NEXT WEEK: IHA Small and Rural Webinars on AI – Session 1 Is April 10
Hospitals nationwide are expanding their use of artificial intelligence (AI) as its applications grow. IHA’s webinar series, “From Exploration to Execution: AI Implementation Strategies,” will cover AI adoption from rural perspective. The first session on Friday, April 10, “Foundations of AI in Rural Healthcare,” will look at how AI is currently used in small and rural hospitals, with real-world examples across clinical and operational workflows.

The noon-1 p.m. CT session will also address national trends in AI and implementation realities in rural settings. Expert presenter William “Marty” Martin of DePaul University will lead the webinar, highlighting:

• Examples from hospitals that have seen measurable outcomes;
• Common barriers including financial constraints and workforce resistance; and
• Practical guidance on baseline AI policies, patient consent considerations, initial governance structures, and organization-wide understanding of responsible AI use.

Subsequent webinars in the series are “Strategy, Governance and Vendors” on May 8 and “Implementation, Metrics and Sustainability” on June 5. The per webinar member fee is $195 for hospitals and $395 for health systems—which covers an unlimited number of connections. Sessions recordings will be available for 30 days after each session date. Register today.

Also for small and rural hospital leaders, you can now sign up for the 2026 IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting on June 18, “Redefining the Rural Hospital of Tomorrow.” See our registration website for more information and to register. Bring your team to Springfield for this IHA signature event.

Staff contact: Bridget McCarte

Hospital Price Transparency: Enforcement of 2026 Requirements Starts April 1
In the Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services added new Hospital Price Transparency requirements and will begin enforcement on April 1. Hospitals must update the machine-readable file posted on their website to include new allowed amount data elements (median, 10th percentile, 90th percentile, and count), their organizational National Provider Identifier, and an attestation from a senior official confirming the information is accurate and complete. Hospitals that do not comply may receive warning notices, be required to submit corrective action plans, or face civil monetary penalties that may be publicly reported. Click here to view an updated fact sheet with more information.

Organizations Release Reforms to Strengthen LTCHs
A group of hospital stakeholders, including the American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, National Association of Long Term Hospitals and Coalition of Long-Term Acute-Care Hospitals, yesterday announced the release of Long-term Acute Care Hospital Reform Policy Principles. The principles were designed to guide and inform Congress on ways to better support LTCHs and patients. The organizations said the principles address current challenges and offer solutions to strengthen LTCH care delivery, including ensuring access for certain high-acuity beneficiaries by expanding payment criteria; improving the accuracy of the LTCH prospective payment system; making a potential change to the 25-day average length of stay requirement; restructuring the LTCH outlier system; expanding rural access to LTCHs; and reining in harmful Medicare Advantage practices. 

SAMHSA Advisory: Closing Care Gaps in Behavioral Health Service Deserts
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released an advisory examining  innovative, community-driven solutions to close gaps in behavioral healthcare deserts. More than 60% of rural Americans live in designated behavioral health shortage areas. The advisory notes that healthcare deserts do not experience more behavioral health needs than other areas, but they are less able to adequately meet those needs due to workforce and services shortages. The advisory details how integrating additional community health workers and peer support specialists can enhance care. It also explains the strengths of both and includes strategies for recruitment and retention.

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

Eight Illinois companies make world’s most ethical list

The State Journal-Register

Eight Illinois-based businesses have secured a spot on the list of the most ethical companies globally. This year, 138 companies across 40 industries across 17 countries were rewarded with a spot on the list. The eight that were selected were ADM, Chicago, seven-time honoree in food and beverage; Allstate, Northbrook, 12-time honoree in property and casualty insurance; CME Group, Chicago, one-time honoree in financial services; Ferrara Candy Company, Chicago, one-time honoree in food and beverage; Ingredion, Westchester, 12-time honoree in food and beverage; JLL, Chicago, 19-time honoree in real estate; John Deere, Moline, 19-time honoree in industrial manufacturing; and W.W. Grainger Inc., Lake Forest, two-time honoree in retail.

Payers’ prior authorization denial rates go public: 5 notes

Becker’s Hospital Review

For the first time, payers must publicly post data on how often they deny prior authorization requests, how quickly they process them and how often denials are overturned on appeal. The first reports are due March 31 under a rule CMS finalized in 2024. 

Tim Egan: Safety net moonshot would not help Chicago’s community hospitals

Chicago Tribune

From bombing Iran and raiding Venezuela to ordering military-style enforcement actions in Chicago, Minneapolis and other Democratic cities, President Donald Trump has dominated the news cycle and our attention. While we have been distracted, we have been building up to an even deadlier consequence: the gutting of Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This policy will destroy the lives of the people I serve on the South Side of Chicago while preserving tax cuts for the wealthy.