IHA Daily Briefing: September 5

Maternal Health Legislation Enacted During 2025 Spring Session

The Spring 2025 legislative session resulted in several maternal health bills being passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. An IHA memo provides a summary of these laws, which include new requirements for hospitals that provide birthing and NICU care. These new Public Acts include:

P.A. 104-0009 - Hospital Policies for Medicaid Certified Doulas

P.A. 104-0071 - Prenatal Syphilis Testing Changes

P.A. 104-0294 - Early Intervention Program Notification

Information on additional legislation of interest to Illinois hospitals and health systems can be found in IHA's 2025 End of Session Report.

Staff contact: Lance Kovacs

Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Website

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a website with details of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program ahead of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) expected later in September. The RHT Program funding is $50 billion to be allocated to approved States over five fiscal years, with $10 billion of funding available each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2026 and ending in fiscal year 2030. In accordance with the authorizing statute, only the 50 U.S. States are eligible to receive an RHT Program award; the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories are not eligible. Application instructions to apply for RHT Program funding will be included in the NOFO and released on grants.gov by mid-September. Read the RHT Program overview to learn more.

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 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.

APPLY: Reproductive Health Security Grant

As healthcare organizations continue to seek resources to address workplace violence, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity to support organizations experiencing a security threat due to the provision of reproductive health services, including abortion. The Reproductive Health Security Grant provides funding to eligible reproductive healthcare facilities in Illinois that provide reproductive healthcare services, including abortion, and that are determined to be at a high risk of being targeted by unlawful activity, such as acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, harassment, etc. This grant is intended to increase security measures at clinics to help protect against these attacks. Click here for eligibility criteria, funding objectives, application procedures and additional information.