Illinois Health and Hospital Association
03/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/27/2026 14:01
IHA Daily Briefing: March 27
Medicaid Stakeholder Toolkit - Update Your Address Campaign
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services has launched a communication toolkit to help providers reach individuals enrolled in Medicaid and encourage them to update their contact information to prevent unnecessary loss of coverage. New federal requirements under H.R. 1 may require some adults enrolled in Medicaid to report work, school or training activities. While many individuals will be exempt, it is important that all individuals receive timely and accurate information, particularly those who are required to report qualifying activities. The toolkit includes a slide deck, flyer, and social media graphics available in both English and Spanish. Click here to access the Department's toolkit webpage.
State Legislative Update
The Illinois General Assembly has adjourned for the week, with the Senate concluding its business on Thursday and the House wrapping up Friday morning. This was the first time since Feb. 17 that both chambers were in session at the same time. Today is the deadline to pass substantive House bills out of House Committees, though it is anticipated that some deadline extensions will be granted. Both chambers have scheduled a one-week break next week. While the House is scheduled to return to session on Tuesday, April 7, the Senate is scheduled to be off for two weeks and will reconvene on Tuesday, April 14.
HHS and CMS Announce Healthcare Advisory Committee Members
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday announced the members of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body comprised of leaders from across the healthcare system to advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on ways to improve how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Members were selected through a competitive review process that drew more than 400 nominations nationwide. Click here to view the members selected to serve on the Healthcare Advisory Committee.
Rural Veterans and Access to Healthcare
The Rural Health Information Hub has provided an updated topic guide with an overview of healthcare services available to rural veterans and special health considerations for this population. It also shares information and resources for healthcare providers and other health professionals to help them connect rural veterans with needed healthcare services and offers suggestions for rural healthcare facilities looking to collaborate with VA health facilities.
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
Since becoming available in 2013, direct-acting antivirals have transformed the treatment of hepatitis C, leading to a cure in more than 95% of patients. However, according to a research letter published yesterday in JAMA, only about a third of people in the U.S. with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection receive treatment within a year of diagnosis-even though an estimated 2.5 million to 4 million people remain chronically infected and incident cases of HCV have increased during the last decade.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kresladi, the first gene therapy for the treatment of severe Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (LAD-I). According to the FDA, Kresladi is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with severe LAD-I, a rare, inherited immune deficiency caused by gene mutations that prevent white blood cells from effectively fighting infections.
Leading the News
Diabetes drug metformin affects the brain, study finds: Here's how
The Hill
For more than 60 years, doctors have prescribed metformin as a frontline treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Now, researchers say they've uncovered something that was hiding in plain sight: Part of the drug's power over blood sugar comes from the brain.
Memorial Health CSO: Healthcare strategy requires saying 'no'
Becker's Hospital Review
Among the many factors that will distinguish health systems in the coming years, deciding where and when to allocate resources ranks high on the list.
Advocate plans largest US hospital drone delivery network
Becker's Hospital Review
Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health will soon operate the largest hospital-based drone delivery network in the U.S.
Illinois Health and Hospital Association published this content on March 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 27, 2026 at 20:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]