Critical Access Hospitals Urge Lawmakers to Protect 340B Program
Yesterday, Critical Access Hospitals across Illinois sent a letter to members of the Illinois General Assembly urging support for Senate Bill 2385 and House Bill 3350, legislation introduced by the IHA and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) to protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program and preserve access to care for vulnerable patients in rural and underserved communities.

The letter highlighted for lawmakers how Critical Access Hospitals use 340B savings, including opening and staffing clinics tens of miles away from the main hospital campus. In the letter, Illinois Critical Access Hospitals highlighted their concerns about the harmful restrictions imposed by drug manufacturers that threaten hospitals’ ability to serve patients and the communities they care for. 

With the future of the 340B program increasingly at risk, IHA and the hospital community are advocating for passage of commonsense 340B legislation that will protect Illinois’ Critical Access Hospitals and other 340B providers from pharmaceutical industry-driven efforts to limit access to 340B medications, and ensure patients can continue to access lifesaving medications through their local pharmacies. Click here to visit IHA’s 340B resource page, featuring hospital stories that highlight the program’s vital role in ensuring patients have access to affordable medications and essential care. 

REGISTER: Free Webinar on Workforce Wellness Strategies May 19
Employees who are happier and healthier are more engaged in their work and connected to their workplace. With healthcare, where staffing shortages persist, workforce wellness can have a significant role in employee retention and satisfaction—and a positive impact on patient care.

IHA Strategic Partner Medical Solutions will lead a May 19 webinar on elevating workforce wellness. The complimentary program, “Workforce Wellness: Effective Approaches to Foster Well-being and Retention in Healthcare,” is designed for hospital association members in Illinois and other states.

From noon-1 p.m. CT, Medical Solutions Chief Nursing Office Patti Artley will present approaches that prioritize mental wellness and empower healthcare professionals to thrive. Artley, a former health system CNO, will also cover strategies to:

• Reduce burnout and promote wellness across healthcare teams;
• Foster a supportive work environment; and
• Utilize staff to the top of their license. 

Click here to register for the free webinar. Medical Solutions is a leading healthcare talent ecosystem provider and an IHA Strategic Partner since 2018. The company is also a Gold IHA Corporate Sponsor. See IHA’s Medical Solutions flyer.

Contact Tony Lehman at 402-295-3600 or tony.lehman@medicalsolutions.com to learn more about Medical Solutions.

Staff contact: Gary Drain

FBI 2024 Internet Crime Report: Growing Cyber Threat to Healthcare
The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report underscores the escalating threat of cybercrime, with serious implications for hospitals and the broader healthcare sector. Reported losses soared to $16.6 billion in 2024—a 33% increase from 2023—with cyber-enabled fraud accounting for 83% of that total. Ransomware and data breaches continue to target critical infrastructure, with more than 4,800 organizations—many in healthcare—reporting incidents that can disrupt care, compromise patient data, and jeopardize hospital operations. Ransomware complaints rose 9%, and 67 new variants were identified. Extortion-related crimes also surged by 59%.

Another recent report from global cyber security expert NCC Group, found that the healthcare sector is facing an alarming rise in cyber threats. The organization said that as a cornerstone of critical national infrastructure, the sector has become an attractive target for organized crime groups and nation-state actors. NCC Group said 550 attacks against healthcare sector targets were recorded in its ransomware database in 2024, up 21% from 454 in 2023, and 216% from 174 in 2022. Moreover, healthcare consistently ranks in the top five most-targeted sectors across 2022, 2023 and 2024. The group also noted that in 2024, RansomHub and LockBit 3.0 were responsible for the greatest share of attacks against the healthcare sector.

Both reports underscore the severe consequences these attacks have on patient care, from delayed operations due to ransomware and distributed denial of service attacks to breaches of confidential data that lead to fraud and identity theft.

ACOG Releases New Guidance on Prenatal Care Delivery
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued new guidance recommending a more personalized approach to prenatal care. Rather than the traditional model of 12 to 14 in-person visits—typically scheduled without regard to individual risk—the updated guidance supports tailoring visit frequency based on patients’ clinical and social needs. Key recommendations include screening for social drivers of health before 10 weeks of pregnancy, coordinating medical and community support for those with unmet social needs, and incorporating telehealth services when appropriate.