Illinois Could Lose $46 Billion in Federal Medicaid Funding: A KFF analysis released this week found that Illinois could lose $46 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade due to the cuts advanced in the enacted reconciliation package passed earlier this month. The analysis used the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates, finding that Illinois was among the second most impacted states, along with Nevada and Oregon. CBO estimates that Illinois’ funding could potentially fall by 19% over the next ten years; Louisiana is projected to lose the largest percentage of funding at 20%.
Report: IL Could Lose $46 Billion in Federal Medicaid Funding
DHS Sessions: Strengthening the Workforce Through Peer Integration
TJC Approves New and Revised Obstetrical Services Requirements
Agencies Accelerate Efforts to Address Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods
COVID-19 Information
Briefly Noted
Leading the News
Report: IL Could Lose $46 Billion in Federal Medicaid Funding
A KFF analysis released this week found that Illinois could lose $46 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade due to the cuts advanced in the enacted reconciliation package passed earlier this month. The analysis used the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates, finding that Illinois was among the second most impacted states, along with Nevada and Oregon. CBO estimates that Illinois’ funding could potentially fall by 19% over the next ten years; Louisiana is projected to lose the largest percentage of funding at 20%.
However, the report emphasized the amount the state stands to lose will be predicated on how the state responds, noting, “This analysis does not predict how states will respond to federal policy changes, and anticipating how states will respond to Medicaid changes is a major source of uncertainty in CBO’s cost estimates.”
“States could make further Medicaid cuts, which would result in spending reductions greater than is estimated here and further reduce states’ Medicaid spending,” KFF said in its analysis. “Alternatively, states could increase their spending on Medicaid to mitigate the effects of federal cuts, which could result in spending reductions that are smaller.”
KFF said the CBO’s latest cost estimate shows the enacted reconciliation package would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $911 billion over the next ten years. The biggest source of savings stem from Medicaid work requirements, with additional savings achieved by limiting states’ ability to increase the state share of Medicaid revenues through provider taxes; restrictions on state-directed payments; and increasing barriers to Medicaid enrollment and renewals.
DHS Sessions: Strengthening the Workforce Through Peer Integration
The Illinois Dept. of Human Services (DHS) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is offering a Peer-Integration Series intended to equip behavioral health leaders with tools to help shift culture, align policy and practice, build strong partnerships, uphold fidelity to peer support principles, and integrate peer services across systems of care. The upcoming sessions include:
Shifting Culture & Policy, Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. CT Organizations can intentionally shift culture, policy, and practice to integrate and sustain peer recovery services. The session will examine policy changes that increase value, reduce stigma and enhance recovery centered practices. Click here to register.
Building Sustainable Partnerships, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. CT Effective peer support integration requires strong, sustainable partnerships across systems and service providers. This session will explore best practices for building and maintaining collaborative relationships that embrace mutual respect, shared goals, and long-term impact. Click here to register.
Supervision & Fidelity, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. CT Maintaining the fidelity of peer support roles is essential for their effectiveness and integrity. This session will focus on best practices for supervising peer recovery support workers, supporting core competencies and honoring core values. Click here to register.
Systems Integration of Peer RSS, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. CT
This capstone session will explore how to fully integrate peer recovery support services throughout the organization for a more holistic and recovery-centered system. Click hereto register.
TJC Approves New and Revised Obstetrical Services Requirements
The Joint Commission (TJC) has approved new and revised requirements for Critical Access Hospitals and hospitals that align with updated Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) related to obstetric care. The new and revised requirements address a CMS final rule published on Nov. 27, 2024. The final rule includes changes for emergency services and discharge planning CoPs and a new obstetrical services CoP. The new TJC requirements that align with the obstetrical services CoP will replace TJC’s maternal safety requirements, which were previously in Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services (PC) Standards PC.06.01.01 and PC.06.03.01 for hospitals.
Hospital leaders looking to strengthen compliance across key operational areas are encouraged to register for part two of IHA's Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conditions of Participation (CoP) webinar series. Led by healthcare policy expert Nancy M. Ruzicka, the session takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, covering essential topics including emergency preparedness, physical plant and environment standards, organizational structure, and the responsibilities of the governing body. This webinar is ideal for administrators, facility and compliance professionals, and other staff seeking practical guidance on foundational CoP standards. Registration is $195 per session for IHA members and nurse continuing education credit is available. Additional sessions in this series will be held Aug. 8, 15 and 22. Register today. Contact Bridget McCarte with questions.
Agencies Accelerate Efforts to Address Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods
This week, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and Food and Drug Administration said they are accelerating federal efforts to address concerns related to ultra-processed foods. The agencies announced a joint Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and data to help establish a federally recognized uniform definition for ultra-processed foods. Currently, there is no single authoritative definition for ultra-processed foods for the U.S. food supply. The Departments said a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods will allow for consistency in research and policy to pave the way for addressing health concerns associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Illinois COVID-19 Data
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) has a weekly Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard that is updated weekly on Friday. This report provides the public with the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data.
Click here to visit the IDPH COVID-19 resources webpage. IDPH will continue to report the weekly number of people with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals from emergency departments, deaths and vaccinations, with COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information also reported through the dashboard of the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System.
Briefly Noted
Edwards Lifesciences OptiSite Arterial Perfusion Cannula devices are being recalled due to incidents in which a 3mm to 4mm section of wire from the wire-reinforcement coil at the cannula tip was found to be exposed. The Food and Drug Administration said that some Femoral Arterial Cannula models are made of the same components as the OptiSite Arterial Perfusion Cannula models and, as a result, Edwards is calling for both products to be removed from wherever they are used or sold. As of May 20, 2025, Edwards Lifesciences has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with this issue.
Underscoring that more than 4,500 people in the U.S. die each year due to drowning, the Illinois State Fire Marshall (ISFM) this week encouraged the public to stay vigilant—especially with children who have access to pools. An estimated 6,700 children per year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for nonfatal drowning injuries related to pools or spas. ISFM also noted that mishandling pool chemicals, like chlorine, can cause serious injuries. Pool chemical injuries lead to about 4,500 U.S. emergency department visits each year, and over one-third of these preventable injuries are in children or teens.
Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare recently standardized radiology services across eight recently acquired hospitals in Illinois. When the purchase was finalized in March, Prime committed $250 million to facility upgrades, capital improvements, system upgrades and technology investments. Prime has deployed the RadPod platform to help “unify and optimize imaging workflows,” according to a July 1 news release.
Hospital leaders are familiar with emergency department boarding, but a different capacity challenge is growing in EDs as more people arrive needing not medical care, but a safe place to stay.
Prime Healthcare, the new owner of St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and seven other former Ascension Illinois hospitals, announced today that Barbara Martin was leaving her position as chief executive officer of the Joliet hospital and would be replaced by an interim CEO, effective immediately. Her replacement, Colleen Pawlik, has a deep background in nursing leadership at the former Ascension hospitals.
