Today, Gov. JB Pritzker, the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) announced $24.7 million in funding for 434 entities through the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program, an initiative to strengthen access to pharmacy services across Illinois. The program was designed to assist pharmacies around the state most at risk of closure or financial strain, particularly those serving rural areas, low-income communities, or populations with limited access to healthcare.
  
Every eligible pharmacy that applied received the same amount of $56,892 to ensure support for pharmacies that serve as essential healthcare access points in their communities, the announcement said. The 434 pharmacies receiving funding span almost all of Illinois’ 102 counties, underscoring the program’s broad statewide reach.

According to a news release, the program provides flexible funding to pharmacies to meet their individual needs, which includes supporting existing operations, as well as initiatives such as expanded pharmacy hours, telepharmacy services, remote consultations, and medication delivery to help residents overcome barriers to care. In addition, pharmacies will strengthen patient outreach and care coordination efforts, helping more Illinoisans access the medications, resources, and support they need to improve their health.

SAMHSA: $40 Million to Address Addiction, Child Trauma, Suicide, Mental Illness
On Thursday, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced $40 million in funding opportunities for eight grant programs that will advance the Trump Administration’s Great American Recovery Initiative by preventing addiction, strengthening the behavioral health workforce, and supporting efforts to address mental illness and prevent suicide.

The opportunities announced support communities addressing trauma, mental illness, substance use prevention, addiction treatment, and strengthening the behavioral health workforce. Additional details on the funding distribution can be found here.

According to SAMHSA, the national response to addiction is intended to create stronger coordination across government, the healthcare sector, faith communities, and the private sector in order to save lives, restore families, and strengthen our communities.

Grant Opportunity Announced for Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced a grant opportunity for the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program, which provides direct financial assistance to eligible rural hospitals facing structural payment disadvantages for the maintenance of healthcare providers, with the goal of maintaining essential healthcare services and preventing avoidable closures.  

Eligibility for this program is based on methodology outlined in a Federal Register Notice. Eligible rural hospitals must have no more than 50 acute care inpatient beds, an established Medicare wage index value below 0.90, and be located in an HRSA-designated rural area. A technical assistance webinar is available to learn more about the program and application process.  

Visit these webpages, Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals and HRSA Grants, for important information on pre-application requirements and guidance on submitting a well-thought-out application. The application deadline is July 27. 

IDPH FAST PHACT Webinar: Public Health Role and Resources for Infant Health
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) has announced a series of clinician-directed interactive info sessions in an office hours format targeted toward raising timely awareness of emerging and high-impact public health issues that directly involve clinical care or health system considerations. 

The FAST PHACT (Public Health Allied Clinician Talks) webinar titled, “Healthy Babies, Healthy Communities: The Public Health Role and Resources for Infant Health” will be held on June 18, from noon-1 p.m. CT. 

The webinar will cover the following topics: 

• Public health programs that support infant health.

• Conditions for newborn screening, including at least one screen that is not tested for by blood.

• The role of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQC) in improving infant health and Illinois PQC initiatives for infant health.

All healthcare professionals are invited to participate. Up to one credit hour of Continuing Medical Education credit is available with live webinar attendance and completion of the post-webinar survey and quiz. To register and for a listing of upcoming webinars, click here.

The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.

Briefly Noted

Leading the News

Illinois will lose 67,000 jobs due to federal healthcare cuts, report predicts
Chicago Business Journal 
The so-called $50 billion windfall for rural healthcare passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be eclipsed by deep cuts in other parts of the bill, along with losses to ACA enrollment, according to a 50-state analysis by the Commonwealth Fund. Illinois, the report said, will see job losses as a result of the combined economic impacts in 2026, when cuts started going into effect, and in 2029, when cuts will be fully implemented.

Nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Hold 1-Day Strike to Protest Firings, ‘Retaliation’ for Union Organizing
WTTW
Nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital rallied outside the hospital Thursday in a planned one-day strike after they allege nurses were fired by management in retaliation for trying to form a union. About 200 nurses and supporters gathered in front of Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital at 2233 W. Division St. with picket signs and demands that management reinstate six nurses who allege they were illegally fired last month amid union organizing efforts.

10K Illinois noncitizens to lose Medicaid coverage due to federal changes
NPR Illinois
A bill that will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will officially remove an estimated 10,000 people from the state’s Medicaid program, leaving them without any form of health coverage. That group is made up mainly of people who are not U.S. citizens but who are in the country legally, according to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. That includes refugees and asylum-seekers, many of whom came to the United States with pre-existing health conditions.