Proposed Amendments to Hospital Licensing Requirements
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) has
proposed amendments to hospital licensing requirements, including three public acts that passed during the 104th General Assembly:
- PA 104-0046: Requires hospitals to provide each patient or their legal representative the opportunity to designate an emergency contact, and the opportunity to authorize the hospital to share protected health information with the patient’s emergency contact, following an inpatient admission. The hospital must notify that emergency contact of the patient’s death as soon as practicable and note attempts to contact the emergency contact in the patient’s record.
- PA 104-0181: Requires hospitals charging facility fees for outpatient services to develop a policy to inform patients of any facility fee that may be charged; provide information on the services and operating expenses generally covered by facility fees and the reason for charging a facility fee on the patient or patient’s health plan; and provide contact information for the patient to request more information.
- PA 104-0294: Requires hospitals to provide information on the early intervention program administered under the Illinois Dept. of Early Childhood Act to any parent or legal guardian whose child is admitted to the neonatal intensive care department. The hospital must also initiate written referrals to the early intervention program for all children admitted to the neonatal intensive care department prior to discharge should that child qualify for early intervention services.
These proposed amendments are on first notice. Interested parties may submit comments on these proposed amendments through Aug. 5, 2026. Written comments can be sent to:
Department of Public Health
Attention: Tracey Trigillo, Rules Coordinator
Lincoln Plaza
524 South 2nd Street, 6th Floor
Springfield, IL 62701
IDPH: All Children Across Illinois to Receive Blood Lead Testing
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH)
announced last week that universal childhood blood lead testing will take effect July 1, 2026. Through the Childhood Lead Program, IDPH will identify children who have been exposed to lead and who may need health interventions to address its effects. Previously, Illinois lead testing requirements applied to children living in “high-risk ZIP codes,” but under the new standard that takes effect on July 1, all Illinois children are to be tested automatically at 12 and 24 months. All children 6 years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure using a questionnaire administered by a healthcare provider. Under Illinois law, blood tests that come back with confirmed lead levels of more than 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) require a public health intervention, which includes a home inspection to determine the source of the lead contamination.
Illinois SNAP Payment Error Rate at Nearly 14.7%
The state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate was nearly 14.7% in federal fiscal year (FY) 2025, according to federal data
released last Wednesday. This is up 3.1 percentage points from the previous year. Under federal law, beginning in October 2027 states will be required to share in program costs if their SNAP payment error rates exceed 6%. The amount each state must contribute in the first year will be based on its error rate for either FY 2025 or 2026. However, states with error rates of at least 13.34%, which includes Illinois, will receive a delay in their cost-share requirements until at least FY 2029. State officials said the change could cost Illinois approximately $700 million, and the Illinois Dept. of Human Services said it is taking steps to bring the error rate down. This includes contracting with an external vendor to improve verification of applicants’ wages and salaries and to better monitor monthly income changes. The department is also working to clarify and simplify program rules to help recipients meet documentation requirements more easily.
HHS Announced New TEFCA Oversight Efforts, Growth in Records Exchanged
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)
announced last week new steps intended to enhance the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), the nationwide network that helps patients and healthcare providers securely share electronic health information. HHS said that the number of health records exchanged through TEFCA has grown from 10 million to more than 1 billion in less than one year. HHS said the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) awarded a new contract to strengthen oversight of the network and verify that participating TEFCA organizations are following required policies and procedures. ONC is also conducting additional reviews of Qualified Health Information Networks and their participants to help ensure compliance.
