Community Health Workers Medicaid Reimbursement – Town Hall 
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is hosting a virtual town hall on Wednesday, May 27 from 1-2:00 p.m. CT regarding upcoming Medicaid reimbursement for Community Health Workers (CHWs). This town hall will provide an overview of the new benefit and address how providers can begin to prepare for this new reimbursement. The town hall is intended for organizations that plan to enroll as a Medicaid provider and receive reimbursement for services provided by certified CHWs. The intended audience is staff who will be responsible for business processes associated with Medicaid billing. To register for the town hall, click here. 

IDFPR Adds Two New Nursing Licenses to CORE System
The Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) yesterday announced two additional license types have been added to the state’s modernized regulatory platform, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment), as part of the ongoing transition from legacy systems to an integrated, online system. The Department said the update represents the first step of integrating nursing professions into the platform, one of Illinois’s largest professional groups and a vital part of the state’s public health infrastructure.  

IHA has actively collaborated with IDFPR as part of the ongoing transition to the new online licensing system. With this most current update, new applications for licensure of 131 professional types are now being accepted on CORE, and the Department said it will continue to provide updates throughout CORE’s implementation as additional nursing license types and other regulated professions come online. IDFPR said individuals whose professions are now available on CORE should utilize IDFPR’s new licensing system to apply for licensure.

Health Alert: Gross Contamination of IV Tubing Sets from ICU Medical
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) sent a Health Advisory to alert healthcare facilities about an ongoing investigation involving certain ICU Medical IV tubing sets that have shown visible contamination. As a precaution, facilities using ICU Medical IV infusion products are advised to inspect all infusion sets, particularly drip chambers, for any signs of visible contamination. 

If contamination is identified, discontinue use immediately, notify ICU Medical and IDPH, and submit a report through the Food and Drug Administration MedWatch program.

IPDH FAST PHACT SESSION: Future of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention May 21
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) continues to offer its “FAST PHACT” program, a series of clinician-directed interactive informational sessions targeted toward raising timely awareness of emerging and high-impact public health issues that directly involve clinical care or health system considerations. All healthcare professionals are invited to participate.  
 
The May 21 FAST PHACT session, “The Future of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Data, Lifestyle, and Community in Action,” will take place from noon-1 p.m. CT. Click here to register. 

Session learning objectives include:

• Incorporating nutritional guidance into clinical practice across the lifespan to reduce cardiovascular disease.    

• Describing how collaborations and partnerships in Illinois are addressing the social determinants of health to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes.

• Identifying the core components of the IDPH Better Together: Cardiovascular Health Learning Collaborative.

• Identifying the core components of the Live Healthy Chicago clinic intervention.

Up to one credit hour of Continuing Medical Education credit is available for those who attend the live webinar and complete a post-webinar survey and quiz.