Informational Medicaid IMPACT Revalidations Town Hall Sept. 18
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is currently conducting IMPACT Medicaid provider revalidations. To assist providers with navigating the IMPACT enrollment system and answer questions, HFS is hosting monthly, virtual town hall meetings. IHA recommends hospitals participate in these town hall meetings if you have an upcoming revalidation. The next town hall is this Thursday, Sept. 18, from 3-3:45 p.m. CT. Click here to register or view the town hall meeting schedule.
 
IHA urges all providers to check their revalidation cycle due date and submit necessary information to complete their revalidation. To view the revalidation due dates of servicing providers affiliated with your hospitals, click here for step-by-step instructions. If you do not complete your revalidation, you will be disenrolled from IMPACT and providers can no longer bill for services provided to Illinois Medicaid enrollees, including those enrolled in managed care organizations.

HFS Releases RFP for Medicaid Managed Care Program Contracts

On Sept. 15, 2025, the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) released the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Medicaid managed care program contracts beginning Jan. 1, 2027. IHA is currently reviewing the RFP and will provide more information to members soon.

Staff contact: Lisa Lynn

Tax-Exempt Hospitals Provided $149 Billion in Community Benefits
The American Hospital Association (AHA) released a new report examining how tax-exempt hospitals financially benefit their communities. AHA found that in 2022, the most recent complete year of data available, tax-exempt hospitals provided $149 billion in total benefits to their communities. Almost half of that total, or about $65 billion, was spent on financial assistance for low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients. These totals are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule H form that nonprofit hospitals must submit to maintain their tax-exempt status, which also captures community benefit spending on community health improvement services, health professional education, medical research, and cash and in-kind contributions. These numbers are part of the total value hospitals provide to their communities. The total value is described in IRS descriptions of their community benefit programs as part of their filings, as well as in each hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment. 

In Illinois, nonprofit hospitals invested more than $8.5 billion in their communities, which represents just a portion of the nearly $118 billion hospitals infuse into the state’s economy each year in both direct and indirect spending. Illinois hospitals and health systems are essential to economic growth across the state, supporting working families and helping build more vibrant communities.

CMS Releases Rural Health Transformation Program Application Info.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday released application information for states seeking funding through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R 1). The program will fund $50 billion to rural providers, with $10 billion appropriated each year from Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 to FY 2030. CMS said the funds would support healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem through payments to healthcare providers; supporting recruitment and retention efforts in rural areas; supporting chronic disease management efforts; promoting technological innovation; supporting opioid use disorder treatment services; and developing projects that support value-based care arrangements, among other healthcare priorities.

CMS said half of the funds would be distributed evenly to states with an approved application, while the other half would be awarded to states based on individual state metrics and applications that “reflect the greatest potential for and scale of impact on the health of rural communities.” The deadline for states to apply is Nov. 5; there is only one application opportunity for this program. CMS will announce awardees by Dec. 31, 2025. Informational webinars on the program will be held Sept. 19 and Sept. 25 on the RHT website.

Last week, IHA leaders met with members of IHA’s Small and Rural Steering Committee and other small and rural leaders, to discuss the potential impact of the RHT Program. IHA will use feedback from this meeting as we continue to work with the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services’ (HFS) to inform what should be included in the state’s application to the federal government for RHT Program funds. The application must include a letter of support from the Governor and explain how stakeholders were consulted throughout the application development process.

State Pilot Program Brings Behavioral Health Support to Home
The Illinois Dept. of Human Services (DHS) is offering a pilot program to bring support directly into the home for children ages 11-17 with autism and other emotional or behavioral health needs. The In-Home Behavioral Support Program provides practical support for young people to build new skills, manage emotions and strengthen coping strategies.

This program, piloted through SpringHealth Behavioral Health and Trinity Services, is offered across more than 20 counties and can take place in person, by phone or through video sessions. Most participants will receive at least two hours of support each week. Services typically occur over about six months, but the length of time can vary depending on the needs of each family and the treatment plan developed.

Families can contact dhs.dbhr.beacon@illinois.gov to learn more and find out if they qualify. Additional information can be found here. 

CDC Issues Report on ‘Kissing Bug’ Disease
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an Emerging Infectious Diseases report raising awareness about the deadly “kissing bug” disease also known as Chagas. Chagas disease can cause severe fatigue in early stages, in addition to heart and digestive problems in the chronic stage. Blood-sucking insects called triatominae or “kissing bugs” that transmit the illness have been reported in 32 states. 

Researchers recommend in the report that Chagas disease should be classified as endemic in the United States, meaning it has a constant presence but is limited to a region, making its spread easier to predict. CDC said that establishing the disease as endemic “could improve surveillance, research and public health response.” There have been approximately 280,000 reported human cases of “kissing bug” disease in the U.S., but research found that due to low awareness of Chagas disease fewer than 1% are diagnosed and treated. More information about Changas disease can be found on the CDC’s website here and the Illinois Dept. of Public Health website here.