Rural Health Transformation Program – Performance Period Delay
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has delayed the anticipated year one performance period Hospital Transformation Planning Grants under the federal Rural Health Transformation Program until at least Aug. 1, 2026. Please note that due to this delay, only grant activities that begin on or after the start date specified in a fully signed and executed grant agreement are eligible for reimbursement. Any expenses incurred before then will NOT be reimbursable.

Hospitals that submitted a planning grant application should have received a message from HFS requesting confirmation of the provider ID number listed in the hospital planning methodology for the application ID associated with their submitted application. The Department is requesting hospitals submit this information no later than tomorrow, July 9, 2026. 

Questions regarding this delay may be submitted to HFS by clicking here. 

Staff contact: Elizabeth Nelson

2026 IHA Leadership Summit: What You Need to Know
IHA Leadership Summit is your opportunity to hear from top thought leaders in Illinois and across the country, network with peers throughout the state, and walk away with new ideas and approaches to common challenges. Here are the essential details.

Dates, location and hotel: The Summit will be on Oct. 1-2 in Oak Brook. Reduced hotel rates are available at the conference venue, Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center, through Aug. 31. The Hilton Oak Brook Hills is a tucked-away hotel with several amenities.

Theme, sessions and presenters: Designed to address today’s top healthcare challenges, the Summit will center on “Navigating Disruption Together,” which highlights the importance of collective advocacy alongside individual hospital and health system efforts. Sessions include:

• “The Choice Ahead: Own Your Future or Be Disrupted by It,” by Scott Anthony of Dartmouth College and Craig Deao of Huron;
• “Public Perception and the Importance of Telling Your Hospital’s Story” by Michael Hildebrand with Jarrard Inc.; and
• Member Innovation Showcase breakout sessions addressing workplace violence, behavioral health, underserved populations, and Medicaid changes ahead.

The Summit experience: The best way to attend is with your team. We’re offering reduced registration through Sept. 17 and reduced fees for each additional registrant employed by the same hospital or health system corporate office. Register today.

Staff contact: David Strickland

Webinar: Introduction to Lived Experience Integration, Patient Partnership
The Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative and MoMMAs Voices are hosting a webinar tomorrow, July 9, from noon-1:30 p.m. CT focused on how meaningful patient engagement can transform maternal health quality improvement efforts. 

The complimentary introductory webinar will explore the foundations of patient partnership, communication best practices, project readiness, and practical ways to integrate lived experience into healthcare improvement work. Click here to register.

Following the webinar, interested participants will have the option to enroll in the four-week Lived Experience Integration® training program, which will take place on Aug. 13, 20, 27 and Sept. 3 from noon-1 p.m. CT. This training will offer guidance on how to effectively build a culture of patient engagement and integrate patients with lived experience into quality improvement work. Click here to fill out a form to indicate your hospital team’s interest in participating. 

Participation in the webinar or four-week course can support completion of the 2026 Birth Quality Designation patient partner engagement criteria. Questions can be directed to info@ilpqc.org.

Mayor Johnson Appoints Dr. Garth Walker Commissioner of CDPH
Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointment of Dr. Garth Walker as Commissioner of the Chicago Dept. of Public Health (CDPH). A board-certified emergency physician, healthcare executive, and nationally recognized public health leader, Dr. Walker brings broad experience across government, healthcare, academic, and nonprofit sectors advancing health equity, strengthening public health efforts, and expanding access to quality care.

IHA congratulates Dr. Walker on his appointment and looks forward to continuing its longstanding partnership with CDPH. For more than two decades, IHA has worked closely with CDPH through the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to strengthen healthcare emergency preparedness across the Chicago region. As the administrator and fiduciary agent for the Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response (CHSCPR), IHA collaborates with CDPH and regional healthcare partners to enhance readiness, coordination, and response capabilities. More information about HPP and CHSCPR is available at chscpr.org.