the October training are due Sept. 23.

For more information regarding the Illinois SANE Program, the content of the training or nursing contact hours, please email [email protected].

FDA: Do Not Use Unauthorized Infant Devices for Monitoring Vital Signs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Safety Communication this week warning consumers, caregivers and healthcare providers against using unauthorized infant monitors for measuring and monitoring vital signs. FDA said it is aware of unauthorized products being marketed to consumers, and in response it is taking steps to address unlawfully marketed unauthorized infant monitors that claim to measure vital signs. Many infant monitors currently sold over the counter for vital sign monitoring do not have FDA marketing authorization, meaning the FDA has not evaluated the safety and effectiveness of those devices.

The FDA cautioned that inaccurate measurements from unauthorized devices can lead to unnecessary medical care. Additionally, these devices may also fail to detect changes in condition, which could delay treatment for serious symptoms or cause the user to miss the detection of a medical condition. Notably, the FDA stressed these devices have not been evaluated to support monitoring for asthma, apnea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), or the overall health condition of infants. As such, infant monitors are not a replacement for adult supervision or safe sleep practices.

Healthcare providers are encouraged by the FDA to review the FDA's recommendations for consumers and caregivers, and be prepared to talk to your patients about the risks associated with the use of unauthorized infant monitors.