General Assembly Approves IHA’s Healthcare Workforce Bill
Today, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously approved IHA’s legislation (SB 593) creating a statewide Healthcare Workforce Task Force. This marks a critical step toward advancing collaborative solutions to pressing workforce challenges—including staffing shortages, workplace violence, and investments in the healthcare workforce pipeline. With prior approval from the Illinois Senate, the bill now heads to the Governor for final consideration. Click here to access an IHA fact sheet on SB 593.

Ask House Lawmakers to Support and Vote ‘YES’ on 340B Legislation  
Your immediate action is needed to ensure the Illinois Patient Access to 340B Pharmacy Protection Act is called for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives. Representatives must hear directly from hospital leaders about the essential role the 340B program plays in ensuring access to life-saving medications and comprehensive care for vulnerable patients. Ask your Representative to communicate their support for HB 3350 to Speaker Welch. Your outreach is critical to protecting the future of the 340B program in Illinois. Contact your House legislator TODAY and urge them to support and say they will 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 House legislator to ask for their support of this legislation.

EMS Week 2025: Honoring and Thanking Our EMS Professionals
This National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, IHA is recognizing the dedication, contributions and sacrifice of Illinois’ EMS professionals who serve on the frontlines of our healthcare system. In 2024, more than 8.8 million 911 calls were placed in Illinois. For many patients the first person they see during a health emergency is an EMS professional, who begins critical, out-of-hospital care before they arrive in the emergency department. 

Each year, we celebrate EMTs, paramedics and other prehospital team members, who provide life-saving response, support and care for our communities. This EMS Week, May 19-25, we honor those who provide day-to-day services, and seek to increase awareness of the important role of EMS on medicine’s frontline.

Click here for resources to help you support your community’s EMS professionals as we applaud the value and accomplishments of the EMS providers who rise to the challenge every day to care for those in need. Click here to view an Illinois Dept. of Public Health infographic celebrating EMS Week.

REGISTER: IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting June 12
Hear from top speakers at the 2025 IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting in Springfield June 12, less than three weeks away. In the session, “Hot Topics in Rural Hospital Regulations and Reimbursement,” Martie Ross, JD—one of IHA’s top-rated presenters—will share updates rural hospitals need to know about Price Transparency, the No Surprises Act and rules on maternal health from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Oscar-winning broadcaster Andrew McCrea will deliver the keynote address, “Beyond the Hospital Walls: Building Trust and Transforming Communities,” and attorney Richelle Marting, JD, will present best practices to address reimbursement issues in “Uncovering How Medicare Advantage Plans Are Not Paying You – Finding Solutions.”

You’ll also benefit from a panel discussion on strategies to address behavioral health in rural communities and from IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi’s President’s Address. Watch a special video message from Wilhelmi about the meeting and a 44-second video to get excited for this IHA signature event. Register today.

Staff contact: Bridget McCarte

FBI Alert: Cyber Criminals Exploiting End-of-Life Routers
A recent FBI alert warns cyber actors are exploiting vulnerabilities in end-of-life routers. The FBI said that when a hardware device is end-of-life, the manufacturer no longer sells the product and is not actively supporting the hardware, which also means they are no longer releasing software updates or security patches for the device. As a result, routers dated 2010 or earlier likely no longer receive software updates issued by the manufacturer and could be compromised by cyber actors exploiting known vulnerabilities.

The FBI is aware that end-of-life routers have been breached by cyber actors using variants of TheMoon malware botnet. This malware allows cyber actors to install proxies on unsuspecting victim routers and conduct cybercrimes anonymously. The FBI alert provides more information on exploited vulnerabilities and TheMoon malware, and also provides tips to protect users against cyber threats.

White House Releases MAHA Commission Report 
The White House yesterday unveiled its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report, centered on the growing issue of chronic disease in children. The report outlines key findings from the MAHA Commission, addressing contributing factors such as poor nutrition driven by ultra-processed foods, exposure to environmental toxins, inadequate physical activity and increased “screen time,” chronic stress, and excessive medical intervention. It also presents a range of research recommendations and proposed next steps, including studies focused on nutrition, lifestyle-based interventions, and precision toxicology. A comprehensive policy strategy from the commission is expected in August.

This week, Nebraska became the first state to be granted a federal waiver banning the purchase of soda and energy drinks for those enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Other states have submitted similar waiver requests to ban certain foods and drinks, such as sugary drinks and candy, or to expand participants’ access to hot foods. Currently, SNAP benefits can be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” with alcohol, tobacco, hot foods and personal care products being the only current exceptions.