IHA Daily Briefing: May 12

Nurse Licensure Compact Is Focus of May 13 House Hearing
The Illinois House Health Care Licenses Committee has scheduled a "Subject Matter Only" hearing on the Nurse Licensure Compact for tomorrow, May 13, at 10 a.m. CT. A subject matter hearing is an opportunity for lawmakers to consider policy issues and accept testimony from proponents and opponents, without taking a vote on a specific piece of legislation. While no committee vote will be taken tomorrow on Nurse Licensure Compact legislation, it is important that the hospital community communicate their support of policies to advance the Nurse Licensure Compact in Illinois-particularly in light of the growing shortage of nurses in the healthcare workforce.

IHA has worked with member hospitals that will provide written and oral testimony in support of the Nurse Licensure Compact during tomorrow's hearing. We also encourage you to submit an electronic witness slip to the committee in support of the Nurse Licensure Compact by clicking here. When you fill out the form, be sure to select the "Proponent" option under the "Position" section and the "Record of Appearance Only" under the "Testimony" section. This will indicate to the committee that you do not intend to provide oral or written testimony.

You can listen to the House Health Care Licenses Committee tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT by clicking here and selecting "Committee Room D-1" under "Audio Only Feeds."

FDA Issues Most Serious Recall for Boston Scientific Pacemaker Devices
The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has issued a Class I recall notice for certain Boston Scientific ACCOLADE pacemakers and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers after identifying a software-related battery issue that could cause affected devices to enter Safety Mode and limit pacing functionality. The correction does not involve removing devices but requires clinicians to upgrade the pacemakers' software to reduce the risk of premature battery depletion and early device replacement. As of March 18, Boston Scientific reported four deaths and 2,557 serious injuries associated with this issue. Hospitals and clinicians are advised to review affected model and serial numbers, apply the software update during in-office visits, monitor patients per manufacturer guidance, and report adverse events through the FDA's MedWatch program.

HHS Launches Moms.Gov for New and Expecting Mothers
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched the Moms.gov website for new and expecting mothers. This resource offers guidance and information to support the health and well-being of mothers and their families. Moms.gov is intended to support expecting parents who are navigating difficult or unexpected pregnancies. It includes information about Federally Qualified Health Centers, nutritional guidance, mental health, and other resources to support maternal and infant health.

The launch comes days after the Food and Drug Administration issued guidance intended to improve the safety of approved drugs and biological products used during pregnancy. The guidance provides recommended approaches to evaluate the safety of drug products during pregnancy to assist clinicians and patients in making more informed treatment decisions.

IDFPR Launches Online Portal to Streamline Consumer Financial Complaints
The Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) yesterday announced the launch of a new online submission option designed to simplify and modernize the way Illinois consumers file complaints against financial institutions amid a federal step back in enforcement. The portal will accept complaints for both the Division of Banking (DOB) and the Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), creating a unified and more accessible process for residents across the state.

The launch comes amid a significant rise in consumer financial complaints nationwide and in Illinois. In 2025, Illinois consumers submitted 244,000 complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an increase of more than 120,000 from the previous year. Many of these complaints involve industries regulated by DOB and DFI, including debt collection, money transmitters, and mortgage originators.