<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Illinois IGNN: Health/Human Services News</title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/news/</link><description>The Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) section is your online source for news from the State of Illinois. Choose from the IGNN Links on the right to locate press releases in the categories that are of interest to you, or use the search the news feature to locate specific press releases or a different topic of releases. For other media, access the Illinois Information Service (IIS) Radio page for digital radio feeds and news soundbites.</description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright &#169; 2009 State of Illinois</copyright><pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><ttl>2</ttl><webMaster>cms.rss@illinois.gov</webMaster><lastBuildDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:32:02 CST</lastBuildDate><image>  <title>IGNN</title>  <link>http://www.illinois.gov/news/</link>  <url>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/images/IGNN133x45.jpg</url>  <width>133</width>  <height>45</height>   </image><!-- Note: You can get the HTML version by replacing .xml to .htm --><item><title><![CDATA[2009 H1N1 Flu and the Holidays - State public health director offers holiday health tips to avoid the flu]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=19&#x26;RecNum=8054</link><description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD – Millions of people travel every year during the holiday season to spend time with friends and family.  With the 2009 H1N1 flu still circulating widely in Illinois and most of the country, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, is urging people to remember four things when traveling during the holiday season:]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">47E51E9D11CF800FF08674DBB68A48AB</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Governor Quinn Establishes Public Health Advocate During American Diabetes Month - Position Will Educate, Serve as a Strong Voice for Illinois Families]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=19&#x26;RecNum=8047</link><description><![CDATA[CHICAGO – November 21, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today signed an Executive Order to establish astate Public Health Advocate, who will champion wellness programs and help combat disease, including the rise of Diabetes and Asthma.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">6DAC4227F4C3D1F6619898D70F2F2B52</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Illinois Department of Insurance Encourages Medicare Recipients to Review Their Prescription Drug Plan Options During Open Enrollment - Seniors urged to avoid Medicare scams,protect personal information]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=19&#x26;RecNum=8053</link><description><![CDATA[CHICAGO -- The Illinois Department of Insurance is reminding seniors to review their Medicare prescription drug plans during the Medicare Part D open enrollment period to ensure they have the right coverage for their prescription drug needs.  Medicare open enrollment season runs this year from November 15th through December 31st.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">DFCCDB8B1CC7E4DAB6D33DB0FEF12B88</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Tap Federal Dollars for Medicaid Providers - New Law Helps Speed Payments to Illinois Hospitals]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=19&#x26;RecNum=8039</link><description><![CDATA[CHICAGO – November 20, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that allows the state to tap significant federal dollars and speed payments to thousands of Illinois-based hospitals. The new law will improve the financial health of the state’s hospitals, which treat thousands of patients and are major employers.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">0919B5C38396C3F0C41F1112D538E42C</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[State Public Health Director Announces Launch of Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care Web Site - Information to help make better decisions about health care providers]]></title><link>http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=19&#x26;RecNum=8035</link><description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD – In a move to provide more information to Illinoisans trying to decide where to receive medical care, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold today announced the launch of the Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care Web site.  The Hospital Report Card Act requires all Illinois hospitals to report nurse staffing, infection prevention measures and hospital acquired infections data to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).  The Consumer Guide to Health Care contains information from hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers about conditions and procedures demonstrating the widest variation in charges and quality of care.  The Web site will include inpatient and outpatient data with current comparison information related to volume of cases, average charges, mortality rates, complications and hospital associated infections.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">A2B8A85A29B2D64AD6F47275BF1360C6</guid></item></channel></rss>