IHA Comments on FY 2026 IPPS Proposed Rule and Regulatory Burden RFI
Yesterday, IHA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. IHA encourage CMS to reconsider many of its payment methodologies, including the market basket update, disproportionate share payments, and the high-cost outlier amount for long-term care hospitals, as all of these updates will further exacerbate the financial strain IPPS hospital are currently experiencing and will continue to bear under the policies being discussed in Congress. IHA also commented on the removal of social drivers of health measures from the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, stating that while the current measures were administratively burdensome, the collection of this information is imperative to providing the most effective care for Illinoisans.

IHA also submitted comments in response to the request for information (RFI) on regulatory burden in the FY 2026 IPPS proposed rule. Comments on the IPPS proposed rule, as well as the RFI, are due Tuesday, June 10.

Staff contact: Cassie Yarbrough

Health News Illinois June 17 Legislative Recap Program
Health News Illinois is assembling a panel of experts for its annual recap of what the latest legislative session means for healthcare. On June 17, the panel will analyze the budget and highlight the significant healthcare bills sent to Gov. JB Pritzker. Click here to purchase tickets and access more information about the program.

Dave Gross, IHA Senior Vice President of Government Relations, will join the panel, which includes:

• Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), House Majority Leader
• Jud DeLoss, CEO, Illinois Association for Behavioral Health
• Garth Reynolds, Executive Director, Illinois Pharmacists Association

SAMHSA Publishes Guidance on Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a Dear Colleague Letter offering guidance on benzodiazepine (BZD) use in older adults. BZDs are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, but older adults face higher risks of adverse events from long-term use, including falls, cognitive decline, and drug interactions. The letter highlights the public health importance of reducing long-term BZD use among older adults and promotes patient-centered, evidence-informed strategies for evaluating ongoing BZD use.

CDC Releases Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide was responsible for over 48,000 deaths in 2021, which is approximately one suicide every 11 minutes. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new resource for planning suicide prevention campaigns. The playbook includes:

• Key Audience: Tools for identifying specific populations at higher risk and their networks of influence.
• Campaign Development: Steps to design effective strategies, craft meaningful messages and promote behavior change.
• Behavior Models: Insights into frameworks like the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory.
• Messaging Best Practices: Strategies to emphasize hope and resilience and use of culturally relevant language.
• Evaluation: Tools to measure campaign impact and improve future efforts.

Agencies Issue Advisory on Updated Tactics by Play Ransomware Group
The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Australian Cyber Security Centre released a June 4 advisory providing updated information on actions and tactics being used by the Play ransomware group. The group, which was among the most active cyberthreat groups in 2024, has impacted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure in North America, South America and Europe. The FBI is aware of about 900 victims allegedly exploited by the ransomware actors. 

The report highlights the group's evolving tactics. The group's double-layered extortion model and encryption of systems, as well as theft of data, pose a serious potential risk to hospitals and the delivery of healthcare.