Dear CON Family,

Happy New Year’s!!! Slowly, daylight is lasting longer, and I wish I could say that the weather is getting better…but this is Illinois, and if we wait five minutes, it will change again.  I find myself excited about new opportunities and the healthcare industry going into 2026. I have great hopes about Illinois’ health care industry, especially having seen all the great projects providers presented in 2025.  I have no doubt that, in 2026, Illinois healthcare providers will continue to put forth projects that will provide quality, cost-effective healthcare to Illinois residents, despite the concerns about the changing regulatory landscape (which sometimes feel like they change on a daily basis!).

As all of you know better than I, the only constant is change. If we do not change, we cannot evolve. We must be resilient in the adapting to change. The question is what direction do we change? I prefer to exchange the word “change” with “grow”. Positive change implies education and prudent action. I have studied Illinois Healthcare for many years now, through 9-11, recessions, several changes in reimbursements, introduction of HMOs, and then the Affordable Care Act. We have lived through leadership that has been incredible and some that have had a harder time understanding the needs of communities. I was once told that the industry pauses, learns the parameters of what they must work within, and then it jumps back in. While that is how it appears, what I have learned is that planning can never stop. Striving for improvements needs to continue. In this, I, on behalf of HFSRB, want to be a resource. Even before becoming the Administrator, I was impressed by how the HFSRB staff has strived to be attentive without being overbearing or intrusive. 

This year, HFSRB and its staff is reviewing administrative rules to ensure consistency with the changes to the healthcare industry, including outpatient cardiac catheterization. We are also working on making statutory changes that will improve the Certificate of Need and the Certificate of Exemption process.

HFSRB members are a smart group of people. More importantly, they are genuinely invested in carrying out the objectives and purpose of the Planning Act. They take their responsibilities seriously and conscientiously It is clear that they are cognizant of balancing their regulatory oversight duties while fulfilling their responsibility to promote the orderly and economic development of health care facilities in the State that avoids “unnecessary” duplication. 

All responsible organizations self-reflect on whether they are doing their job. Are they doing that job in the best way possible, and if their role in the industry needs to adapt better to change. We have been examining that here as well. I am thankful for all those who have supported us and who believe in what we do. We can always improve, and please know that we strive for that. But we cannot do it without our partnership with the healthcare industry in Illinois. I welcome your thoughts and look forward to continued discussion on moving healthcare for all Illinoisans forward. Let’s plan together.

Sincerely yours,

John P. Kniery

PS, after drafting of this letter, I watched “Da Bears” fall in OT to the LA (formerly St. Louis) Rams. Good game, sad result…



Chairwoman Debra "Debi" Savage has served on the Health Facilities & Services Review Board since 2019, becoming the chair in December 2019. As an RN, Chairwoman Savage was inspired to join the HFSRB to make a positive difference, to keep health care costs down, ensure access to healthcare facilities, and provide quality care for all state citizens.

Her experience as a nurse and nurse leader for more than 36 years throughout many different health care facilities in and out of Illinois has shaped her work on the Board. Her experiences in both the business side, as a Chief Nursing Officer and Nursing Director, and in nursing education for the last 13 years now as a Dean at Rasmussen University, as well as on the personal and personnel side, living through closing a hospital OB unit, shape how Chairwoman Savage approaches all changes to healthcare organizations.



Debi is part of a police and military family and has found a new love in working out. She is an aunt to many, godmother to 2, loves heavy metal and hard rock music in addition to Jelly Roll. Debi loves to travel and was a traveling RN throughout the U.S. for many years, with west coast assignments being her favorite. Debi will be starting her on a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership in April, so between her full-time employment, HFSRB work, working out, and soon, doctoral work, Debi is very busy! 



Rulemaking Updates

COMING SOON: Interactive Hospital Profiles

WHAT DOES HFSRB STAFF NEED FOR AN ACCURATE

RS MEANS CALCULATION?

The calculation of a cost per gross square feet (GSF) quote in the RS Means database requires several forms of input data to arrive at a standard that best compares to your project. The list below is what Staff require to calculate the Cost per Gross Square Foot standard for construction/modernization projects. If any of these data are unavailable or not supplied, RS Means will use a default calculation, based on the known variables. 



They are:

1)     Zip Code: VERY Important. The five digit code is all that is needed.

2)     Building Type and Building Height: Number of levels/stories

3)     Wall/Framing Type: RS Means has 6 variations to choose from. They are:

• Brick Veneer/Reinforced Concrete
• Brisk Veneer/Rigid Steel
• E.I.F.S & Metal Studs/Rigid Steel
• Fiber Cement/Wood Frame
• Stone Veneer/Wood Frame
• Stucco & Concrete Block/Reinforced Concrete

4)     Area: The total amount of clinical Gross Square Feet dedicated to the project

5)     Building perimeter

6)     Number of Floors/Stories/Levels

7)     Story Height: The height from floor to ceiling

8)     Basement/sub-grade construction

• While some of the above-mentioned input data may not be immediately available, the system still provides accurate standards using default data. If unavailable, the Applicant party is welcome to furnish more accurate data at a later date. However, this calculation must be determined complete no later than 60 days prior to the scheduled meeting date for the project.  

For information on the deadlines associated with pending projects, please make sure to check out the "Project Search" tab on the HFSRB website by clicking here



Access information about the Certificate of Need process and Application materials by clicking here