Survey: Prior Authorization Viewed as Greatest Hurdle in Navigating Healthcare 
A recent KFF poll found that people view prior authorization as the biggest challenge beyond costs when navigating the healthcare system. A news release issued by KFF said that those surveyed cited prior authorization review as their top problem by a wide margin, with a third (32%) saying prior authorization requirements are a “major burden.” This is followed by difficulty understanding their bill or what they owe, which 23% say is a major burden. People also pointed to prior authorization as the “single biggest burden,” more so than accessing certain tests, treatments or medication. Additionally, among people with a chronic condition that requires ongoing medical treatment, which is about half of all insured adults, 39% of those surveyed said prior authorization was the single biggest burden when it comes to accessing care, more than twice that of any other issue mentioned.

CDC Finds Declines in Certain Healthcare-Associated Infections in 2024 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its annual progress report on healthcare-associated infections (HAI), which found continued decreases in hospitalizations from multiple infections in 2024. Among the findings, there was an 11% decrease in hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection; 10% decrease in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI); 9% decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI); and 7% decrease in hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  

Among inpatient rehabilitation facilities, there was an 18% decrease in hospital-onset C. difficile infections and 8% decrease in CAUTI. For long-term acute care hospitals, there was a 23% decrease in ventilator-associated events and 15% decrease in hospital-onset C. difficile. Click here to view Illinois-specific information on the CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance & Patient Safety Portal webpage.

The report recommends providers continue reinforcing prevention practices, review HAI surveillance data to identify areas for improvement and address any gaps in prevention practices.

Illinois Joins WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network
Today, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the State of Illinois is joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a coordinated international network dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks. A news release said that Illinois will now be directly connected to timely global alerts, expert public health networks, and international response capabilities essential to protecting Illinois residents from emerging disease threats. 

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated, worldwide partnership of hundreds of public health institutions, national governments, academic centers, laboratories, and response organizations focused on rapidly detecting and responding to emerging public health threats. The Illinois Dept. of Public Health said membership in this network strengthens Illinois’ preparedness for future pandemics and emerging threats and complements the state’s ongoing coordination with U.S. public health partners, fortifying response efforts at home while gaining access to global expertise and real-time outbreak intelligence.

OAG Partners with Amazon, ICADV on Ring Cameras for Domestic Violence Survivors
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul yesterday joined representatives from Amazon and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) to announce a collaboration with Ring, an Amazon company, to support domestic violence survivors with technology and safety tools. Through this partnership, ICADV has received and equally distributed 1,000 Ring X Line Devices with a basic protect subscription to domestic violence survivors across all 102 Illinois counties. 

HHS Announces Behavioral Health Program to Assist Homeless Individuals
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday announced a new behavioral health initiative to assist homeless individuals with substance use treatment and recovery. The Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports (STREETS) program will fund targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization and crisis intervention, with a focus on connecting Americans experiencing homelessness and addiction to stable housing with the intent of achieving long-term recovery and independence. The initiative is tied to an executive order issued by the administration last week on substance use.

A recently released report from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health found that persons experiencing homelessness face significant health challenges and are much more likely to face emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and premature death than the public at large. The full report can be found here, and the executive summary can be found here.