IHA Daily Briefing: December 4

CMS to Launch Payment Model for Expansion of Technology-supported Care Access
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center has unveiled a forthcoming payment model designed to support providers who use technology-enabled care for Medicare beneficiaries with common chronic conditions. Called the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model, it will target conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, musculoskeletal pain, and depression. Under the model, participating providers will receive set payments to manage patients' eligible conditions, with the full payment amount contingent on meeting specific, measurable health outcomes. CMS plans to open applications for this voluntary 10-year initiative on Jan. 12, 2026, with submissions due by April 1, 2026, and the model slated to launch on July 1, 2026. A detailed FAQ document on the ACCESS Model is available here.

HNI Dec. 10: How Can Rural Healthcare in Illinois Persist?
Rural healthcare in Illinois faces new uncertainty. Along with the continued workforce shortages and decline of certain services, Medicaid revenue is set to plummet in the coming years. What does this mean for the future of care in Illinois' less populated regions? How might new federal funds for rural healthcare be used, and how can providers work together to stay financially solvent? What does the lack of specialty services like obstetrics mean for rural health outcomes?

Health News Illinois (HNI) has assembled a live, virtual panel on Dec. 10 at noon of experts to tackle these pressing questions and more. Click here to register.

Panelists:

• Tracy Warner, Executive Director, Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
• Molly Peters, Public Health Administrator, Greene County Health Department
• Kim Mitroka, President and CEO, Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation
• Dana Kelly, Chief of Staff, Department of Healthcare and Family Services
• Dr. John Flack, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and Population Science and Policy, SIU School of Medicine

IL SOS to Streamline Real ID Process in Response to TSA Penalty
The federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this week that beginning Feb. 1 the agency will give passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints for a 10-day travel period.

In response to the recent TSA announcement, the Illinois Secretary of State's office said it is taking action to further help Illinois residents get their REAL ID. Notably, the office has streamlined its REAL ID portal, realid.ilsos.gov, to assist residents quickly identify which documents they need, schedule an appointment and come prepared. A dedicated call center helpline (800-252-8980) is available to assist customers in confirming they have the necessary paperwork before they arrive.

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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a notification yesterday that Olympus has issued a letter informing affected customers that certain Single Use Ligating Devices have updated use instructions. Olympus received complaints of the ligation loop not releasing or detaching as expected during use, causing it to become unintentionally anchored in place. As of Oct. 1, 2025, Olympus has reported 113 serious injuries, and no deaths associated with this issue

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated, evidence-based guidelines for the treatment and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) of tularemia, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The recommendations reflect new data and highlight a treatment/PEP framework that designates fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin) and doxycycline as first-line options for outbreaks of any size, with additional guidance for vulnerable populations. These guidelines are intended to support clinicians, public health officials, and first responders in planning for and responding to tularemia cases and mass exposure events.

Leading the News

Hospital CEOs warn health care safety net will begin unraveling next year

Crain's Chicago Business

Four Chicago-area hospital leaders laid out their fears that worsening burdens stemming from massive federal funding cuts will severely fray the health care safety net at yesterday morning's Crain's Hospital CEO Breakfast. The panel included Michael Antoniades, president of UChicago Medicine's Ingalls Memorial Hospital; Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health; Dia Nichols, president of Advocate Health Care; and Sean O'Grady, president of acute and ambulatory operations for Endeavor Health.

Illinois streamlines REAL ID process ahead of TSA changes

WAND
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is making accommodations to help Illinois residents adjust to new ID guidelines being set by TSA next year.

BJC Health's next chapter: Where 2 leaders see integration benefits - and what's ahead

Becker's Hospital Review

St. Louis-based BJC Health is on a pivotal journey, marked by a major merger, ongoing integration efforts, a new enterprise name and the recent appointment of Nick Barto as president and CEO.