Trade Associations
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Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Medical Association Issues Commentary: Age-Friendly Heart Failure Care in the Nursing Home - Applying the 4Ms Framework to Guide Clinical Decision-Making
COLUMBIA, Maryland, May 5 -- Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association issued the following commentary on May 4, 2026, by Nestor Flores Buonomo, geriatric medicine fellow at Stony Brook University Hospital:
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Age-Friendly Heart Failure Care in the Nursing Home: Applying the 4Ms Framework to Guide Clinical Decision-Making
In a previous article, I described my journey discovering the complexities of heart failure management in nursing home residents. This is a population where guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) often collides with the realities of frailty, falls, cognitive impairment,
... Show Full Article
COLUMBIA, Maryland, May 5 -- Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association issued the following commentary on May 4, 2026, by Nestor Flores Buonomo, geriatric medicine fellow at Stony Brook University Hospital:
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Age-Friendly Heart Failure Care in the Nursing Home: Applying the 4Ms Framework to Guide Clinical Decision-Making
In a previous article, I described my journey discovering the complexities of heart failure management in nursing home residents. This is a population where guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) often collides with the realities of frailty, falls, cognitive impairment,and competing goals of care. Through a quality improvement project at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook, I found that among 78 residents with confirmed heart failure, not a single one was on all four pillars of GDMT. More striking, over half met at least one high-risk criterion that made aggressive medical therapy potentially dangerous.
This raised a fundamental question: How do we provide evidence-based heart failure care to frail elderly nursing home residents while honoring their individual goals and minimizing harm? The answer lies in reframing our approach through the 4Ms of Age-Friendly Health Systems: What Matters, Medications, Mentation, and Mobility. This framework, developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and The John A. Hartford Foundation, offers nursing home clinicians a structured yet flexible approach to optimizing heart failure care in our most vulnerable patients.
What Matters: The Foundation of Every Treatment Decision
Heart failure management in the nursing home must begin with a fundamental question: What does this resident want from their care? The 4Ms framework places "What Matters" at the center because it should guide every subsequent decision about medications, cognitive considerations, and mobility interventions.
In our QI project, we found that goals-of-care conversations were often absent or incomplete. Three of our 78 residents with heart failure were already in hospice, yet they remained on medications with time-to-benefit horizons that extended well beyond their prognosis. For nursing home residents, clinicians should routinely ask: "What matters most to you, living as long as possible, maintaining independence, or prioritizing comfort?" The answers will vary dramatically.
An 85-year-old veteran with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HfrEF) who remains cognitively intact and wants to attend his granddaughter's wedding in six months has different goals than a 92-year-old woman with advanced dementia whose family prioritizes comfort. Both deserve heart failure care, but the intensity, medication burden, and monitoring parameters should reflect their individual priorities. Document these conversations and revisit them regularly, particularly after hospitalizations or evidence of functional decline.
Medications: Balancing GDMT with Age-Friendly Prescribing
The four pillars of GDMT for HFrEF--RAAS inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or ARNIs), beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and SGLT2 inhibitors--have proven mortality benefits. However, our QI data revealed that only 27 of 78 residents were on beta-blockers, 17 on RAAS inhibitors, 14 on MRAs, and 14 on SGLT2 inhibitors. Why was there such low utilization?
The answer lies in the high-risk profile of our population. Twenty-five residents had fallen within the past year. Each additional medication increases fall risk by 7-10%. Nine had eGFR below 35 mL/min, limiting ACE inhibitor and MRA options. Nine had documented orthostatic hypotension, and four had prior hyperkalemia. These are not contraindications to treatment; they are invitations to practice Age-Friendly prescribing.
Age-friendly medication management in heart failure means:
* Start low, go slow: Titrate medications gradually with close monitoring of blood pressure, renal function, and potassium. These should ideally be monitored 5-7 days after initiation.
* Prioritize symptom control: Diuretics remain essential for volume management, but monitor closely for orthostatic hypotension and electrolyte disturbances.
* Consider time-to-benefit: Beta-blockers and RAAS inhibitors require 3-6 months to show mortality benefits. For residents with limited life expectancy, symptom management may take precedence.
* Embrace deprescribing: Review all other medications. Benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, and sedative-hypnotics compound fall risk and cognitive impairment.
* Leverage SGLT2 inhibitors thoughtfully: These agents show benefits across the heart failure spectrum and may have favorable side-effect profiles compared to older agents, but evaluate renal function first and monitor for volume depletion and genital mycotic infections.
Involve your clinical pharmacist, nursing staff, and physical therapist in regular medication reviews. Multidisciplinary collaboration in nursing home care is a strength.
Mentation: Addressing the Cognitive-Cardiac Connection
Dementia, delirium, and depression are inextricably linked to heart failure outcomes in nursing home residents. Cognitive impairment affects a substantial proportion of our population, and it fundamentally changes how we approach heart failure management.
Residents with dementia cannot reliably report symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, or dizziness. They may not recognize worsening edema or comply with fluid restrictions. Some cannot participate meaningfully in goals-of-care conversations without surrogate involvement. Our assessment of heart failure in these patients must rely more heavily on objective measures: daily weights, vital signs, pulse oximetry, urine sodium, and careful physical examination.
Delirium deserves special attention. Any change in mental status in a heart failure patient should prompt evaluation for both cardiac decompensation and medication-related causes. Beta-blockers can cause fatigue and cognitive slowing; diuretic-induced electrolyte disturbances can precipitate confusion; and overdiuresis leading to hypotension may manifest as altered mentation before other signs appear.
Depression, often underrecognized in nursing home residents, worsens heart failure outcomes and quality of life. Screen for depression routinely and address it--sometimes with medication, often with non-pharmacological interventions like increased social engagement and therapeutic activities.
Age-friendly mentation care in heart failure includes:
* Ensuring residents have access to glasses, hearing aids, and dentures to maximize cognitive function.
* Orienting residents to time, place, and situation each nursing shift.
* Minimizing sleep interruptions and avoiding high-risk medications that worsen cognition.
* Engaging family members and caregivers to identify subtle changes in baseline mental status.
Mobility: Moving Toward Function, Not Just Survival
Heart failure and functional decline create a vicious cycle. Dyspnea and fatigue limit activity; deconditioning worsens exercise tolerance; and progressive frailty increases fall risk and mortality. The 4Ms framework reminds us that our goal is not merely to prolong life but to help residents maintain function and do what matters to them.
Twenty-five of our 78 heart failure residents had fallen in the past year. Falls in this population can reflect the intersection of cardiac medications, orthostatic hypotension, muscle weakness, and environmental factors. Every fall increases the risk of hip fracture, subdural hematoma, and a cascade of further decline.
Age-friendly mobility care means:
* Conducting fall risk assessments using validated tools like the Timed Up & Go test.
* Engaging physical therapy early and often; beyond rehabilitation after an event, but for strength training, balance exercises, and gait optimization.
* Encouraging mobilization: Aim for ambulation three times daily and out of bed for meals when possible. Aim for specific daily step goals if possible.
* Reviewing medications that increase fall risk: Diuretics, beta-blockers, sedatives, and opioids all contribute. Can doses be reduced? Can timing be optimized?
* Removing tethers: Foley catheters, IV lines, and telemetry leads keep residents bed-bound. Remove them when no longer essential.
Set realistic, individualized mobility goals. For some residents, the goal is walking to the dining room; for others, it may be transferring safely from bed to chair. Both are meaningful.
Putting the 4Ms Together: A Framework for Clinical Practice
The power of the 4Ms lies in their integration. When assessing a nursing home resident with heart failure, ask:
* What Matters: What are this resident's goals? What would they want if their heart failure worsens? Who speaks for them if they cannot speak for themselves?
* Medications: Are they on appropriate GDMT given their goals, life expectancy, and risk profile? Are there medications that should be deprescribed? Is polypharmacy contributing to a prescribing cascade, falls, or cognitive decline?
* Mentation: How is their cognition? Are they showing signs of delirium or depression? Can they participate in their own care, or do we need enhanced staff monitoring?
* Mobility: What is their functional status? Are they at high risk for falls? What interventions can preserve or improve their mobility?
These four domains interact. A medication adjustment affects mobility through orthostatic hypotension. A fall affects mentation through fear of future falls and potential head injury. Cognitive decline affects what matters because it changes who makes decisions. By viewing heart failure through the 4Ms lens, we move beyond isolated medication titration toward a more holistic care approach.
Conclusion: From Guidelines to Individualization
Heart failure guidelines were developed for community-dwelling adults in clinical trials that largely excluded nursing home residents. Applying these guidelines without adaptation does our residents a disservice. The 4Ms framework provides a structure for individualizing care while remaining grounded in evidence.
As I continue my work in nursing home medicine, the 4Ms have become my clinical compass. They remind me that every resident is more than a diagnosis, every medication decision has ripple effects, and every treatment plan should honor not just the disease but the person living with it. This is what Age-Friendly heart failure care looks like in the nursing home: thoughtful, individualized, and centered on what matters most.
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Dr. Nestor Flores Buonomo is a geriatric medicine fellow at Stony Brook University Hospital.
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Original text here: https://paltmed.org/news-media/age-friendly-heart-failure-care-nursing-home-applying-4ms-framework-guide-clinical
[Category: Medical]
Military Officers Association: Protecting Servicemember Pay - Partial Shutdown Ends, But Next One Could Be Just Months Away
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news:
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Protecting Servicemember Pay: Partial Shutdown Ends, But Next One Could Be Just Months Away
By: Kevin Lilley
A bill funding the Coast Guard and much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became law April 30, ending the longest partial shutdown in U.S. government history and providing some financial certainty for Coast Guard members and their families until the close of the fiscal year.
While these members were paid throughout the 76-day funding lapse, they often entered pay periods not
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news:
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Protecting Servicemember Pay: Partial Shutdown Ends, But Next One Could Be Just Months Away
By: Kevin Lilley
A bill funding the Coast Guard and much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became law April 30, ending the longest partial shutdown in U.S. government history and providing some financial certainty for Coast Guard members and their families until the close of the fiscal year.
While these members were paid throughout the 76-day funding lapse, they often entered pay periods notknowing whether their next check would be issued. The service's top officer told CBS News just before the funding deal that existing funds would not cover May 15 checks. Other military members and families faced similar questions last year in the early days of the full federal shutdown.
While MOAA and other advocacy groups have made clear the preferred solution to these fiscal-cliff crises is a timely budget, history suggests otherwise: We're approaching the 30-year anniversary of the FY 1997 budget ... the last one Congress passed on time.
That's why MOAA supports the Shutdown Fairness Act, making it a key part of our spring advocacy campaign. The bill would ensure all servicemembers continue to receive timely pay throughout a lapse in federal funding.
Why It Matters
Those in uniform aren't furloughed when the money dries up - they continue to report to work, and while they would receive back pay for any missed checks, their bills don't stop just because all or part of the government shuts down. Financial challenges mount and may be made worse by shutdown-related service actions, such as PCS reimbursement delays or last-minute scheduling changes.
At minimum, these financial burdens distract currently serving members from their mission. But the long-term repercussions go far beyond a few paychecks - those in uniform who face regular pay uncertainty may be less likely to remain in service or to recommend the all-volunteer force to others.
Even with guaranteed pay, those in uniform will continue to face hardships connected to funding lapses. The DHS shutdown offered plenty of examples: Coast Guard members dealt with power and water outages, both at duty stations and in some housing facilities.
A Better Bill
MOAA urges lawmakers to add the NOAA Commissioned Corps as a protected group in the Shutdown Fairness Act - these servicemembers have flown into hurricanes and performed other vital missions during past funding lapses without knowing whether they'd receive their next paycheck on time. NOAA Corps retirees also face uncertainty during shutdowns, as their retirement pay does not come from the Military Retirement Fund and is thus not protected from a funding lapse.
MOAA also looks forward to working with lawmakers to protect U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps members and retirees under these circumstances. Retirees face the same concern as NOAA officer retirees, while those in uniform are paid by the department controlling their billet, meaning a partial funding lapse could delay some checks but not others.
Ask your legislators to move this bipartisan bill forward - not in a few months, when the threat of another shutdown looms large and compresses the legislative calendar, but TODAY, when we can show servicemembers and their families that their sacrifices should stand above budget brinkmanship.
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Lilley serves as MOAA's digital content manager. His duties include producing, editing, and managing content for a variety of platforms, with a concentration on The MOAA Newsletter and MOAA.org
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Original text here: https://www.moaa.org/content/publications-and-media/news-articles/2026-news-articles/finance/protecting-servicemember-pay-partial-shutdown-ends,-but-next-one-could-be-just-months-away/
[Category: National Defense]
Banking Trades Statement on Crypto Market Structure Yield Language
WASHINGTON, May 5 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Bank Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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Banking Trades Statement on Crypto Market Structure Yield Language
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Following the release of proposed language on stablecoin yield in the Clarity Act, the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum and Independent Community Bankers of America issued the following joint statement:
"We appreciate the work by Senator Tillis and Senator Alsobrooks to address the concerns from banks of all sizes around the risk
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 5 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Bank Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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Banking Trades Statement on Crypto Market Structure Yield Language
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Following the release of proposed language on stablecoin yield in the Clarity Act, the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum and Independent Community Bankers of America issued the following joint statement:
"We appreciate the work by Senator Tillis and Senator Alsobrooks to address the concerns from banks of all sizes around the riskof deposit flight from paying yield on stablecoins. Now that their proposed language is public, we are working to provide feedback that balances both the innovation and the community lending necessary to ensure that America's economy is the strongest and most resilient in the world.
Senators Tillis and Alsobrooks are seeking to achieve the correct policy goal - prohibiting the payment of yield and interest on stablecoins; however, the proposed language falls short of that goal. It is imperative that Congress get this right. Research demonstrates that yield-earning stablecoins could reduce all consumer, small-business, and farm loans by one-fifth or more, making it essential for the prohibition to be clear and transparent.
We will be sharing our detailed suggestions for strengthening the proposed language with lawmakers in the coming days, and we will continue to work in good faith to help Congress embrace innovation while protecting the deposits that drive local lending and economic activity in their communities."
Additional Background. Among the examples of evasion that could be permitted under Section 404 as drafted, the language permits exchanges and other crypto intermediaries to pay interest or yield for a user's participation in an exchange's membership program, so long as the payments are not calculated or distributed like banks' payment or distribution of interest or yield. This is a significant loophole that must be addressed.
Likewise the proposal allows for permissible rewards to be calculated by reference to duration, balance, and tenure. Overtly incentivizing the idle holding of payment stablecoins for extended periods of time, and for specific balances, would negate the goals of the upfront prohibition (to deter deposit flight) while tying rewards directly to how much/long customers hold payment stablecoins in wallets or exchanges.
About Bank Policy Institute
The Bank Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy, research and advocacy group that represents universal banks, regional banks and the major foreign banks doing business in the United States. The Institute produces academic research and analysis on regulatory and monetary policy topics, analyzes and comments on proposed regulations, and represents the financial services industry with respect to cybersecurity, fraud and other information security issues.
About the American Bankers Association
The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's $25.1 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $19.7 trillion in deposits and extend $13.2 trillion in loans.
About Consumer Bankers Association
The Consumer Bankers Association represents America's leading retail banks. We promote policies to create a stronger industry and economy. Established in 1919, CBA's corporate member institutions account for 1.7 million jobs in America, extend roughly $4 trillion in consumer loans and provide $275 billion in small business loans annually. Follow us on X @consumerbankers.
About Financial Services Forum
The Financial Services Forum is an economic policy and advocacy organization whose members are the eight largest and most diversified financial institutions headquartered in the United States. Forum member institutions are a leading source of lending and investment in the United States and serve millions of consumers, businesses, investors, and communities throughout the country. The Forum promotes policies that support savings and investment, financial inclusion, deep and liquid capital markets, a competitive global marketplace, and a sound financial system.
About the Independent Community Bankers of America
The Independent Community Bankers of America(r) has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation's community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation. As local and trusted sources of credit, America's community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers' financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA's website at icba.org.
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Original text here: https://bpi.com/banking-trades-statement-on-crypto-market-structure-yield-language/
American Fintech Council Urges Regulatory Clarity and Responsible Innovation in Stablecoin Markets
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Urges Regulatory Clarity and Responsible Innovation in Stablecoin Markets
Letter to OCC supports a tailored, supervisory approach that promotes stability as the GENIUS Act is implemented
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The American Fintech Council (AFC), the largest industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, submitted a comment letter to the Office of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Urges Regulatory Clarity and Responsible Innovation in Stablecoin Markets
Letter to OCC supports a tailored, supervisory approach that promotes stability as the GENIUS Act is implemented
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The American Fintech Council (AFC), the largest industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, submitted a comment letter to the Office ofthe Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act). In its letter, AFC supports a foundational federal framework that strengthens the integrity of the U.S. financial system while preserving capacity for market participation and innovation.
"The GENIUS Act represents a critical milestone in operationalizing a framework for payment stablecoins that enhances payment efficiency and reinforces the global competitiveness of U.S. financial infrastructure," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "We appreciate OCC's thoughtful engagement and efforts to establish a durable regulatory regime. It is essential that the resulting framework remains risk-based and tailored to the unique profiles of stablecoin issuers, avoiding duplicative requirements that could inhibit market entry and reduce competition."
In its letter, AFC highlights several key principles for a durable regulatory framework, emphasizing that regulatory expectations should be calibrated to the size, complexity, and risk profile of the issuer. The letter also expresses support for a reserve and redemption framework grounded in high-quality, highly liquid assets capable of being converted to cash on a timely basis to support redemption at par on demand. AFC also advocates for clear delineation between federal and state regulatory authorities to reduce fragmentation and provide certainty for market participants.
"A durable regulatory framework for payment stablecoins must be grounded in a clear understanding of the underlying risks associated with issuance, redemption, and operational infrastructure," said Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at AFC. "Our recommendations support an approach that is practical and aligned with existing supervisory regimes. By focusing on safety, soundness, and consumer protection outcomes, regulators can create a framework that remains effective while accommodating evolving technologies."
The letter further highlights recommendations regarding custody requirements, concentration risk, and reporting obligations. AFC suggests that OCC permit subsidiaries of insured depository institutions to maintain reserve assets directly in Federal Reserve master accounts or designated subaccounts, promoting consistency and safety while reducing operational burden.
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of over 150 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.
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Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/american-fintech-council-afc-urges-regulatory-clarity-and-responsible-innovation-in-stablecoin-markets
[Category: Financial Services]
APA Welcomes National Focus on Mental Health, Urges Evidence-Based Approach and Continued Focus on Access to Care
ARLINGTON, Virginia, May 5 -- The American Psychiatric Association issued the following statement on May 4, 2026:
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APA Welcomes National Focus on Mental Health, Urges Evidence-Based Approach and Continued Focus on Access to Care
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration Secretary's announcement regarding mental health treatment.
"APA welcomes the attention placed squarely on the nation's mental health crisis and is committed to advancing solutions that improve access to high-quality evidence-based
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, May 5 -- The American Psychiatric Association issued the following statement on May 4, 2026:
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APA Welcomes National Focus on Mental Health, Urges Evidence-Based Approach and Continued Focus on Access to Care
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration Secretary's announcement regarding mental health treatment.
"APA welcomes the attention placed squarely on the nation's mental health crisis and is committed to advancing solutions that improve access to high-quality evidence-basedcare. We are supportive of the Administration's plans for further investment in research and clinician training on the issues of prescribing and deprescribing.
"We also want to underscore an important point the Secretary made: there are many people for whom medications are important and lifesaving, and patients should not take themselves off medication without first consulting their physician.
"That being said, while APA supports efforts to improve the quality, safety, and evidence base of mental health treatment, we strongly object to framing the nation's mental health crisis as primarily a problem of 'overmedicalization' or 'overprescribing.' That characterization oversimplifies a complex crisis and ignores the larger reality: too many patients cannot access timely, comprehensive care, while care remains unevenly distributed across our health system. It also fails to account for persistent workforce shortages, limited psychiatric beds, inadequate visit time, barriers to psychotherapy and social supports, insufficient integration of psychiatric expertise in primary care through the Collaborative Care model, and the lack of a true continuum of care.
"Deprescribing alone is not a sufficient response to this crisis. In psychiatry, as in all areas of medicine, prescribing and deprescribing occur every day as part of individualized, evidence-based treatment planning between physicians and patients. The solution is not to stigmatize psychiatric medication or impose broad assumptions on clinical care, but to ensure that patients have access to the full range of evidence-based treatments and that decisions are guided by the best available science and each patient's needs.
"The APA continues to:
* Be firmly committed to ensuring that patients have access to the full range of evidence-based treatments, including medication when clinically appropriate.
* Strongly support shared decision making between physicians and their patients to make individualized treatment decisions guided by the best available science.
* Support consistent standards for informed consent across all areas of medicine. Imposing a higher bar for informed consent for mental health treatment is stigmatizing and harms patients.
* Support an evidence-based approach to prescribing and deprescribing and better support for patients who are starting, continuing, changing, or stopping psychiatric medications.
"APA stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to address the nation's mental health crisis."
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American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 40,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.
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Original text here: https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/APA-Welcomes-National-Focus-on-Mental-Health-Urges
[Category: Psychiatry/Psychology]
AMWA to Host the 3rd Physician Fertility Summit: Advancing Family Building in Medicine
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, May 5 -- The American Medical Women's Association issued the following news on May 4, 2026:
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AMWA to Host the 3rd Physician Fertility Summit: Advancing Family Building in Medicine
Next month, during World Infertility Awareness Month, AMWA will be hosting the 3rd Physician Fertility Summit, a dynamic and forward-looking convening dedicated to addressing an issue impacting many women in medicine: fertility and family building among physicians.
As awareness grows around the reproductive health challenges faced by physicians, this year's Summit is designed to move the
... Show Full Article
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, May 5 -- The American Medical Women's Association issued the following news on May 4, 2026:
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AMWA to Host the 3rd Physician Fertility Summit: Advancing Family Building in Medicine
Next month, during World Infertility Awareness Month, AMWA will be hosting the 3rd Physician Fertility Summit, a dynamic and forward-looking convening dedicated to addressing an issue impacting many women in medicine: fertility and family building among physicians.
As awareness grows around the reproductive health challenges faced by physicians, this year's Summit is designed to move theconversation from recognition to action - bringing together experts, advocates, and clinicians to explore solutions that support physicians across all stages of their careers and family-building journeys.
A Critical Moment for Medicine
Physicians are increasingly navigating fertility decisions within the constraints of long training pathways, demanding work environments, and inconsistent access to fertility benefits. Research has shown that women physicians experience infertility at significantly higher rates than the general population, underscoring the need for systemic change.
The Summit will highlight how fertility intersects with broader issues in medicine, including:
* Workforce sustainability and retention
* Gender equity and career advancement
* Physician well-being and burnout
* Access to comprehensive reproductive care
This year's program will feature a range of timely and nuanced discussions that reflect the evolving landscape of family building. At its core, the Summit reinforces a central message:
family building is not just a personal decision - it is a structural issue that medicine must address.
From Awareness to Advocacy
A key focus of the Summit will be identifying actionable pathways for change. Sessions will explore:
* Employer-based fertility benefits and coverage gaps
* Institutional policies that support (or hinder) family building
* Cultural shifts needed within training and practice environments
* Opportunities for legislative and collective advocacy
As many industries expand fertility benefits, the Summit will also examine why healthcare systems paradoxically often lag behind, and what can be done to close that gap.
Building Toward Change
Join the Conversation
As medicine continues to evolve, so too must the structures that support those who practice it. The 3rd Physician Fertility Summit offers an important opportunity to shape that future, ensuring that physicians are not forced to choose between their careers and their ability to build a family.
Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/amwapfs
Because the future of medicine depends not just on who enters it, but on who can stay, thrive, and build a life within it.
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Original text here: https://amwa-doc.org/news/amwa-to-host-the-3rd-physician-fertility-summit-advancing-family-building-in-medicine/
[Category: Medical]
Remodeling Sector Sees Solid Growth as NAHB Kicks Off National Home Remodeling Month
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The National Association of Home Builders issued the following news release:
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Remodeling Sector Sees Solid Growth as NAHB Kicks Off National Home Remodeling Month
Kicking off National Home Remodeling Month this May, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is highlighting recent data that underscores the growing strength of the remodeling sector. The latest figures show remodeling is capturing an increasing share of the residential construction market, both in terms of the number of firms and employment. Additional data indicates remodeler sentiment has remained
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The National Association of Home Builders issued the following news release:
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Remodeling Sector Sees Solid Growth as NAHB Kicks Off National Home Remodeling Month
Kicking off National Home Remodeling Month this May, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is highlighting recent data that underscores the growing strength of the remodeling sector. The latest figures show remodeling is capturing an increasing share of the residential construction market, both in terms of the number of firms and employment. Additional data indicates remodeler sentiment has remainedconsistently positive since the first quarter of 2020, reflecting sustained demand and industry confidence.
NAHB's analysis of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data shows that over the past 25 years, the number of remodeling companies has nearly doubled. In 2000, there were fewer than 69,000 firms, and in the first quarter of 2025 there were more than 128,000. Remodelers now represent over half (56%) of all residential building construction (RBC) establishments. By contrast, during the housing boom of the mid-2000s when the market was primarily dominated by home builders, remodelers' share consistently hovered around 38-39%.
In addition to the growing share of remodeling firms, the analysis of employment trends in RBC also shows that remodelers are generating a rising number and share of jobs. As of 2024, the remodeling sector accounted for almost half (49%) of RBC workers. In contrast, during the housing boom of the mid-2000s, only 30% of payroll employees worked for remodelers, while single-family general contractors employed 63% of the RBC workforce.
"Remodeling companies are less affected by the rise and fall of mortgage rates compared to home building companies, so the remodeling industry has continued to grow despite a series of Federal Reserve rate hikes that have driven up the cost of buying a new home and hindered new construction," said NAHB Remodelers Chair Elliott Pike, a remodeler from Homewood, Ala.
Another promising sign for the market is reflected in the results of the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI), a quarterly survey of NAHB remodeler members that provides insight into the remodeling industry. The RMI has registered a reading above the break-even point of 50 for 24 consecutive quarters, underscoring a post-pandemic resiliency. Any number over 50 indicates that more remodelers view remodeling market conditions as good than poor.
"The remodeling market has many structural tailwinds that are contributing to the overall growth of our industry," said Pike. "With an aging housing stock, the persistent mortgage rate lock-in effect and the trend for older home owners to age-in-place, the remodeling market is positioned for continued growth."
NAHB remodeler members remain committed to working with their clients on all their remodeling projects, whether large or small. Consumers can find a remodeler in their area by searching NAHB's directory of professional remodelers. NAHB also has a variety of helpful consumer resources available on the website, including tips on how to choose a professional remodeler.
National Home Remodeling Month is sponsored by Buildertrend.
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Original text here: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/05/remodeling-sector-sees-solid-growth-as-nahb-kicks-off-national-home-remodeling-month
[Category: Real Estate]
