Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
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UHC Releases Accelerated Medicare Advantage Payments To Support Rural Hospitals
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Jan. 17 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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UHC Releases Accelerated Medicare Advantage Payments To Support Rural Hospitals
UnitedHealthcare announced its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program intended to support independent rural hospitals who face financial challenges. The pilot program, which includes Missouri, will accelerate Medicare Advantage payment timelines by 50% from less than 30 days to less than 15.
MHA will release additional details once published by UHC.
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About Missouri Hospital Association
The Missouri Hospital
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Jan. 17 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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UHC Releases Accelerated Medicare Advantage Payments To Support Rural Hospitals
UnitedHealthcare announced its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program intended to support independent rural hospitals who face financial challenges. The pilot program, which includes Missouri, will accelerate Medicare Advantage payment timelines by 50% from less than 30 days to less than 15.
MHA will release additional details once published by UHC.
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About Missouri Hospital Association
The Missouri HospitalAssociation is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.
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Original text here: https://www.mohospitals.org/newsroom/uhc-releases-accelerated-medicare-advantage-payments-to-support-rural-hospitals
[Category: Health Care]
Statement From NABIP CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods on Georgetown CHIR Report
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (formerly the National Association of Health Underwriters) issued the following statement on Jan. 16, 2026, by CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods on the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms report:
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"The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) strongly disagrees with recommendations highlighted in a recent Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) report and commentary from the community health plans association suggesting that cutting agent
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (formerly the National Association of Health Underwriters) issued the following statement on Jan. 16, 2026, by CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods on the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms report:
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"The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) strongly disagrees with recommendations highlighted in a recent Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) report and commentary from the community health plans association suggesting that cutting agentand broker compensation would address Medicare Advantage (MA) market challenges.
"Licensed agents and brokers help Medicare beneficiaries compare coverage, evaluate costs, and avoid disruptions. Weakening that support will not solve regional plan instability -- it will reduce consumer access to trusted, licensed guidance.
"Claims that agents steer beneficiaries toward national insurers do not reflect the reality of the marketplace. In a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 licensed Medicare agents:
* 88% sell regional plans (including 29% who sell only regional plans)
* 10% sell national plans exclusively
* 94% work with a Field Marketing Organization (FMO), regulated partners that support compliance and accountability
"Protecting beneficiaries from misleading marketing is important, but reforms should begin with clearer definitions and better data. The current Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO) definition improperly groups licensed agents and brokers -- who are regulated and provide ongoing service -- with call centers, lead generators, and unregulated marketing firms. That lack of distinction leads to inaccurate analysis and misguided policy.
"Agent compensation is already regulated. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sets maximum compensation for Medicare Advantage and Part D at Fair Market Value (FMV), but plans are not required to pay at that level. Many carriers pay below FMV, and some have eliminated commissions entirely.
"Cutting compensation can prevent agents from assisting beneficiaries with certain plans, particularly when carriers restrict access to enrollment materials or change compensation mid-year or during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. That shifts more seniors to taxpayer-funded resources like Medicare.gov and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), which are not a substitute for licensed, year-round consumer support.
"Suggestions that agents earn large payments by switching beneficiaries between plans are also outdated. CMS changed compensation rules years ago, including proration and chargebacks, so switching a beneficiary often results in little to no additional pay -- and can create financial risk for agents.
"Today, New-to-Medicare compensation is paid once at initial enrollment. Plan changes are reimbursed at a lower flat rate. On average, agents earn about $28.92 per month for ongoing service -- not the $694-plus figures still cited in some analyses.
"Licensed agents are the human infrastructure of Medicare. When you remove them, you don't eliminate bias -- you eliminate guidance. Seniors are left with fewer resources, fewer safeguards, and more confusion.
"NABIP urges CMS and policymakers to focus on transparency, meaningful oversight of unregulated marketing entities, and reforms that remove barriers preventing licensed agents from serving Medicare beneficiaries and supporting regional plans. We stand ready to work with regulators, health plans, and policymakers to improve accountability while preserving seniors' access to licensed, year-round guidance."
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NABIP is the preeminent organization for health insurance and employee benefits professionals, working diligently to ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and related benefits.
NABIP represents more than 100,000 licensed health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants and benefit professionals through more than 150 chapters.
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Original text here: https://nabip.org/media/10741/nabip-responds-to-georgetown-chir-report-260116_final.pdf
[Category: Insurance]
Southern Shrimp Alliance: In Historic First, Treasury Opposes Foreign Shrimp Competitor Funding
NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida, Jan. 17 -- The Southern Shrimp Alliance issued the following news release:
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In Historic First, Treasury Opposes Foreign Shrimp Competitor Funding
Southern Shrimp Alliance Grateful for Administration's Unprecedented Stand
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American shrimpers are spotlighting the U.S. Treasury Department's landmark vote against an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project to fund $150 million in Thai shrimp production. This marks the first time in history that the United States has opposed a shrimp aquaculture project at an international financial institution.
Although the project
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NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida, Jan. 17 -- The Southern Shrimp Alliance issued the following news release:
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In Historic First, Treasury Opposes Foreign Shrimp Competitor Funding
Southern Shrimp Alliance Grateful for Administration's Unprecedented Stand
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American shrimpers are spotlighting the U.S. Treasury Department's landmark vote against an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project to fund $150 million in Thai shrimp production. This marks the first time in history that the United States has opposed a shrimp aquaculture project at an international financial institution.
Although the projectmoved forward over U.S. objections, the Southern Shrimp Alliance is deeply grateful to the Trump Administration and the U.S. executive director to the ADB for taking this historic stand. The deal with Thai Union Public Company Limited's (Thai Union) threatens to flood U.S. markets with even more cheap imported shrimp after import volumes reached record highs in 2025. Previously, the U.S. Treasury had supported international financial institutions (IFIs) in financing billions of dollars for shrimp farming projects abroad, flooding the global market with excess shrimp supply and driving down prices received by U.S. shrimpers.
"It is infuriating to learn that while American shrimp boats from Texas to North Carolina have been tied up at the dock since 2023, international development banks are using U.S. taxpayer money to help international conglomerates like Thai Union produce and export more farmed shrimp," said Blake Price, deputy director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. "On behalf of everyone in the U.S. shrimp industry, the Southern Shrimp Alliance applauds the Treasury Department for finally saying enough is enough and opposing the ADB's efforts to add to the overabundance of cheap farmed shrimp in global markets."
Harm Not Just to American Shrimpers, But Shrimp Harvesters Everywhere
The American shrimp industry strongly objects to IFIs encouraging increased production in a global market already drowning in oversupply. Without market demand for more farmed shrimp, the IFI funding undermines existing investment in wild-caught and aquacultured shrimp production throughout the world, harming all shrimp harvesters.
Despite this global shrimp crisis, the ADB announced in May 2025 that it would finance Thai Union's expansion.
The financing agreement aims to help Thai Union enhance sustainability, as defined as certification under programs such as Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). However, the industry-run BAP certification program is deeply flawed. It is designed to provide greater market access for farmed seafood by certifying products as safe, responsible, and ethically farmed. Yet in a three-year study of India's shrimp industry, Corporate Accountability Lab found BAP-certified shrimp production processes are rife with labor and environmental abuses, labeling BAP as a "marketing scheme." With the Corporate Accountability Lab, the Southern Shrimp Alliance filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission in November 2024, requesting action against false or deceptive practices by the BAP certification scheme. And in 2025, most imported shrimp entry lines rejected by the FDA for veterinary drug residues and radioactive contamination came from BAP-certified facilities.
SSA's Research Supports Administration Action
The Southern Shrimp Alliance's research and analysis demonstrate that IFI projects use U.S. taxpayer funds to support foreign competitors, which harm American shrimp producers by encouraging production in an oversupplied global market.
The Trump Administration recognizes that IFI projects require oversight and opposes ill-conceived initiatives that injure U.S. producers. Treasury officials recently issued public reports on U.S. voting records through August 2025. On April 16, 2025, the U.S. executive director to the ADB voted against the Thai Union agreement, citing "trade policy and reputational concerns."
Despite the project moving forward, the Southern Shrimp Alliance is grateful for this historic vote, which establishes an important precedent and demonstrates that the Administration recognizes the harm these taxpayer-funded projects inflict on American shrimpers.
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Original text here: https://shrimpalliance.com/in-historic-first-treasury-opposes-foreign-shrimp-competitor-funding/
[Category: Food/Beverage]
National Association of Home Builders: Remodeling Market Sentiment Strengthens in Fourth Quarter of 2025
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 [Category: Real Estate] -- The National Association of Home Builders posted the following news release:
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Remodeling Market Sentiment Strengthens in Fourth Quarter of 2025
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter, posting a reading of 64, up four points compared to the previous quarter.
The NAHB/Westlake Royal RMI survey asks remodelers to rate five components of the remodeling market as "good," "fair" or "poor." Each question is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, where an index
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 [Category: Real Estate] -- The National Association of Home Builders posted the following news release:
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Remodeling Market Sentiment Strengthens in Fourth Quarter of 2025
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter, posting a reading of 64, up four points compared to the previous quarter.
The NAHB/Westlake Royal RMI survey asks remodelers to rate five components of the remodeling market as "good," "fair" or "poor." Each question is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, where an indexnumber above 50 indicates that a higher share view conditions as good than poor. The results of the RMI are seasonally adjusted.
The Current Conditions Index is an average of three components: the current market for large remodeling projects, moderately-sized projects and small projects. The Future Indicators Index is an average of two components: the current rate at which leads and inquiries are coming in and the current backlog of remodeling projects. The overall RMI is calculated by averaging the Current Conditions Index and the Future Indicators Index. Any number over 50 indicates that more remodelers view remodeling market conditions as good than poor.
"Most remodelers are finding reasonably strong market conditions, even with the normal seasonal slowdown during the holidays," said NAHB Remodelers Chair Nicole Goolsby Morrison, a remodeler from Raleigh, N.C. "However, rising costs and customer hesitation due to economic and policy uncertainty remain key challenges for the industry."
"The RMI reading of 64 is consistent with NAHB's forecast for continued moderate growth in remodeling activity in 2026," said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. "Demand for remodeling is being supported by an aging housing stock, strong homeowner equity and increasing need for aging-in-place improvements."
The Current Conditions Index averaged 71, increasing three points compared to the previous quarter. All three components remained above 50 in positive territory: the component measuring large remodeling projects ($50,000 or more) rose five points to 69, the component measuring moderate remodeling projects (at least $20,000 but less than $50,000) inched up one point to 71, and the component measuring small-sized remodeling projects (under $20,000) increased two points to 73.
The Future Indicators Index averaged 56, up four points compared to the previous quarter. The component measuring the current rate at which leads and inquiries are coming in rose five points to 54, and the component measuring the backlog of remodeling jobs increased two points to 58.
For the full RMI tables, please visit nahb.org/rmi.
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Original text here: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/01/remodeling-market-sentiment-strengthens-in-fourth-quarter-of-2025
INCOMPAS Files Comments to the FCC on Streamlining Broadband Label Requirements
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- INCOMPAS issued the following news release:
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INCOMPAS Files Comments to the FCC on Streamlining Broadband Label Requirements
INCOMPAS, the competitive communications and AI infrastructure association, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), regarding the Commission's proposals to streamline broadband label requirements. INCOMPAS expressed strong support for the FCC's efforts to strike a balance between transparency and the elimination of costly, complex obligations that do not offer measurable benefits to consumers.
The following statement
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- INCOMPAS issued the following news release:
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INCOMPAS Files Comments to the FCC on Streamlining Broadband Label Requirements
INCOMPAS, the competitive communications and AI infrastructure association, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), regarding the Commission's proposals to streamline broadband label requirements. INCOMPAS expressed strong support for the FCC's efforts to strike a balance between transparency and the elimination of costly, complex obligations that do not offer measurable benefits to consumers.
The following statementcan be attributed to Staci L. Pies, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy at INCOMPAS:
"In today's competitive environment where consumers often choose between fiber, cable, fixed wireless and mobile broadband, natural market incentives already reward truthful and clear marketing. The Commission's proposals to streamline these rules strike the right balance by maintaining the purpose of the consumer label, while eliminating obligations that add complexity and cost without helping consumers. Mandating a single, rigid label format can constrain innovation and does not reflect the diversity of offerings or customer preferences across different technologies.
Since the initial rules were adopted, providers have faced significant ongoing burdens, including retooling fee disclosures and maintaining machine-readable repositories. These obligations divert resources away from network investment and customer service. Every dollar spent on building, hosting and managing machine-readable files or archiving discontinued plans is a dollar not spent on expanding coverage or improving performance.
Ultimately, streamlining these requirements will restore the broadband label to its original purpose as a clear, simple shopping aid. With the removal of unnecessary requirements, the FCC can align its rules more closely with Congressional intent under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. INCOMPAS urges the Commission to focus on measures that truly help consumers, while reducing costs that hinder broadband deployment and innovation."
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Original text here: https://incompas.org/news-post/incompas-files-comments-to-the-fcc-on-streamlining-broadband-label-requirements/
[Category: Telecommunications]
EEI Statement on President Trump-Governor Proposal to Protect Customers and Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Edison Electric Institute issued the following news release on Jan. 16, 2026:
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EEI Statement on President Trump-Governor Proposal to Protect Customers and Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President and CEO Drew Maloney today issued the following statement in response to President Trump and a bipartisan group of governors calling on PJM Interconnection--the nation's largest grid operator--to hold an emergency auction to require technology companies to fund new electricity generation needed to serve growing data center demand:
"We
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Edison Electric Institute issued the following news release on Jan. 16, 2026:
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EEI Statement on President Trump-Governor Proposal to Protect Customers and Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President and CEO Drew Maloney today issued the following statement in response to President Trump and a bipartisan group of governors calling on PJM Interconnection--the nation's largest grid operator--to hold an emergency auction to require technology companies to fund new electricity generation needed to serve growing data center demand:
"Wesupport President Trump and the Governors' focus on swift changes to help lower energy costs for customers and get more power plants online. We have called for fundamental reforms to ensure resource adequacy in PJM. We look forward to working with FERC and the state commissions to be part of the solution."
In October 2025, EEI sent a letter to PJM Interconnection calling for innovative solutions to accelerate the pace of change in the region to meet demand, improve accountability, and ensure a lower-cost energy supply. Policymakers must consider all options to get new generation built, including regulated generation. EEI outlined five guiding principles for durable reform in the letter:
* Meaningful state-based engagement
* An end to overreliance on the capacity market
* Greater procurement flexibility to get new generation built
* Recognition of the critical role of planning and expanding transmission infrastructure
* Functioning governance reforms that prioritize customers
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About EEI
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide safe, reliable electricity for nearly 250 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States and drives economic growth and prosperity. EEI also includes hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.
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October 7, 2025
Manu Asthana, President & CEO
Frederick S. Bresler III, Executive Vice President - Market Services & Strategy
Aftab Khan, Executive Vice President - Operations, Planning & Security
Asim Z. Haque, Sr. Vice President - Governmental & Member Services
Christopher O'Hara, Sr. Vice President & General Counsel
PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 2750 Monroe Blvd., Audubon, PA 19403
Dear Members of the PJM Executive Team:
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies, serving more than 250 million customers in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the PJM footprint and across the nation, EEI member companies work every day to provide reliable energy to their customers at the lowest possible cost.
In the PJM states, EEI members own the transmission assets that form the backbone of reliable system operations. And EEI members have the obligation to serve all customers reliably and affordably. EEI is thus committed to working with you to pursue timely reforms to ensure the reliability and security of the bulk electric power system and to serve all load that is connected to the system.
PJM, in collaboration with states and stakeholders, has made a concerted effort to address market challenges in recent years. However, all parties recognize that the region is at elevated risk of future supply shortfalls due to converging trends, including increasing demand for electricity and retirements of dispatchable generation. PJM's capacity market has not risen to this resource adequacy challenge. Despite a clear need for new generation to meet growing demand--and recent sky-high clearing prices--supply offered into PJM's most recent capacity auction declined compared to the previous auction and prices for much of the region increased significantly.
Today, EEI joins the call for innovative solutions to meet demand, improve accountability, and accelerate the pace of change in PJM. Continual market rule changes, and related litigation and auction delays, have failed to bring needed generation online to meet customer needs, exacerbating the risk of supply disruptions. Accountability is lacking because there is no single entity or stakeholder held responsible for generation planning and resource adequacy outcomes.
The time to act is now. Durable solutions in PJM are needed, guided by five principles:
1. State-based engagement. PJM is the system operator and does not plan generation or direct its construction. States have primary authority over generation additions to ensure reliable service to customers over the long-term. PJM must engage with states in a meaningful way, considering all reasonable and appropriate options to meet reliability needs, including regulated generation.
2. End overreliance on the capacity market. A more proactive role for states and loadserving entities in procurement decisions--like integrated resource planning approaches--and accelerated resource interconnections will ensure adequate, affordable supplies. Policy reforms should avoid overreliance on procurement through the capacity market, which can involve additional complexity for incremental gains. To date, narrowly focusing on design changes to PJM markets has left customers exposed to reliability risks and cost uncertainty.
3. Procurement flexibility. All parties--states, PJM, and stakeholders--must consider reasonable and appropriate ways to get generation built to meet system challenges and serve customers, which can include regulated generation, robust bilateral contracting, and improved self-supply frameworks. Oversight by state regulators is central, and PJM processes must be flexible enough to accommodate different procurement options and outcomes without adverse effects on customers.
4. Critical role for electric transmission. With sustained, rapid load growth and economic development across the region, the need to proactively plan and expand transmission infrastructure to reliably and cost effectively deliver power to customers has never been greater.
5. Functioning governance with a customer focus. Stakeholders that own grid assets and serve customers must drive outcomes, and the pace of decision-making must accelerate. While robust stakeholder input is critical, reliability risks will not wait for consensus among an array of stakeholders whose objectives and goals often differ.
Rapid deployment of new energy infrastructure--including generation and transmission assets--is the lynchpin to providing more energy to our customers, meeting growing energy demand, and winning the AI race.
EEI and our members thank you for your important work and look forward to working cooperatively with states in the region, PJM leadership and staff, federal policymakers, and other stakeholders to provide reliable energy supply to customers at the lowest possible cost.
Sincerely,
Drew Maloney
CC:
Gregory V. Carmean, Esq.
Chairman Emile C. Thompson
Commissioner Dennis P. Deters
Commissioner Zenon Christodoulou
Commissioner Kim Drexler
Commissioner Ann McCabe
Commissioner David Veleta
Chair Angie Hatton
Commissioner Kumar P. Barve
Commissioner Katherine Peretick
Commissioner Karen Kemerait
Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank
Chairman Herbert H. Hilliard
Chairman Jehmal T. Hudson
Chairman Charlotte R. Lane
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Original text here: https://www.eei.org/News/news/All/statement-on-president-governor-proposal-to-protect-customers-and-ensure-data-centers-pay-fair-share
[Category: Energy]
CHPA Welcomes Reintroduction of Durbin's Dietary Supplement Listing Act, Urges Congress to Build on Progress
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association issued the following statement on Jan. 16, 2026:
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CHPA Welcomes Reintroduction of Durbin's Dietary Supplement Listing Act, Urges Congress to Build on Progress
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Melville in response to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) introduction of the Dietary Supplement Listing Act:
"CHPA commends Senator Durbin for the reintroduction of legislation to establish mandatory product listing for dietary supplements. Product
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association issued the following statement on Jan. 16, 2026:
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CHPA Welcomes Reintroduction of Durbin's Dietary Supplement Listing Act, Urges Congress to Build on Progress
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Melville in response to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) introduction of the Dietary Supplement Listing Act:
"CHPA commends Senator Durbin for the reintroduction of legislation to establish mandatory product listing for dietary supplements. Productlisting is a meaningful step in the right direction to support transparency, accountability, and effective oversight in a rapidly evolving marketplace. While this is an important step forward, product listing is not sufficient as a standalone measure. CHPA continues to stand by its view that additional steps are needed to strengthen consumer protections, enhance product quality and safety, and modernize oversight of today's supplement market.
"Americans are increasingly relying on dietary supplements, with more than three-quarters of U.S. adults reporting use. However, while the market has grown exponentially since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was enacted more than three decades ago, the regulatory framework has not kept pace.
"CHPA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the FDA to advance a modern, balanced approach to DSHEA that builds on product listing while continuing to address other priority areas critical to protecting consumers and promoting innovation. We appreciate Senator Durbin's leadership on this issue and remain committed to constructive engagement as this conversation moves forward."
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The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is the national trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of consumer healthcare products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and OTC medical devices. CHPA is committed to empowering self-care by ensuring that Americans have access to products they can count on to be reliable, affordable, and convenient, while also delivering new and better ways to get and stay healthy. Visit www.chpa.org.
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Original text here: https://www.chpa.org/news/2026/01/chpa-welcomes-reintroduction-durbins-dietary-supplement-listing-act-urges-congress
[Category: Health Care]
