IHA Summit Addresses Financial Viability: 3 Key Sessions
An American Hospital Association
report in April called attention to a “perfect storm of rising costs, inadequate reimbursement, and certain corporate insurer practices” creating significant financial stress for hospitals and health systems. Then came the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, representing the largest cut in Medicaid spending in the program's 60-year history.
Three sessions the
2025 IHA Leadership Summit on Sept. 25-26 will offer insights and strategies to help hospitals and health systems respond effectively to current challenges and strengthen finances into the future. They are:
- “Thriving Amid Uncertainty: Strategic Pathways for Healthcare in the Years Ahead,” presented by Craig Deao, Managing Director with the consulting firm Huron;
- “Pivot, Partner, Perform: A Playbook for Hospital Leaders in Volatile Times,” a panel discussion led by Health Management Associates; and
- “Revenue Cycle Headwinds: The Impact of Payor Behavior Trends on Revenue Cycle Performance,” presented by experts with Kodiak Solutions.
The sessions will cover opportunities to adapt and grow while aligning short-term realities with long-term aspirations; sound financing strategies and contingency planning, and strategic partnerships with community-based and behavioral health organizations; and challenges payor behavior creates for revenue cycle leaders along with strategies to adapt to a changing environment.
Learn what else is in store at this year’s Summit, “Unity Amid Uncertainty,” on our
program webpage. Hear about the Summit from IHA President and CEO
A.J. Wilhelmi and IHA Board Chair
Shawn Vincent, President and CEO of Loyola Medicine, by watching their videos on IHA’s website. A
third video features Wilhelmi, Trina Casner, President and CEO of Pana Community Hospital, and Will Davis, Illinois Region President of Deaconess Illinois.
If you haven’t registered, plan to join your colleagues from across Illinois at IHA’s marquee membership event of the year.
Register today.
FTC Seeking Comment on Non-compete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released a
request for information (RFI) on non-compete agreements, saying it is seeking to “better understand the scope, prevalence, and effects of employer non-compete agreements, as well as to gather information to inform possible future enforcement actions.” The deadline to submit comments is Nov. 3 at 10:59 p.m. CT. Confidential submissions can be sent to
noncompete@ftc.gov while public comments can be submitted at
regulations.gov. Additional guidance can be found in the RFI.
Non-competes have been the subject of intense attention over the past year. Please see
IHA’s memo dated May 3, 2024, and the accompanying
Summary and Frequently Asked Questions document for full details about the final rule’s potential impact on IHA members. However, to summarize what has occurred:
- In April of 2024, the Biden Administration’s FTC issued a final rule to ban non-competes almost entirely. Even though the FTC does not have jurisdiction over non-profit entities, it indicated that it would analyze entities’ non-profit status to determine whether the ban should apply.
- Multiple lawsuits were filed challenging the FTC’s authority to issue this rule and in August 2024 a court challenge by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other businesses led to a ruling that the ban was an overreach of the FTC’s authority. As result of this case, the FTC’s rule was nationally enjoined while the case was appealed.
- Although the Biden Administration’s FTC appealed the decision, on Sept. 5, the Trump Administration’s FTC voluntarily dismissed its appeal, thereby abandoning the FTC’s rule banning all non-competes. However, state laws, including Illinois’ law, still exist.
- By issuing an RFI, the Trump Administration’s FTC is signaling that although it does desire to potentially curb the use of non-competes, it may seek to do so more narrowly than a total prohibition. Thus, it is seeking information as to what the parameters should be.
Notably, the RFI:
- Specifically calls out the use of non-competes in the healthcare sector and asks for information about whether such non-competes have affected wages, labor mobility, or availability, quality, or cost of healthcare services, as well as whether non-competes make hiring health providers more difficult or if any healthcare services in geographic areas have been substantially affected by non-compete agreements. This indicates that the Trump Administration’s FTC is taking a special interest in non-competes in the healthcare industry.
- The fact that the RFI provides a way for individuals to submit comments anonymously is also rather unique and could result in numerous employees who feel that they have been harmed by non-competes to submit anonymous comments.
IHA will work with the American Hospital Association to submit comments and encourages members to also submit public comments.
IDOI Releases 2026 Plan Year Rates for Get Covered Illinois Marketplace
The Illinois Dept. of Insurance (IDOI) has released
2026 Plan Year rates for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace. Similar to national trends impacting states across the country, IDOI said in a
press release that Illinois’ average rate increase is rising due to the federal budget bill, which will result in the loss of the federal enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) as well as a much higher rate of uninsured Illinoisans, thereby increasing the cost of care.
While health plan availability and rates vary based on where consumers live, the statewide weighted average rate increase for individual plans is 28.8% compared to last year. IDOI said these increases could be substantially reduced if Congress decides to extend the federal ePTCs, which have played a pivotal role in lowering costs and driving enrollment increases nationally. Preliminary estimates would place the average rate increase in Illinois at approximately 10 percentage points lower (18.5%) if ePTCs were reinstated, the Department said.
According to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 550,000 Illinoisans enrolled in Get Covered Illinois Marketplace plans since Nov. 1, 2024, and approximately 90% received ePTCs to help lower the cost of monthly premiums.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Karen Harris, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at 630-276-5548 or
kharris@team-iha.org.
Still Time to Apply for AHA’s 2026 Quest for Quality Prize
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is
accepting applications through tomorrow, Sept. 9, for the Quest for Quality Prize, an annual award that honors hospitals and health systems committed to leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health. Applicants should provide access to exceptional quality, safe, and patient- and family-centered care; partner with community organizations and agencies to improve the health status of their communities; and develop new and innovative models of care. One winner and up to two finalists will be presented awards at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit, July 12-14 in Denver. AHA is accepting applications now through Sept. 9. If you have questions, please email
questforquality@aha.org.
