IHA Daily Briefing: May 6

May 11 Panel Explores 'Cost of Care: An Examination at Healthcare Affordability'
Healthcare costs in the U.S. have climbed sharply in recent decades, straining patients, employers and public budgets. Even as the nation spends nearly twice as much per person as other wealthy countries, Americans lag behind their peers on life expectancy and other key health measures. An in-person Health News Illinois panel on May 11 will break down what's driving healthcare costs and what's being done to address it. Click here to register.

Panelists include:

• State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet

• Dr. Alvia Siddiqi, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Health Care Service Corporation

• Peter Fotos, Deputy Vice President - State Advocacy, PhRMA

• Blake Evans, System Vice President of Revenue Cycle, Rush University Medical Center

• Dr. Thomas Shanley, President and CEO, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Celebrate National Nurses Week May 6-12

National Nurses Week honors the contributions and sacrifices that nurses have made and reminds us to thank the medical professionals who keep us healthy. It is celebrated between May 6 - 12, ending on the birthdate of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Nurses play a crucial role in the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and support of patients with illnesses. IHA would like to thank our members' nursing staff for their dedication to delivering patient care and acting as advocates and educators in their community.

The theme, "The Power of Nurses," celebrates the vital role of nurses worldwide and acknowledges the real-world challenges they confront each day. You can find related information and resources about the annual week of recognition by clicking here.

New Grants Aim to Reduce Firearm Violence Through Healthcare
Kaiser Permanente's Center for Gun Violence Research and Education is now accepting applications for its 2026 Spring Funding Opportunity, aimed at advancing evidence-based healthcare interventions that reduce firearm violence and suicide while supporting healing in impacted communities.

Funding is available in two categories. The Research Capacity Building category will support up to two projects, each receiving up to $100,000 over two years, to strengthen an organization's ability to conduct research on healthcare approaches to addressing firearm violence or suicide. The Pilot or Formative Healthcare Research category will also support up to two projects, each receiving up to $250,000 over two years, to expand or test evidence-informed clinical care models addressing firearm violence or suicide.

The opportunity is open to individual researchers employed by 501(c)(3) organizations, as well as institutions and organizations engaged in or planning to conduct research on firearm violence and suicide prevention. Applicants at all stages of the research continuum are encouraged to apply, with an emphasis on projects that meaningfully engage communities most affected by firearm violence.

Letters of Intent are due by 11 a.m. CT on June 5. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal, due Sept. 1. Click here to learn more and apply.

Agencies Release Guidance Supporting Careful Adoption of Agentic AI
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency joined other international and U.S. partners in releasing guidance for organizations on adopting agentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This guide, "Careful adoption of agentic AI services," says that because agentic AI systems are increasingly operating across critical infrastructure and support mission-critical capabilities, "it is crucial for defenders to implement security controls to protect national security and critical infrastructure from agentic AI-specific risks." The guide outlines key security challenges and risks associated with agentic AI, and provides actionable steps for designing, deploying, and operating these systems safely. It helps organizations align AI risk management with existing cybersecurity frameworks and strengthen oversight as agentic AI adoption grows.