BUILD ON OUR MOMENTUM — Join Hospital, Healthcare Leaders March 1 to Advance 340B
The momentum behind protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program is real—and growing. On Feb. 1, nearly 1,000 patients, healthcare providers, community leaders, and lawmakers from across Illinois came together in a powerful demonstration of support for 340B and for passage of HB 2371. The energy, turnout, and visible engagement sent a clear message to Springfield: Illinois communities depend on 340B, and they are paying attention.
Now, it is time to build on that momentum.
HB 2371—which passed the Senate unanimously—is now positioned for final action in the Illinois House. Advancing this legislation will depend, in large part, on lawmakers continuing to see strong, sustained, on-the-ground engagement from hospitals and the communities they serve.
To maintain that visibility, a second 340B ACTION Day has been planned for Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. at Chicago State University (9501 S. King Dr., Chicago). Click here to view the flyer.
While support for HB 2371 continues to grow, pharmaceutical manufacturers remain engaged in an aggressive and well-funded campaign to misrepresent the program and delay action. Their efforts are organized and persistent. Our response must be equally visible, unified, and sustained.
We strongly urge hospitals to actively mobilize staff, patients, community partners, and local legislators to attend on March 1. A strong and diverse turnout will reinforce an unmistakable message: Illinois hospitals and communities stand united behind HB 2371. Your leadership and engagement are critical to getting this legislation over the finish line.
Click here to learn more about how Illinois hospitals and FQHCs are caring for patients in underserved communities that benefit from the 340B program.
Staff contact: Jordan Powell
Crisis Standards of Care Plan: IHA, IDPH Educational Series
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and public safety systems across the country were forced to make high-stakes decisions in real time, often without a shared framework, consistent guidance, or clear triggers for action. These moments exposed gaps in coordination, communication, and decision-making authority across healthcare, public health, and emergency response systems.
In response, IHA in collaboration with the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) are pleased to share the release of the updated Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) Plan, formerly known as the Catastrophic Incident Response Plan. This update reflects a comprehensive review and modernization of the framework, incorporating key lessons learned, operational challenges, and system-wide considerations identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stakeholders are encouraged to review the updated CSC Plan and submit comments through Friday, Feb. 20 using the following link.
To support understanding of the updated CSC Plan and its practical application, two educational sessions will be held following the public comment period:
These educational sessions are designed to move CSC from a policy document to an operational reality, clarifying how decisions are made, who makes them, and how systems align when demand exceeds available resources.
Staff contact: Keneatha Johnson
IHA Seeking Hospital Mentor for Hypertension Grant Program
IHA is working on a grant initiative focused on team-based approaches for hypertension in clinics or outpatient practices. Additional evidence-based guidelines to address patients’ social services and support needs and improve the management and treatment of hypertension to current policies will be addressed. IHA is currently looking for one organization willing to share their process for hypertension treatment that would be willing to serve as a mentor as part of this program. For this work your organization would receive a $5,000 stipend.
This initiative would require four one-on-one meetings between the mentor and mentee. Meetings would be no longer than one hour, and all will be held virtually and scheduled based on the availability of the group. Some data reporting will be required. The project will run through the end of June 2026.
Funding for this project comes from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health 2304 grant, “Improving the Health of Illinoisans through Chronic Disease Prevention.”
Contact Abby Radcliffe, Senior Director, Small and Rural Hospital Constituency Section, for more information.
Boatwright Op-Ed Urges Direct Investment in Rural Healthcare
At a critical time for rural hospitals and clinics, how federal funding is allocated could determine their future. In a Feb. 18 op-ed in Becker’s Hospital Review, Damond W. Boatwright, President and CEO of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and the 2026 IHA Board Chair, called for federal Rural Health Transformation (RHT) funds to flow directly to rural healthcare providers. Citing the real-world consequences of limited access to timely care, he argues that rural hospitals and clinics must receive the bulk of the $50 billion investment to ensure sustainable access for patients and communities.
Boatwright outlined key priorities to strengthen rural health, including workforce development, enhanced primary care reimbursement, stabilization of rural hospitals, expanded EMS and broadband infrastructure, and greater accountability for managed care plans. He emphasized that rural hospitals serve as economic anchors and essential community hubs, and warned that without direct funding to frontline providers, the program’s transformative promise could fall short. The full op-ed can be read here.
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
