REGISTER: IHA State Legislative Reception Feb. 17 in Springfield
IHA’s annual State Legislative Reception will be held in Springfield on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Scheduled the evening before the Governor’s joint State of the State and Budget Address, the reception offers a valuable opportunity for hospital and health system leaders to connect directly with Illinois legislators and constitutional officers, and to highlight critical healthcare priorities at a pivotal point in the legislative calendar.

With the spring legislative session beginning in earnest, early engagement with elected officials helps build the relationships necessary to advance policies that support hospitals and health systems as they continue to transform healthcare delivery across Illinois. IHA’s State Legislative Reception provides a forum to meet with policymakers, strengthen existing relationships and deliver a unified message on key hospital priorities.

IHA’s State Legislative Reception will be held at Maldaner’s at 222 S. 6th Street in Springfield on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 5-8 p.m. CT. To RSVP, please click here.

A block of rooms has also been held at the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel for members on Tuesday night. Members can reserve a room under the block by clicking here. You can also call for reservations at 217-544-8800 x1 and ask for the IHA room block. The deadline to secure a room is Tuesday, Jan. 27. 

Staff contacts: Stacey Dunlap, Nichole Magalis

Medical Solutions: Addressing Behavioral Healthcare Staffing Shortages
Nurses, social workers and occupational therapists are essential parts of an interdisciplinary behavioral health team, providing emotional stabilization, discharge planning, and long-term recovery. As the need for behavioral healthcare grows, hospitals face challenges in recruiting and retaining enough skilled clinicians to handle higher behavioral health patient volumes.

A recent blog post from IHA Strategic Partner Medical Solutions identifies the critical functions of behavioral health nurses, social workers and occupational therapists, as well as the impact of inadequate behavioral healthcare staffing: longer patient wait times and lengths of stay, safety concerns, and clinician burnout.

“Filling these roles is no longer a matter of convenience. It is central to maintaining operational capacity and quality of care," according to the post, “Behavioral Health: Filling Critical Nursing and Allied Health Roles."

A healthcare workforce solutions company like Medical Solutions can help hospitals meet the behavioral healthcare needs of patients through immediate staffing support and long-term workforce planning resources. Medical Solutions can assist in filling critical roles and addressing underlying workforce pressures that contribute to ongoing vacancies.

Contact Jake Whitmore at 402-446-3799 or Jake.Whitmore@medicalsolutions.com to learn how Medical Solutions can strengthen your behavioral health team.

Staff contact: Gary Drain

Illinois Statehouse Update
Senate lawmakers returned to Springfield this week. As long-running Statehouse renovations near completion, senators are expected to select and move into their new office spaces in the coming days. As is typical for January, legislative activity remains limited but is expected to increase gradually as bill filings continue and legislative priorities begin to take shape. The Senate has announced it will cancel session on Thursday, Jan. 15, and will not reconvene until February. The House of Representatives is scheduled to return on Jan. 20, marking House legislators’ first session days of 2026.

Dietary Supplement Recalled Citing ‘Life-threatening Ingredient’
A dietary supplement intended to improve mental clarity and boost metabolism has been recalled after it was determined the supplement contains an ingredient that can cause “life-threatening events,” according to a Food and Drug Administration alert. Phoenix-based Modern Warrior is recalling all lots of its Modern Warrior Ready supplements due to the presence of undeclared ingredients, including tianeptine, 1,4-DMAA and aniracetam. 

The company announcement said that tianeptine can lead to suicidal ideation or behavior in children, adolescents, and adults aged 25 years and younger, and overdose can result in potentially life-threatening risks including confusion, seizures, drowsiness, dry mouth, and shortness of breath—all of which can be exacerbated by alcohol use. Use of 1,4-DMAA can elevate blood pressure and could lead to cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest. Products containing synephrine are reported to potentially result in cardiovascular effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, especially in the presence of caffeine.