Public Hearing Notice: Health Benefits for Immigrant Programs
The Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will hold a public hearing on May 9 at 11 a.m. CT to receive comments on proposed rules (
49 Illinois Register 3418) related to the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) Program and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) Programs. The proposed rules include the sunsetting of the HBIA program, effective July 1, 2025.
To access registration information for this hearing,
click here. To speak at the hearing email
HFS.Rules@illinois.gov by 5 p.m. CT on May 8 with the subject line “Request to Provide Public Comment during HBIA/S Meeting” and include your name, title, organization name, email address and contact number. To provide written comments instead, email them to
HFS.Rules@illinois.gov by 5 p.m. CT on May 8 with the subject line “Request to Provide Written Comment on HBIA/S Public Hearing.” For more information on this hearing,
click here.
Over $40 Million in Illinois School Mental Health Grants Cancelled
This week, the U.S. Dept. of Education cancelled approximately $1 billion in grants that 260 school districts across the country have been using to hire mental health professionals and provide similar supports and services. The grants were part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that followed the Uvalde, Texas school shooting in which a teen gunman killed 19 children, two adults and injured 17 others. The grants were intended to last for five years and be paid in annual installments. For Fiscal Year 2025, the Stronger Connections Grant would have funded $40,424,746 for local Illinois school mental health funding. The Trump administration shared that awardees have been notified of the grant cancellation.
Staff contact: Lia Daniels
May Recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month
Gov. JB Pritzker has proclaimed May Mental Health Awareness Month in Illinois. The Illinois Dept. of Human Services, Illinois Dept. of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative are
highlighting the important resources offered to residents and families across the state, including:
- 988 Lifeline: If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. For additional information and the 988 partner toolkit, click here.
- BEACON Children’s Behavioral Health Care Portal: For additional information about the centralized resource for connecting Illinois families with local providers and state-funded programs, visit beacon.illinois.gov. See IHA’s memo on how hospitals can use BEACON here.
Submit Your Innovative Antimicrobial Stewardship Project
Is your team working on an exciting and innovative antimicrobial stewardship project? You can share your project as part of the 2025 Illinois Summit on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Champaign.
Click here for more information about the poster session requirements.
The 2025 Illinois Summit on Antimicrobial Stewardship will take place July 10 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CT. Healthcare professionals—including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, quality directors, infection preventionists, and facility leadership across inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings—are encouraged to attend.
Event participants will learn more about the regulatory and national landscape for antimicrobial stewardship; national guidelines and best practices for implementing and evaluating facility antimicrobial stewardship programs; successful antimicrobial stewardship programs and lessons learned; and tools and resources for implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Click here for more information. Questions can be directed to
DPH.Antimicrobial.Stewardship@illinois.gov.
Clinician Update on Cases of H5N1 and Influenza A Virus Surveillance
Since 2022, 71 human cases of avian influenza A(H5) have been reported in the U.S.—most in 2024-2025. Many cases involved unprotected exposure to infected dairy cows or poultry. Given the ongoing risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says healthcare providers should stay alert to novel flu infections, especially with relevant exposure history. The CDC is hosting a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call on May 6 from 1-2 p.m. CT that will provide updates on the current status of human cases of influenza A(H5) in the U.S.; surveillance and monitoring efforts for influenza A virus infections; and guidance for clinicians and public health partners during the summer when seasonal flu activity is low.
Click here to join the webinar. Registration is not required.
If you are unable to attend the live session of this COCA Call, the fully closed-captioned video and written transcript will be available on the
COCA Call webpage approximately one week after the live session.
