HOSPITAL BRIEFING AUG. 3: IDPH on Proposed Changes to Perinatal, Maternal Levels of Care
CDC: Decline in Hospital Healthcare-Associated Infections
Draft Guidance for 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
CISA Alert: SharePoint Vulnerabilities Exploited by Cyber Threat Actors
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
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HOSPITAL BRIEFING AUG. 3: IDPH on Proposed Changes to Perinatal, Maternal Levels of Care The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) has made IHA aware that they are prepared to move forward with proposed regulations that would re-write the state’s Regionalized Perinatal Healthcare Code. This long-awaited announcement from IDPH will set forth proposed requirements for certification of hospitals both as a perinatal center and a maternal care center.
In advance of these proposals going through the rulemaking process, IDPH has agreed to host a webinar for hospitals on Monday, Aug. 3, from 12-1 p.m. CT. Registration for the webinar can be found here. During the presentation, IDPH will provide an overview of the new levels of care, and there will be an opportunity for hospitals to ask questions and provide feedback. Hospital teams not able to attend will be provided with a copy of IDPH’s slides. IDPH will be accepting pre-rulemaking comments from hospitals and other stakeholders on these rules through Aug. 13.
Since 2017, IDPH and the Perinatal Advisory Committee (PAC) have been working to revamp the way in which hospitals in Illinois are designated for the level of perinatal care they provide. The proposed changes to the regionalized perinatal code will result in hospitals having separate designations for perinatal and maternal levels.
CDC: Decline in Hospital Healthcare-Associated Infections A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine found that healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevalence in U.S. hospitals has decreased since 2015. The survey found that in 2023, approximately one in 38 patients had at least one HAI, while one in 31 patients in 2015 had at least one HAI. Patients in 2023 were also 27% less likely to have an HAI than patients in 2015. Pneumonia, surgical-site infection and gastrointestinal infection were found to be the most common HAIs, and 61% of all HAIs were not associated with devices, such as central lines and urinary catheters, or procedures. The survey also identified significant reductions in central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and Clostridioides difficile infections.
Draft Guidance for 2028 Medicare Drug Price Negotiations The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released draft guidance for the 2028 cycle of negotiations under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program. Policies related to incorporating drugs payable under Medicare Part B or covered under Part D are in the guidance. Also described are procedures that may apply to drug manufacturers, Part D plan sponsors, Medicare Advantage organizations, pharmacies, mail order services, and other Part D drug-dispensing entities, as well as hospitals, physicians, and other providers that furnish or administer drugs payable under Part B. The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. CMS is accepting comments on the draft guidance until Sept. 18.
CISA Alert: SharePoint Vulnerabilities Exploited by Cyber Threat Actors The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert warning that four Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities are being exploited by cyber threat actors to gain unauthorized access to on-premises SharePoint Server instances. The vulnerabilities affect all supported on-premises versions of SharePoint Server, including the Subscription Edition, 2019 and 2016. The threat actors establish remote code execution and deploy malware. CISA recommends organizations monitor SharePoint Servers closely for any signs of exploitation or unusual activity. CISA also noted that an additional vulnerability was found, but it is not yet known to have been exploited. Microsoft identified it as a potential risk if left unpatched. CISA urged organizations to apply the latest patches and security updates from Microsoft, among other recommendations.
Bolton Medical has issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall recommending that certain devices be removed from where they are used or sold, including the Relay Pro Thoracic Stent Graft System, N4: Non-Bare Stent Configuration 32mm and above. An issue has been identified that may result in delay of procedure or necessary surgical intervention that could result in patient death. As of April 23, Bolton Medical has reported three deaths associated with this issue, including one aortic perforation and two conversions to open surgery which resulted in patient deaths due to stroke.
Health system leaders are navigating one of the most turbulent stretches in recent memory, contending with funding cuts, workforce strain, affordability pressures, evolving payment models and the rapid rise of AI, all while trying to keep patients at the center of care.
Looming cuts to Medicaid will take a toll on patient care, and health systems are steeling their balance sheets for what happens after coverage ends. Nearly 10 million people are expected to lose Medicaid coverage as federal funding dries up and eligibility requirements become more stringent. Patients covered under the Affordable Care Act exchange programs also are giving up their coverage because of high premiums and expired enhancedsubsidies, leading to greater-than-expected losses for health systems.
