UPDATE: Non-Citizen Healthcare Coverage Options
On Oct. 1, 2026, Medicaid eligibility was eliminated for many lawfully present immigrants, including refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking, among others. These individuals qualify for the standard Loss of Medicaid Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to apply for coverage on the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace. Non-citizens with income above 100% FPL can still access a Get Covered Illinois plan with premium tax credits for October, November, and December 2026. This SEP allows retroactive coverage. However, the system will not show the retroactive option on the consumer-facing website. Please direct these individuals to use this SEP and request retroactive coverage by calling the Get Covered Illinois Customer Assistance Center at 1-866-311-9111.
For additional support to noncitizens and other immigrants who need help navigating coverage options or access to care, hospitals can direct these individuals to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP) partners webpage.
Hospitals may continue to assist in applying for emergency Medicaid coverage for this population. Eligibility for Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS), coverage for kidney/renal disease, survivors of domestic violence, and Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV), is not changing. For more information on changes to Medicaid for noncitizens, please review an HFS provider notice from early Sept., as well as an HFS webinar recording, slide deck, communications toolkit, and flyer on these changes.
CMS Delegates Exclusion Authorities for Medicare, Medicaid
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday delegated the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) certain statutory authorities allowing for the exclusion of certain individuals and entities from federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. HHS made the announcement via a Federal Register notice, and it is effective immediately. CMS was granted similar authority to exclude and permanently ban providers as the HHS Office of Inspector General has following investigations.
The notice said, “As the agency directly responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid, CMS is uniquely positioned to investigate, identify, and develop the evidentiary basis underpinning permissive exclusion determinations. Formalizing this delegation aligns investigative and enforcement responsibilities within a single operating division, reducing redundancy and improving program integrity outcomes.”
FDA Launches the Rare Disease Framework Initiative
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced the Rare Disease Framework Initiative to reimagine the development of drugs and biologics for rare diseases. As outlined in a new white paper, the Initiative will develop an optimized, fit-for-purpose framework that reflects the realities of rare disease drug development by considering the nuances of each disease, patient needs, product type and the evidence that can be realistically generated in small patient populations.
NSA Recommends Adoption of Zero Trust Controls to Protect Essential Functions
The National Security Agency (NSA) has released guidance for critical infrastructure organizations recommending the adoption of high-impact “zero trust” strategies to improve cybersecurity for operational technology. For healthcare this includes tools that manage energy control, HVAC, life-safety systems, door access controls, physical security systems, alarms and medical gases. Zero trust is a security principle that assumes a compromise is possible or already present and continuously verifies users and devices. The guidance points to recent nation-state attacks, including the People’s Republic of China’s prepositioning of disruptive malware known as Volt Typhoon on critical infrastructure entities that healthcare depends on, such as energy. The guidance also provides information on threat actors’ use of artificial intelligence to enhance sophistication and severity of cyberattacks.
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
This year is the first that anxiety questions were added to the national survey.
Medline is recommending the removal of certain convenience kits containing recalled BD ChloraPrep applicators, which are prone to fungal contamination under certain environmental conditions. As of Aug. 17, Medline has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with this issue.
Leading the News
Data governance is a strategy issue, not an IT project, Deaconess Illinois CFO says
Becker’s Hospital Review
While many hospitals and health systems are zeroing in on expanding their use of AI, Jason Hinkle, CFO of Marion-based Deaconess Illinois, said some finance leaders are not focused enough on the work that determines whether these tools can succeed.
Hospital immediate jeopardy surveys by state: 5 years of CMS data
Becker’s Hospital Review
Surveyors found immediate jeopardy at U.S. hospitals in 1,346 surveys from 2021 through 2025, according to a Becker’s analysis of CMS data. An immediate jeopardy is the most serious finding a hospital can receive. It means a hospital’s failure to meet Medicare requirements has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a patient. A hospital that does not remove an immediate jeopardy can lose its Medicare participation in as little as 23 days.
9 best fruits to help reduce cancer risk
NBC 5
Think of fruit as part of your strategy to prevent cancer. Dr. Heather Zinkin, a radiation oncologist who treats all different types of cancers, says she’s passionate about using lifestyle to improve health and thwart cancer before a patient actually reaches her.
