Judge blocks $100k fee for H-1B visas imposed by Trump Administration
A federal judge on Monday blocked a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications imposed by the Trump administration, according to a news report by The Hill.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin agreed with a group of Democratic-led states, including Illinois, that the administration exceeded its authority, and the fee usurped Congress’s power to set immigration policy and taxes.

H-1B visas allow employers to hire international talent for specialty jobs, including physicians and other healthcare workers.

Last September, Trump signed a proclamation adding a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications. These fees are generally paid for by the sponsoring employer, and administration officials have cast it as an initiative to encourage companies to hire Americans instead. 

HFS Announces Contract Awards for Medicaid Managed Care Program
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has announced contract awards under the Medicaid Managed Care (HealthChoice Illinois) Request for Proposals. Six Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) in total have been given awards. All existing MCOs were awarded contracts. Statewide, those existing MCOs are Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Inc.; Blue Cross Community Health Plan; Meridian Health Plan of Illinois; and Molina Healthcare of Illinois. CountyCare Health Plan will continue to operate as an option for Cook County enrollees. In addition, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Inc. was also awarded a contract. The new contracts will be effective Jan. 1, 2027.

HHS Announces New Government Wide Acquisition Pathway for Modern Grants Management
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA), today announced the launch of the Grants Management Special Item Number (SIN) under the Grants Quality Service Management Office (QSMO).

According to a news release, Grants Management SIN is a new streamlined, government wide procurement vehicle for federal agencies to access pre vetted, modern commercial grants management solutions and services through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS).

Vendor solutions and services on the Grants Management SIN must meet Grants QSMO defined capabilities and adhere to government-wide grants data standards, the announcement said. 

The Grants Management SIN will also be available to eligible state, local, tribal and non governmental organizations through GSA’s Cooperative Purchasing Program, extending the benefits of standardized, high quality grants management solutions to critical grants mission delivery partners.

Applications for the Grants Management SIN are now open through GSA MAS. Vendors offering grants management solutions and services are encouraged to apply to gain access to a government wide customer base and position their offerings within a standardized, trusted procurement option for federal agencies. For more information on how to apply, visit gsa.gov.

THIS WEEK: Medical Solutions Webinar on Workforce Solutions June 10
A complimentary webinar from IHA Strategic Partner Medical Solutions will focus on strategies to strengthen staffing efficiency while addressing increasing patient needs and ongoing workforce pressures. This Wednesday’s session, from 11 a.m.-noon CT, will spotlight: 

• How flexible staffing models and float pools enhance operational agility and workforce stability;

• The role of technology in optimizing staffing decisions and improving clinician experience; and

• Strategic approaches for building future-ready workforce solutions that support sustainable care delivery.

There is no fee to attend. Click here to register for the June 10 webinar. See IHA’s flyer to learn more about Medical Solutions, a successful, long-term IHA Strategic Partner benefiting Illinois hospitals and health systems.

Staff contact: Gary Drain

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

New safeguards approved for Illinois hospitals’ adult guardianship cases
Chicago Tribune 
A bill aimed at strengthening protections for vulnerable adults under guardianship gained approval from Illinois lawmakers six months after a Tribune investigation revealed troubling consequences of area hospitals’ use of guardianship.

46 recent hospital, health system executive moves
Becker’s Hospital Review
Hospitals and health systems began 2026 with a flurry of executive moves. Since Jan. 1, Becker’s has tracked roughly 950 leadership changes.

Gov. Pritzker orders pause on new data center deals
WICS TV
Gov. JB Pritzker is directing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to pause processing new agreements under the state's Data Center Investment Program beginning July 1 as lawmakers continue debating how to regulate the rapidly growing industry.

Fearing more e-bike injuries, Illinois looks to become 10th state to mandate registration, insurance
SAN
E-bikes are quickly becoming a must-have for kids and teens across the country. Many of them can reach dangerous speeds, prompting Illinois and several other states to consider setting limits on the growing trend. Lawmakers passed a major legislative hurdle to require some devices to be registered and insured. State officials attributed the high-speed versions of the bikes to a growing number of serious injuries and fatalities.