Wilhelmi Joins Gov. Pritzker for Announcement of His ‘Day One Agenda’
Today, A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President and CEO, joined Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Senator Tammy Duckworth and other community leaders for the launch of the Governor’s “Fighting for Illinois: The Day One Agenda.” The Day One Agenda outlines policy priorities that Gov. Pritzker is calling on the newly elected U.S. Congress to act on to restore essential programs, services and funding that have been reduced or eliminated at the federal level. At the invitation of the Governor, Wilhelmi attended today’s Day One Agenda announcement at Columbus Park in Chicago.
“I applaud Gov. Pritzker for putting access to affordable, high-quality healthcare at the forefront of his agenda. Repealing the devastating Medicaid cuts enacted under H.R. 1 and restoring the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits are critical steps to protecting healthcare coverage for Illinois families and ensuring hospitals have the resources needed to care for their patients,” said Wilhelmi.
“Of particular importance will be reversing the harmful restrictions on state provider taxes, which are essential to financing Illinois’ Medicaid program. These restrictions threaten billions of dollars in healthcare funding, with potentially devastating consequences for Illinois hospitals and the patients who depend on them. Without action, hospitals will face difficult decisions about reducing services or even closing their doors entirely, threatening access to essential care—particularly in underserved communities. IHA urges Congress to protect this vital funding mechanism and ensure Illinois hospitals can continue meeting the healthcare needs of their patients and communities.”
Notably, the Day One Agenda promotes the repeal of the Medicaid and SNAP cuts enacted in H.R. 1 and calls for the restoration of ACA enhanced premium tax credits, among other healthcare and human services priorities targeting immigration processes, reproductive healthcare, and critical federal personnel and oversight functions. It also calls for action to bolster the education system, grow the economy, and enhance public safety, energy and infrastructure.
Next Week: IHA Compliance Webinar on Common Survey Citations Nov. 10
Hear from a former hospital surveyor about the most frequently cited findings among Illinois hospitals. For over 20 years, Nancy Ruzicka worked at the Iowa Dept. of Inspections and Appeals; she was also the Compliance and Integrity Officer at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
Ruzicka will bring her deep knowledge of state and federal rules, regulations, and interpretative guidelines to a Nov. 10 IHA webinar, “Preventing Frequently Cited Deficiencies in Illinois Hospitals,” from 1-2:30 p.m. CT. She’ll discuss top citations—pulled directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services database—why they occur, and what your hospital can do to prevent compliance gaps.
The Nov. 10 session is the final webinar in IHA’s fall compliance training. By attending, your team will gain practical strategies to address and prevent common deficiencies. You’ll also learn how to stay up to date with evolving regulations and guidelines.
The webinar recording will be shared with registrants. Nurse continuing education credit is available. Register today to bolster your hospital’s compliance program.
Staff contact: Bridget McCarte
IHA Preparedness Exercise: Over 110 Hospitals Take on New Digital Threat
Today’s IHA Emergency Preparedness Exercise simulated the highly plausible scenario of a cyberattack sweeping across the Midwest, disrupting communication networks and creating confusion among impacted health systems. The cyber group claiming responsibility in the scenario threatened to unleash artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake communications, even replicating employee voices, to sow doubt within hospitals. How would your organization respond?
As hospitals remain a top target for cyberattacks, over 110 hospitals and health systems gathered virtually to take on cyber actors who weaponize AI for greater effect. Over the three-and-a-half-hour simulation, hospital and health system teams from across Illinois methodically worked through the evolving scenario, answering questions and having conversations that led to insights into their cyber planning, response, and resilience.
IHA Senior Vice President Tim Nuding noted the immense pressures facing hospitals and health systems in opening remarks. “To navigate workforce and financial hurdles, we increasingly turn to advanced tools to elevate patient care, streamline operational processes, and improve clinical quality. Yet, as artificial intelligence transforms healthcare for the better, it introduces complex new vulnerabilities. This is an environment to stress-test your continuity strategies and benchmark your resilience before lives are on the line.”
Keneatha Johnson, MPH, IHA Assistant Vice President of Safety and Emergency Preparedness, led the exercise with Stephen Weiler, IPEM, MEP, CPP, CPD, Manager of Resiliency Services at Tarian. Representatives from several governmental agencies attended, including the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Illinois Dept. of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security, Cook County Dept. of Emergency Management and Regional Security, and Verizon.
Staff contact: Keneatha Johnson
Federal Agencies Partner to Assess Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) yesterday announced plans to partner with the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs to assess U.S. pharmaceutical key starting materials (KSM). KSMs are used to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, or the components that give medicines their therapeutic effects. ASPR said the findings will help the federal government develop funding strategies to support the availability, quality and security of materials essential to a resilient pharmaceutical supply chain.
BIS is conducting a survey of U.S. manufacturers, chemical suppliers, distributors, procurers and customers. The survey will collect information on production capabilities, sourcing practices, customers, supply chain disruptions, workforce, and research and development. The findings will be compiled into a report on the state of the U.S. KSM industrial base, which will include recommendations on improving supply chain resilience and public health emergency preparedness.
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
Compact Medical has recalled certain lots of ButterflyBVM Single-Use Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) Resuscitators and has also issued updated use instructions for some of the products following reports a hole may form in the device resulting in inadequate ventilation and hypoxia. To date no serious injuries or deaths have been attributed to this issue.
Leading the News
St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee earns Healthgrades awards in two specialties
Shaw Local
St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee has received 2027 Specialty Excellence Awards from Healthgrades for gallbladder removal surgery and treatment of respiratory failure, the hospital announced.
Epic launch speeds records access at Lawrence County Memorial
WWBL
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital has switched to a new electronic health record. The Lawrenceville, Illinois hospital launched Epic October 18th. It puts patient information in one secure place and connects LCMH with Deaconess and other hospitals that use Epic.
Southern Illinois hospitals to receive more than $32 million in federal funding
Fox 23 News
Southern Illinois hospitals will receive more than $32 million in federal funding to reimburse expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. Rep. Mike Bost.
