IHA Daily Briefing: February 4

President Signs Appropriations Package to End Partial Government Shutdown
President Donald Trump has signed a government funding bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148), that was approved by the House yesterday, ending the four-day partial shutdown. House lawmakers voted 217-214 to pass the government funding plan approved by the Senate Jan. 30. Twenty-one Republicans voted against the package, with 21 Democrats crossing party lines to support the package of five full-year appropriations bills with conferenced legislation for the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. A bipartisan health package was also included with retroactive extensions of key healthcare programs that expired on Jan. 20. The package also consists of a short-term continuing resolution to fund the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) until Feb. 13. If Congress fails to reach an agreement on these DHS appropriations, neither HHS program funding nor waivers will be impacted.

Proposed Rule Seeks to Strengthen Federal Oversight of Organ Procurement
On Jan. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that updates conditions of coverage for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), strengthening federal oversight of these organizations and increasing the number of viable organs that reach patients in need. A Feb. 4 IHA memo provides a detailed summary of the proposed rule. Proposed changes would remove barriers to terminating an underperforming OPO's contract and define conflicts of interest to increase accountability, clarify how to certify new OPOs, modify the designation and appeals processes for OPOs, and alter key definitions that define OPO practices, among other changes. CMS is seeking feedback from hospitals on ways current electronic notification requirements for hospitals could be leveraged to provide automated donor referrals, and any best practices hospitals may be able to share on leveraging technology for automated referrals for future OPO implementation.

The proposed changes seek to complement the Health Resources and Services Administration's ongoing modernization of the national organ transplant system. Given the significant operational changes proposed for OPOs and the potential impact on hospital organ donation and transplant processes, any feedback for incorporation into a potential IHA comment letter may be submitted to Lia Daniels at [email protected] by March 13. Comments may also be submitted here by March 31, 2026.

Staff contact: Lia Daniels

IDFPR Adds 16 Additional License Types to Licensing System
The Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced 16 additional license types have been added to the state's modernized regulatory platform, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment), as part of the ongoing transition from legacy systems to an integrated, online system. IDFPR said this current phase further advances CORE implementation, evolving beyond an online licensing portal to a 360-degree regulatory system that will integrate licensing, continuing education, inspections, compliance, and enforcement into a single record.

IHA has actively collaborated with IDFPR as part of the ongoing transition to the new online licensing system. To date, more than 115 new applications for licensure are now being accepted on CORE; the Department is prioritizing transition of healthcare licenses to the online system. IDFPR said individuals whose professions are now available on CORE should utilize IDFPR's new licensing system to apply for licensure.

IHA's Kovacs Reappointed to Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee
The Governor's Office recently announced IHA's Lance Kovacs will continue to serve as a member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee. Kovacs currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Health Policy and Regulation for IHA, leading on key regulatory issues impacting hospitals. The Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee (HBEAC) was established by the Illinois Dept. of Insurance to make recommendations about the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange, also known as the State-Based Marketplace (SBM). Members of the HBEAC make recommendations to the Marketplace Director about SBM operation.

Joint Commission, NQF Aligning Serious Reportable Events and Sentinel Events Lists
Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF) recently announced they are aligning Joint Commission's Sentinel Events (SE) List and NQF's recently updated Serious Reportable Events (SRE) List, to streamline safety event reporting and eliminate the need to maintain separate safety measurement frameworks. The intent is to reduce confusion and burden, while placing greater focus on improving patient safety. Joint Commission said it will adopt the updated SRE List as part of the SE List effective Jan. 1, 2027, to give healthcare organizations time to make the required changes. It will provide technical support to accredited organizations during the transition.

Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data