ICHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – March, 2019
For the first quarter of 2019, ICHA’s Executive Director continued to meet individually with leadership and is responding to various challenges facing Catholic healthcare in Illinois and at the federal level. These challenges include efforts to legalize marijuana and pass less restrictive abortion laws.

For the final quarter of 2018, ICHA’s Executive Director continued to meet individually with leadership and preparing to respond to future challenges to Catholic healthcare in Illinois. These challenges include the possibility of efforts to legalize physician assisted suicide (PAS) and recreational marijuana, violence in our institutions and protections for legal and undocumented immigrants.

The third quarter of 2018 has been very quiet from a legislative perspective in both Washington and Springfield. ICHA’s Executive Director has been organizing ICHA’s Annual Meeting which is scheduled for Thursday, November 8th at the Union League Club Chicago. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is the role of the laity in Catholic healthcare. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Laurence O’Connell. Dr. O’Connell is Executive Director of the Ministry Leadership Center in Roseville, CA.

ICHA’s Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL.  We will begin with Mass at 7:30AM.  ICHA’s Business meeting which will have a presentation on the revised ERD Part VI will be held from 8:30-9:10AM; opening prayer is at 9:10AM followed by the keynote address at 9:15AM.  Our meeting will conclude with lunch at 1:00PM, which is optional. 

During the second quarter of 2018, ICHA’s Executive Director continued his travels throughout the state, meeting personally with Sponsors, Bishops, Board members and CEOs

For the first quarter of 2018, ICHA’s Executive Director continued to meet individually with leadership and is responding to various challenges facing Catholic healthcare in Illinois and at the federal level. These challenges include advocating for passage and funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Plans (SCHIP) and passage of the Conscience Protection Act.

For the final quarter of 2017, ICHA’s Executive Director continued to meet individually with leadership and preparing to respond to future challenges to Catholic healthcare in Illinois. These challenges include the possibility of efforts to legalize physician assisted suicide (PAS), continued funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and adequate funding for both Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The third quarter of 2017 has been very quiet from a legislative perspective in both Washington and Springfield. ICHA’s Executive Director has been organizing its inaugural meeting of physicians in conjunction with the HSHS and OSF Healthcare Systems. The Physicians Retreat will take place on October 27, 2017 at the Jump Education Center in Peoria, IL. The retreat presenter will be Myles Sheehan, SJ, MD. Continuing medical education (CME) credits will be provided by The Prairie Heart Institute.

During the second quarter of 2017, ICHA’s Executive Director continued to meet individually with leadership and is responding to various challenges facing Catholic healthcare in Illinois. ICHA and the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) were unsuccessful in defeating HB 40, which would allow for public funding of abortion for any reason and at any point in a pregnancy. Governor Rauner has said that he intends to veto the bill but the Senate has yet to send it to him for action.