Health News Illinois reported: Health insurers would be banned from using artificial intelligence for a billing practice where a procedure or service is billed at a lower level than what was actually provided under a new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The law, effective in 2028, outlines that a licensed physician must make all decisions related to downcoding, and insurers must notify providers if a service has been downcoded.

Insurers may not use downcoding in a “targeted or discriminatory” manner against those who routinely treat patients with complex health conditions.

A healthcare professional has 90 days to dispute a claim.

Other language says that downcoding does not include the practice of addressing instances where providers submit multiple codes for two or more services that must be included in one group per federal and state requirements.

A report released earlier this year by the Illinois State Medical Society found nearly three-quarters of the state’s physicians and healthcare professionals have experienced automatic downcoding of appropriately documented claims.

ISMS president Dr. Tripti Kataria praised lawmakers for the passage of the new law, saying the legislation will “protect the patient-physician relationship and ensure that clinical expertise — not a computer algorithm — dictates the level of care provided.”

“These new guardrails will help preserve the financial viability of our state's medical practices and secure continued access to quality healthcare for all Illinoisans,” she said.

Pritzker also signed off on legislation to have the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Board of Nursing oversee all Illinois nursing education programs, including new program creation, curriculum and simulation use in education.

It also brings new standards as a measurement for evaluations and approvals in nursing education programs and modifies the compliance process for monitoring programs and site visits.

“Ensuring patients receive top-notch medical care starts with provider education,” bill sponsor Sen. Javier Loera Cervantes said in a Friday statement. “Bringing Illinois’ nursing standards in line with other states will give nurses the proper training to work anywhere in the country – Illinois or any other state.”

The law takes effect in September.

Another new law, effective next year, will allow youths to access contraceptive services and supplies without the need for parental consent.

The proposal was a priority for reproductive health groups like Planned Parenthood of Illinois, which praised Pritzker for signing it into law.

“In Illinois, young people already have the right to access birth control, but the 50-year-old law that established this right no longer uses language that reflects modern medical standards,” said PPIL Action CEO Adrienne White-Faines. “We commend the Illinois General Assembly for trusting the medical community to set up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines that better meet the needs of young people today.”

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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced universal childhood blood lead testing will take effect July 1, 2026, the culmination of a years-long effort to expand the number of children who receive such testing. Through the Childhood Lead Program, IDPH identifies children who have been exposed to lead and who may need health interventions to address its effects.

“There is no safe level of lead in the blood,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Through our Childhood Lead Program, IDPH has identified thousands of children who have been exposed to lead, allowing for early intervention to address negative health effects and implementation of efforts to limit further exposure. With this move to universal childhood blood lead testing, IDPH is taking another step towards protecting the health and safety of Illinois’ youngest residents.”

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MEDPAGE TODAY reported: Chronic Kidney Disease Increasingly Driven By Diabetes | Key Takeaways | Chronic kidney disease prevalence held steady at around 14.8% over the last decade, despite treatment advances. 

This translated to an estimated 36 million affected U.S. adults, based on national health survey data. 

The prevalence of diabetes-related chronic kidney disease increased during the period spanning 2013-2014 to 2021-2023.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the U.S. was generally stable over the past decade, but the underlying diagnoses driving the condition changed over time, according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

During the 2013-2014 survey cycle, 14.5% of U.S. adults had CKD. That figure crept up slightly to 14.8% during the 2021-2023 cycle, corresponding to an estimated 36 million adults, reported Ashish Verma, MBBS, and Sophie Claudel, MD, both of the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointment of Dr. Garth Walker as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). A board-certified emergency physician, healthcare executive, and nationally recognized public health leader, Dr. Walker brings broad experience across government, healthcare, academic, and nonprofit sectors advancing health equity, strengthening public health efforts, and expanding access to quality care.

“Dr. Garth Walker has dedicated his career to ensuring every Chicagoan has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of the neighborhood they call home,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From leading public health efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to advancing innovative models of care and addressing the root causes of health disparities, Dr. Walker has demonstrated the leadership and commitment our city needs. I’m thrilled to continue our shared work building a healthier Chicago together by advancing health equity, expanding access to mental and behavioral health services, and investing in communities that have too often faced barriers to accessing the resources and services needed to live healthy lives.” 

As Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Walker will oversee the department’s operations, programs, and services, guiding efforts to promote health, prevent disease, reduce public health risks, and expand access to critical care. His leadership will support CDPH’s work with community partners and City agencies to advance data-driven solutions, strengthen neighborhood-based public health services, promote health equity, and address the evolving public health needs of Chicago residents.  

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July 15 - 12:00 PM CT - Live Webinar - Expanding Access to Doula Care and Improving Maternal Health Outcomes - Health News Illinois

Sponsored by Institute of Medicine of Chicago 

Doulas and other non-traditional maternal health providers play a critical role in improving birth outcomes and advancing maternal healthcare. Yet, access to these services remains limited for many families, contributing to persistent gaps in maternal health and unequal outcomes. In Illinois, the preterm birth rate was 10.4 percent in 2024, while the state’s infant mortality rate remains above the national average.

Health News Illinois is convening a panel of experts to discuss the ways to increase support for and integrate non-traditional maternal and reproductive health providers to address the state’s larger maternal health crisis.

Panelists:

• Dr. Marina Claudio, interim Chief Medical Officer, Molina Healthcare of Illinois
• Michelle Adeniyi, Director of Maternal and Child Health, Collective Impact, March of Dimes
• Christina Urbina, Executive Director of Women and Children's Health, Cook County Health
• Dr. Dona Perry, Medical Director, Health Care Service Corporation

More details and to register here>

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Public Health & Policy: It Has Wide Support and Costs Nothing. Can This Prior Auth Bill Pass Congress? MEDPAGE TODAY reports on the progress with the Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act.

"I still have hope," said Peggy Tighe, legislative counsel for the Regulatory Relief Coalition, a group of physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare, when she was asked about the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, which was approved last week by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.

The measure, which seeks more transparency and accountability from Medicare Advantage plans on their prior authorization decisions, must still be approved by the full Ways & Means and House Energy & Commerce committees before it hits the House floor for a vote.

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Infant mortality in the U.S. dropped to a new all-time low in 2025, according to preliminary government data as reported by MEDPAGE TODAY. 

Infant deaths dropped to about 19,350 last year

There were slightly fewer than 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, according to the CDC.

While that appears to be a small decline from about 5.5 in 2024 and 5.6 in the 2 years preceding, researchers say it is statistically meaningful and translates to hundreds of fewer infant deaths per year.

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A new state agency launched on Wednesday focused exclusively on early childhood programs and services, reported by Health News Illinois. 

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood will begin with 385 employees, including 340 from transferring agencies, and will assume the responsibility for administering over $4.3 billion in grants and direct services dedicated to supporting children and families across the state.

The agency will administer programs previously housed at the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Family Services. Those include child care services, home-visiting programs and early intervention services.

The department was legislatively created in 2024, with the stated goal of streamlining services, improving coordination and strengthening early learning systems statewide. Teresa Ramos was previously named secretary of the new agency.

“This launch reflects years of work to build a more connected and effective system for children, families, providers, and communities across the state,” she said in a Wednesday statement.

Along with existing services, officials said the agency will also implement several large-scale new initiatives, specifically those that address workforce and early childhood services.

“As a long-time supporter of early childhood education, today marks a major step forward for Illinois’ youngest learners and the professionals who support them,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.

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In 2023, adults younger than 65 with employer-sponsored insurance who received inpatient mental health treatment were most often treated for depressive disorders, while nearly three-fourths of substance use treatment stays were for alcohol-related disorders, according to a KFF  (https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/cost-and-utilization-of-inpatient-mental-health-and-substance-use-treatment/)  analysis. 

The analysis reviewed 2023 Merative MarketScan Commercial Databases and included adults ages 18 to 65 who were enrolled in commercial insurance for at least six months. Only diagnostic categories accounting for at least 1% of inpatient treatment episodes were included. 

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JAMA Network published an Original Investigation -Obstetrics and Gynecology:  Question  Does an electronic health record–enabled direct digital referral from prenatal care improve Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) enrollment compared with providing WIC information only?

Findings  In this randomized clinical trial of 240 pregnant participants, WIC enrollment was significantly higher among participants receiving direct digital referrals to WIC (78%) compared with those receiving written information (65%). WIC enrollment was also significantly higher with registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) referrals.

Meaning  These findings suggest that direct digital referrals from prenatal care to WIC and RDNs represent a scalable strategy to improve WIC enrollment and address health-related social needs during pregnancy.

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