House Human Service Cmt. Approves IHA Healthcare Workforce Bill 
This morning, the Illinois House Human Services Committee unanimously approved IHA’s legislation (SB 593) creating a statewide Healthcare Workforce Task Force charged with developing collaborative solutions to key healthcare workforce challenges—including staffing shortages, workplace violence and funding for the healthcare pipeline. The legislation now advances to the House floor for consideration by House legislators. If approved by the House, the bill will be sent to the Governor for final approval. Click here to access an IHA fact sheet on SB 593.

REMINDER: IHA, HFS’ First ACR Data Collection Webinar TOMORROW  
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has begun collecting average commercial rate (ACR) data from all Illinois hospitals. All hospitals participating in the Illinois Hospital Assessment Program (HAP) must submit this data to HFS no later than June 25, 2025. IHA and HFS will be hosting webinars explaining the ACR data collection project tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, from 11 a.m.-noon CT. If you are unable to attend, a second webinar has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, from noon-1 p.m. CT. All hospital Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and/or their designees are strongly encouraged to attend one of the following webinars. To register for these webinars, click here. To view an IHA memo with more background information on this project, click here. To view the ACR collection tool, click here.  

Staff contact: Elizabeth Nelson 

IMPORTANT: Ask Your State Senator to Vote ‘YES’ on 340B Legislation
The Illinois State Senate is expected to vote this week on IHA’s Illinois Patient Access to 340B Pharmacy Protection Act (SB 2385) to safeguard the 340B drug discount program. We urge you and your team to immediately contact your State Senators and ask them to support and vote “YES” on this critical legislation. Contact your Senate legislator TODAY and urge them to support and vote yes on IHA’s 340B protection legislation. Click here to access IHA’s digital messaging platform to send a pre-populated message directly to your State Senator to ask for their support of this legislation. Your engagement is essential to demonstrate strong support for this vital policy and help ensure its passage.

FDA to Limit COVID-19 Shot to People 65+, Those High Risk for Severe Illness
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will take a new approach to COVID-19 vaccinations, prioritizing those at highest risk for serious complications from the disease. According to an article published yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine, the new strategy recommends updated COVID-19 vaccines to those age 65 and older, and those older than six months who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness—including cancer, asthma, diabetes, pregnancy and certain mental health conditions. The article noted an estimated 100 million to 200 million Americans would have access to the vaccines under this model. The paper’s authors, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Vinay Prasad, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, also recommended randomized clinical trials be conducted to obtain evidence showing whether the vaccines are beneficial for low-risk individuals before full approval is granted.

Cucumber, Ice Cream Recalled Nationally, Including Illinois
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a multistate Salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 30 people and prompted the recall of cucumbers in 15 states, including Illinois. The FDA said that 26 illnesses have been reported, resulting in nine hospitalizations; no deaths have been reported associated with this outbreak. 

The FDA has also highlighted the recall of Blue Bunny and Halo Top ice cream products, due to concerns they may be contaminated with pieces of plastic. The ice cream was sent to 103 distribution centers across the country, including Illinois. The items have “Best If Used By” dates that range from March 2026 to October 2026. To date there have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall.