IAHA Lecture: Impact of Medicaid Funding Cuts on Illinois Communities
With the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” sweeping federal Medicaid reductions are now law—ushering in capped provider taxes, stricter work requirements and other funding limitations that are already reverberating through state programs. In Illinois, where Medicaid covers approximately 3.4 million residents—including 1.4 million children—these changes are expected to significantly disrupt financing of and access to essential healthcare services.

On Sept. 11 from 8:30-9:45 a.m. CT, the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys’ (IAHA) Quarterly Lecture will focus on the real-world consequences of deep cuts in federal Medicaid funding, featuring a distinguished panel of experts:

• Kate Mitchell, Clinical Professor of Law at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Director of the Health Justice Project
• Kathy Roe, Managing Attorney and Co-Founder of Health Law Consultancy
• Eva Stahl, Vice President of Public Policy and Program Management at Undue Medical Debt
• Kirsten Brueggemann, Moderator

Click here for more information about the panel, which will examine how these cuts are expected to affect local healthcare financing and delivery, particularly among safety-net providers like Federally Qualified Health Centers, and how they are expected to deepen existing health disparities in historically underserved communities. The panelists will also discuss what these federal Medicaid reductions mean for the future of healthcare policy and advocacy in Illinois.

Click here to register. The panel is free to IAHA members and $50 for non-members.

HHS Establishes Healthcare Advisory Committee
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the creation of a new Healthcare Advisory Committee—a group of experts charged with delivering strategic recommendations directly to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz with the intent of improving how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Click here for more information about the advisory committee, including information about the nomination process for advisory committee members.

AAP Issues Vaccine Guidance
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new vaccine guidance this week, strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccines for children between 6 months and 2 years of age. AAP also advises shots for older children determined to be in “risk groups,” such as those at high risk for severe COVID-19, residents of long-term care facilities or other congregate settings, those who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19, and those who have household contacts at high risk for severe COVID-19. AAP also updated its guidance for RSV, recommending infants younger than 8 months should get an RSV immunization unless protected because their parent was vaccinated during pregnancy. Children ages 8 to 19 months at high risk for severe illness should also get vaccinated. AAP recommends the annual flu vaccines for all children 6 months and older, unless there’s a medical reason not to get the shot.

Issue Brief: Understanding the AI Wave
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect—it is transforming healthcare delivery, diagnosis and clinical decision making. As AI becomes increasingly embedded across the care continuum, uncertainty about how to safely and effectively integrate AI tools is rising quickly. “Understanding the AI Wave: Foundational Knowledge for Improving Diagnosis and Beyond,” a new issue brief from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), demystifies core AI concepts and offers real-world examples to build foundational understanding.

Grounded in evidence and informed by lessons from other high-risk industries, this issue brief provides practical, actionable guidance for healthcare leaders, clinicians, and patients. This resource supports all stakeholders—whether they are making decisions about AI adoption, using AI tools in clinical practice, or seeking to understand AI’s role in care delivery—in navigating AI thoughtfully while safeguarding quality and safety, improving efficiency, and maintaining patient trust.