IHA HCS Offers Employee Compensation Benchmarking Data Including Physicians
A new partnership between IHA Human Capital Services (HCS) and Gallagher Surveys offers Illinois hospitals and health systems vital insights into physician compensation to aid in recruiting and retaining top talent. The 2026 Illinois Regional Healthcare Compensation & Benefits Survey, launching this month, will also include compensation information among hospital and health system management and non-management positions, as well as details on employee benefits.

With over 40 years in the field, Gallagher Surveys is a leading provider of compensation and benefits data in the United States. IHA HCS and Gallagher Surveys are committed to providing Illinois hospitals and health systems with valuable benchmarking data that helps identify best practices for recruitment, retention, compensation, and benefits. 

By participating in the survey your organization will receive:

• Aggregated compensation and benefits data for Illinois and the Midwest;

• Benchmarks for over 425 healthcare positions; and

• PDF reports, an Excel database and online custom-cut tool for tailored reports across multiple states.

Gallagher's survey tools allow you to analyze trends, compare pay practices, and make informed decisions quickly and confidently. All data is confidential and complies with U.S. Dept. of Justice guidelines.

Learn more about the survey, including what your organization will receive and how it works. To receive a participation agreement, contact Gary Drain, Assistant Vice President, Human Capital Performance, at gdrain@team-iha.org or 630-276-5566.

IDPH Affirms Illinois Childhood Immunization Recommendations
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) is affirming the childhood immunization recommendations issued in December by IDPH Dir. Sameer Vohra, MD, as part of the State Guidelines for Communicable Disease Prevention. IDPH said these guidelines are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Aug. 7, 2025 childhood immunization schedule and consistent with current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians. 

IDPH said, “Clinicians are recommended to promote and offer immunizations to all children according to these IDPH-adopted schedules. The recent announcement from the federal government regarding pediatric immunizations does not impact insurance coverage for immunizations included in the IDPH-adopted schedule. All immunizations recommended by IDPH continue to be covered by private insurance, Medicaid, and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.”

HHS, USDA Release Updated Dietary Guidelines
The U.S. Depts. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) yesterday released updated U.S. dietary guidelines, which emphasize: prioritizing protein in each meal; full-fat dairy with no added sugars; whole fruits and vegetables; healthy fats from foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados; and whole grains, while reducing refined carbohydrates and limiting highly processed foods, added sugars and artificial additives, among other recommendations. The guidelines provide tailored recommendations for infants and children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, older adults, individuals with chronic disease, vegetarians, and vegans.

CMS Form Released For Submitting Provider MA Plan Complaints
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an online form where providers can submit complaints regarding Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The form was announced in a Dec. 22, 2025 CMS memorandum. The American Hospital Association said that CMS subsequently stated that all provider complaints should be submitted using the form effective Jan. 5, 2026. The form accepts basic information about the complainant, beneficiary, provider, and Medicare Advantage plan, and it provides space for a complaint summary, with optional fields for dates of service and the claim number.