Trade Associations
Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
ASAM Urges Medicare to Address Payment Disparities in Outpatient SUD Treatment
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 2 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:* * *
ASAM Urges Medicare to Address Payment Disparities in Outpatient SUD Treatment
*
Ahead of formal rulemaking for 2027, ASAM has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update Medicare payment and coding policies for outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to reflect advances in treatment standards.
In a letter to CMS Administrator Oz, ASAM applauded past efforts to expand access, but highlighted that several issues necessitated ... Show Full Article ROCKVILLE, Maryland, March 2 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release: * * * ASAM Urges Medicare to Address Payment Disparities in Outpatient SUD Treatment * Ahead of formal rulemaking for 2027, ASAM has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update Medicare payment and coding policies for outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to reflect advances in treatment standards. In a letter to CMS Administrator Oz, ASAM applauded past efforts to expand access, but highlighted that several issues necessitatedthe need to update existing codes, including changes in The ASAM Criteria, the absence of codes to appropriately describe medically managed outpatient treatment, and data showing that millions of Medicare beneficiaries continue to lack access to treatment.
This problem is exacerbated by current Medicare payment rates for these services that are setting-specific. Currently, Medicare pays nearly 40% less for outpatient SUD treatment services when delivered in non-OTP (opioid treatment program) settings compared to OTPs-even though the services are essentially identical aside from methadone dispensing and extensive federal regulations in the case of OTPs. These reduced payments in non-OTP settings underscore the fact that far fewer Medicare beneficiaries in non-OTP settings appear to be initiating outpatient treatment for SUD, compared to treatment services in OTPs where service utilization among Medicare beneficiaries remains robust. This inequity makes it financially unsustainable for many non-OTP outpatient practices to offer comprehensive SUD treatment, further restricting Medicare beneficiaries' access to sustainable recovery.
ASAM encouraged CMS to address these issues by establishing a more robust monthly bundled payment for non-OTP outpatient settings with reasonable safeguards against inappropriate use, similar to the existing model for OTPs. ASAM also urged CMS to strengthen support for addiction specialist physicians (ASPs) by reviewing and updating codes for interprofessional consultation services to ensure ASP expertise is appropriately recognized and integrated into care teams.
Read the letter here.
Read ASAM's additional recommendations to fix burdensome regulations impacting addiction care.
Tags:
CMS Medicare OTPs
***
Original text here: https://www.asam.org/news/detail/2026/03/02/asam-urges-medicare-to-address-payment-disparities-in-outpatient-sud-treatment
Amid Federal Moves to Dismantle Premier Atmospheric Research Center, UCS Requests Public Release of Management Agreement
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, March 2 [Category: Environment] -- The Union of Concerned Scientists posted the following news release:* * *
Amid Federal Moves to Dismantle Premier Atmospheric Research Center, UCS Requests Public Release of Management Agreement
*
"To date, no rational justification for dismantling the Center has been offered," UCS President and CEO Dr. Gretchen Goldman wrote in the letter.
The research center is funded by the NSF and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit consortium of 129 universities. The NSF issued a "Dear Colleague ... Show Full Article CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, March 2 [Category: Environment] -- The Union of Concerned Scientists posted the following news release: * * * Amid Federal Moves to Dismantle Premier Atmospheric Research Center, UCS Requests Public Release of Management Agreement * "To date, no rational justification for dismantling the Center has been offered," UCS President and CEO Dr. Gretchen Goldman wrote in the letter. The research center is funded by the NSF and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit consortium of 129 universities. The NSF issued a "Dear ColleagueLetter" in January soliciting proposals from agency partners and the research community on how to restructure NCAR's critical weather science infrastructure.
The UCS letter asks that a cooperative agreement governing the relationship between NCAR, UCAR, and the NSF be made public so the scientific community and people across the country can assess the proposed reorganization of the research center. UCS has also filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act for access to the agreement.
"Somewhat surprisingly, the cooperative agreement does not appear to be publicly available, despite the use of public resources to fund both NSF and NCAR," wrote Dr. Goldman.
NCAR, created in 1960, conducts sophisticated, life-saving scientific research that supports aviation safety, provides weather forecasting relied on by farmers, emergency managers, and military personnel, and promotes understanding of the risks associated with severe weather events.
The Trump administration disclosed in December that it plans to dissolve the research center and close its headquarters in Boulder, Colo. Last month, the NSF announced that it will transfer management and operations of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center to an unnamed third party.
Dr. Goldman said in her letter that UCS joins former directors of NCAR and UCAR, and scientists and scientific organizations across the country, in raising significant concerns with the restructuring plan. She notes that UCS partners with hundreds of other organizations to put rigorous, independent science into action for a healthy, safe, and just future.
"The work done at NCAR, as well as that done by scientists and experts who receive training there, is vital to that future," Dr. Goldman wrote in today's letter.
Additional Resources:
Op-ed in Earth and Space Science News (EOS) by Dr. Carlos Martinez, UCS senior scientist: "What Americans Lose If Their National Center for Atmospheric Research Is Dismantled"
Press statement : "Trump Administration Threatens to Dismantle Leading Climate and Weather Research Center"
***
Original text here: https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/amid-efforts-dismantle-national-center-atmospheric-research-ucs-requests-release
Drew Maloney Discusses Affordability, Grid Reliability, and Tech Partnerships on POLITICO Energy Podcast
WASHINGTON, March 2 [Category: Energy] -- The Edison Electric Institute issued the following news release:* * *
Drew Maloney Discusses Affordability, Grid Reliability, and Tech Partnerships on POLITICO Energy Podcast
*
WASHINGTON (March 02, 2026) -Today, the POLITICO Energy podcast published an interview featuring EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney in conversation with reporter Zack Colman.
Maloney and Colman discussed electricity prices, the need to fix PJM's generation shortfall, grid reliability, coordination with the White House and technology companies, and the "vibe shift" among policymakers ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 2 [Category: Energy] -- The Edison Electric Institute issued the following news release: * * * Drew Maloney Discusses Affordability, Grid Reliability, and Tech Partnerships on POLITICO Energy Podcast * WASHINGTON (March 02, 2026) -Today, the POLITICO Energy podcast published an interview featuring EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney in conversation with reporter Zack Colman. Maloney and Colman discussed electricity prices, the need to fix PJM's generation shortfall, grid reliability, coordination with the White House and technology companies, and the "vibe shift" among policymakerstoward building new energy infrastructure.
During the episode, Maloney addressed:
* Electricity prices and regional realities: "Sixty-eight percent of the states in the country have kept their prices below inflation. It's a state-by-state and region-by-region issue, and we've been focused at EEI on keeping those prices low while maintaining reliability for every American."
* A 'vibe shift' toward building: "This is going to be a unique time period. When we look back, we'll say this was the time when regulated utilities, working with data centers, were able to do an enormous amount of building to the grid-more generation-and make our energy grid even stronger than it is today."
* DOE issues $26.2 billion loan to Southern Co.: "DOE announced a $26 billion loan guarantee with Southern Company-the largest loan to a regulated utility in history. It's expected to result in $7 billion in savings for customers in Georgia and Alabama. That's exactly what we should be doing: building and deploying new technologies on the grid and enhancing the grid overall. I think everyone recognizes that the grid we operate is the most important engine we have in America."
* Protecting customers as data centers grow: "Nineteen states have already passed large-load agreements, with nine more pending. It has the potential to enhance the reliability and modernization of the grid, because you're taking new investment, putting it onto a fixed system, and allowing us to put even more technologies on and make the grid more reliable than it is today."
* Working with tech companies and stakeholders: "Every day our members and our trade association are interacting with people in the data center coalition-Meta, Amazon, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic. We are engaged in discussions with them all the time. We are constantly talking to folks at the National Energy Dominance Council in the White House, at DOE, and at Interior. These conversations are ongoing. We all have the same goal: to get as much generation online as possible, keep it as affordable as possible, and make sure electricity continues to be a reliable source of power for businesses, industries, and families."
* Fixing PJM and building new generation: "The challenge in PJM is that nobody's building new generation. The administration, we, and the governors all agree we need more steel in the ground in the PJM Mid-Atlantic region. We need more generation. At EEI, our utilities are ready to build it. We just have to continue working with state governments to make that happen."
* Reliability and investment in the grid: "The grid is the most important economic and national security engine that we have. We're investing $200 billion a year in the grid to make sure it works."
* Proven performance under stress: "Take Winter Storm Fern-the ice storm that went across the Southeast and into the Mid-Atlantic-we were able to get most of the power back up within seven days. We were 90% restored. You look at the winter storm we just had in blizzard conditions in Boston and New York, and the grid held up well. Our industry has invested over time in new technologies and resilience that make the grid as reliable as possible."
* The importance of an all-of-the-above energy approach: "The United States is blessed with an abundance of different resources, and depending on where you are in the country, some resources are better than others. Our focus is on identifying the best resource in the area and making sure it contributes to reliability and affordability."
The full interview is available on the POLITICO Energy Podcast and it can be watched here.
***
Original text here: https://www.eei.org/News/news/All/drew-maloney-on-politico-energy-podcast
DHSS Issues Rural Primary Care Physician Grant Program Invitation For Bid
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, March 2 [Category: Health Care] -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:* * *
DHSS Issues Rural Primary Care Physician Grant Program Invitation For Bid
*
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has released a Rural Primary Care Physician Grant Program invitation for bid available to rural primary care physicians who practice in a county with a population of less than 35,000 inhabitants. The IFB will be for the funding cycle ending June 30, 2027. DHSS will accept competitive bids through MissouriBUYS through Tuesday, March 31.
***
Original ... Show Full Article JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, March 2 [Category: Health Care] -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news: * * * DHSS Issues Rural Primary Care Physician Grant Program Invitation For Bid * The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has released a Rural Primary Care Physician Grant Program invitation for bid available to rural primary care physicians who practice in a county with a population of less than 35,000 inhabitants. The IFB will be for the funding cycle ending June 30, 2027. DHSS will accept competitive bids through MissouriBUYS through Tuesday, March 31. *** Originaltext here: https://www.mohospitals.org/newsroom/dhss-issues-rural-primary-care-physician-grant-program-invitation-for-bid
CCIA Raises Free Speech and Privacy Concerns With South Dakota App Store Age Verification Bill
WASHINGTON, March 2 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release:* * *
CCIA Raises Free Speech and Privacy Concerns With South Dakota App Store Age Verification Bill
*
Washington - The Computer & Communications Industry Association will testify today before the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee in opposition to HB 1275, warning that the proposal could undermine free expression, weaken user privacy, and create significant legal uncertainty for digital services operating across state lines.
HB 1275 would ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 2 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release: * * * CCIA Raises Free Speech and Privacy Concerns With South Dakota App Store Age Verification Bill * Washington - The Computer & Communications Industry Association will testify today before the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee in opposition to HB 1275, warning that the proposal could undermine free expression, weaken user privacy, and create significant legal uncertainty for digital services operating across state lines. HB 1275 wouldrequire mobile application stores and developers to implement age verification and parental consent measures as a condition of accessing certain online services. CCIA cautions that the bill's broad requirements could:
* Force companies to collect sensitive personal information from users of all ages, creating new data security risks while imposing vague compliance obligations on developers and app platforms.
* Conflict with longstanding First Amendment protections and established privacy principles. Courts have repeatedly raised concerns about laws that restrict access to lawful speech or require intrusive identity verification measures, particularly when those requirements affect both minors and adults.
* Expose businesses to costly litigation and inconsistent enforcement, discouraging innovation and making it more difficult for smaller companies to operate in South Dakota. The association notes that requiring retroactive age verification and broad data collection could increase cybersecurity risks without meaningfully preventing minors from accessing online content through alternative channels.
The association encourages lawmakers to pursue targeted, risk-based solutions that empower parents, support digital literacy, and protect young users without creating unintended consequences for privacy, free expression, and access to beneficial online tools.
The following statement can be attributed to CCIA State Policy Manager, West Region, Aodhan Downey, who is testifying in opposition to the bill today:
"Protecting kids online is essential. Parents should have access to clear information and practical tools that help them guide their children's digital experiences. Many platforms already offer parental controls, privacy settings, and time management tools that families can use today, but HB 1275 risks moving away from that approach by imposing sweeping age verification mandates that could undermine privacy and create legal uncertainty. Lawmakers should prioritize policies that educate families and strengthen existing safeguards rather than requiring broad data collection that may create new risks for users."
***
Original text here: https://ccianet.org/news/2026/03/ccia-raises-free-speech-and-privacy-concerns-with-south-dakota-app-store-age-verification-bill/
Barriers Remain for Youth Eligible for Weight Management Medication as Part of Broader Treatment Plan
ITASCA, Illinois, March 2 [Category: Medical] -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release:* * *
Barriers Remain for Youth Eligible for Weight Management Medication as Part of Broader Treatment Plan
*
Youth seeking care at a specialty clinic to manage obesity encountered barriers to obtaining prescriptions for injectable GLP-1 weight management medications based on characteristics such as age, ethnicity and preferred language, according to a study by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's PolicyLab and Clinical Futures. The study, "Characteristics ... Show Full Article ITASCA, Illinois, March 2 [Category: Medical] -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release: * * * Barriers Remain for Youth Eligible for Weight Management Medication as Part of Broader Treatment Plan * Youth seeking care at a specialty clinic to manage obesity encountered barriers to obtaining prescriptions for injectable GLP-1 weight management medications based on characteristics such as age, ethnicity and preferred language, according to a study by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's PolicyLab and Clinical Futures. The study, "Characteristicsof Youth Treated with GLP-1RAs at an Integrated Weight Management Clinic," published in the April 2026 Pediatrics (published online March 2), examined 1,647 eligible youth who visited an integrated weight management program from January 2023 to August,2025 after the Federal Drug Administration approved GLP-1s for youth obesity management in December 2022. Only 20% of eligible youth were prescribed the medication. Those more likely to receive a prescription were older, had a higher body mass index, abnormal laboratory testing, and were of non-Hispanic white or Hispanic ethnicity. The patients prescribed medication were also found to have had more health care visits with weight management and subspecialties. The odds of prescription decreased if the patient's preferred language was not English. Researchers reviewed the medical record in detail for a subset of patients and found that about 64% of those patients who received a prescription noted interruptions in care - citing lack of insurance coverage, medication shortages, side effects, and health care access. Researchers state that, during the time of the study, local Medicaid policy covered the medication for this population. Those policies have since changed and could impact youths' ability to access these drugs. Researchers also noted that non-Hispanic Black youths were less likely to be given a prescription for weight loss medication despite rates of obesity for that population being twice that of white youth. Authors state that additional strategies may be needed to reach all youth who would benefit from access to treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
***
Original text here: https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/pediatrics2/2025/barriers-remain-for-youth-eligible-for-weight-management-medication-as-part-of-broader-treatment-plan/
NBAA Announces Recipients of 2026 International Operators Scholarships
WASHINGTON, March 1 [Category: Transportation] -- The National Business Aviation Association posted the following news release:* * *
NBAA Announces Recipients of 2026 International Operators Scholarships
*
Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org
San Diego, CA, March 1, 2026 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced the selection of eight recipients of 2026 International Operators Scholarships. The International Operators Scholarship provides recipients with funding and training to pursue professional development within business aviation careers, with ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 1 [Category: Transportation] -- The National Business Aviation Association posted the following news release: * * * NBAA Announces Recipients of 2026 International Operators Scholarships * Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org San Diego, CA, March 1, 2026 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced the selection of eight recipients of 2026 International Operators Scholarships. The International Operators Scholarship provides recipients with funding and training to pursue professional development within business aviation careers, witha focus on international operations. The scholarship winners are:
* Tatenda Chigwada
* Grace Frame
* Dylan Gray
* Ugochukwu "U.G." Osuocha
* Paige Paulson
* Tres Penny
* Gyimil Rutherford
* Fizza Tariq
The 2026 International Operators Scholarship was made possible by generous funding provided by the following donor companies:
* AEGFUELS
* Candace Covington and Nat Iyengar
* FlightSafety International
* International Trip Planning Services, LLC
* Jetex US
* MANNY
* Prime Trip Support
* Scott International
* UAS International Trip Support
Scholarship recipients will be honored at NBAA's annual International Operators Conference (IOC2026), which takes place in San Diego, CA, from March 1-3. At the conference, representatives from the donors and the IOC Committee will be present to recognize this year's recipients. Learn more about IOC 2026.
NBAA offers several scholarships to promote professional development and business aviation careers. Learn more about NBAA's scholarship program.
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.
Members of the media may receive NBAA Press Releases immediately via email. To subscribe to the NBAA Press Release email list, submit the online form.
***
Original text here: https://nbaa.org/2026-press-releases/nbaa-announces-recipients-of-2026-international-operators-scholarships/
Manufacturers on U.S. Military Operations in Iran
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Business] -- The National Association of Manufacturers issued the following news release:* * *
Manufacturers on U.S. Military Operations in Iran
*
PHOENIX - Following the announcement of the United States military operations in Iran, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:
"Manufacturers in the United States have always stood ready when our nation calls. From serving as the Arsenal of Democracy to equipping those who defend freedom today, our industry has the capacity to support U.S. objectives across ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Business] -- The National Association of Manufacturers issued the following news release: * * * Manufacturers on U.S. Military Operations in Iran * PHOENIX - Following the announcement of the United States military operations in Iran, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement: "Manufacturers in the United States have always stood ready when our nation calls. From serving as the Arsenal of Democracy to equipping those who defend freedom today, our industry has the capacity to support U.S. objectives acrossmultiple theaters and sustained operations. Today, manufacturers honor the courage and commitment of the men and women in uniform who stand watch and carry out this mission.
"Since November 4, 1979, the United States has endured hostility and terrorism from a rogue government in Tehran. Time and again, the Iranian regime has sponsored international terrorism, destabilized its region, violated the rights of its own people and disrupted legitimate commerce and maritime security.
"Through Operation Epic Fury, President Trump has initiated major combat operations with these stated objectives:
* Eliminating imminent threats posed by the regime,
* Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons,
* Neutralizing military infrastructure that threatens regional and global security,
* Countering destabilizing regional aggression, and
* Supporting the Iranian people's right to determine their own future.
"At moments of consequence, national unity matters. Congress should fully engage to ensure clarity of mission, alignment of authority and the sustained support of the American people.
"We also call upon allied governments and partner business associations around the globe to stand together to protect regional stability, safeguard global commerce and reinforce the collective resolve that keeps peace through credible strength.
"When security, commerce and liberty are threatened, the United States must lead with strength, resolve and the support of its people."
-NAM-
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.9 5 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.
***
Original text here: https://nam.org/manufacturers-on-u-s-military-operations-in-iran-35881/?stream=series-press-releases&utm_source=link&utm_medium=social
MGMA Calls for Extending Timelines on Proposed ONC Health IT Certification Overhaul
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Medical Group Management Association issued the following letter on Feb. 27, 2026:* * *
To: Dr. Thomas Keane, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street, SW Floor 7, Washington, DC 20201
Re: MGMA Response to HHS Office of the Secretary NPRM, Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity
Dear Dr. Keane:
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is pleased to submit the following comments in response ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Medical Group Management Association issued the following letter on Feb. 27, 2026: * * * To: Dr. Thomas Keane, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street, SW Floor 7, Washington, DC 20201 Re: MGMA Response to HHS Office of the Secretary NPRM, Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity Dear Dr. Keane: The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is pleased to submit the following comments in responseto the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2025. With a membership of more than 70,000 medical practice administrators, executives, and leaders, MGMA represents more than 15,000 medical groups comprising more than 350,000 physicians. These groups range from small independent practices in remote and other underserved areas to large regional and national health systems that cover the full spectrum of physician specialties.
MGMA values the leadership of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in overseeing the Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) to reduce burden, offer flexibility to both developers and providers, and support innovation through the removal and revisions of certain certification criteria and regulatory provisions. We recognize the Administration's leadership advancing policies that transition healthcare to a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR)-based Application Programming Interface (API) ecosystem as a strategic imperative and an investment in the nation's interoperability future. We also recognize the value in removing certain redundant requirements of the Certification Program to benefit the health IT community overall.
These proposals extend beyond the removal of redundancies in the Certification Program to, as ASTP states, "aggressively reduce and remove long-standing functionality-oriented and non-FHIR-based certification criteria from the Certification Program"./i While MGMA supports reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on health IT developers, we believe the proposed removal of 34 certification criteria and revision of certain certification requirements risks shifting technical, operational, direct and indirect costs, and compliance responsibilities downstream to medical groups. For example, these changes could lead to increased product variability, especially with new market entrants, and the potential loss of expected "out-of-the-box" functionality could necessitate medical groups reassessing and renegotiating electronic health record (EHR) acquisitions to maintain capabilities they have come to rely on.
MGMA recommends that if ASTP proceeds to remove many of the criteria as proposed, then it should establish a feasible, strategic, longer-term timeline from what is proposed. Extending the proposed timelines for non-redundant criteria to be removed will benefit medical groups as they prepare for changes to their current product capabilities and workflows. We believe the compressed, proposed effective dates (listed as either effective date of final rule or January 1, 2027) may lead to unnecessary disruption to care and operations for medical groups and introduce added complexity and burden. Extended timelines and market stability will not only help ensure less potential disruption for medical groups' daily operations and patient care but also support practice groups' health information technology investments and decisions that are aligned with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) program participation and compliance expectations.
For well over a decade, the Certification Program has established the baseline federal standards and required functionality for certified health IT products, including electronic health records. In practice, these standards directly shape the health IT tools medical groups rely on to support clinical documentation, information exchange, reporting, compliance, decision-making, and day-to-day practice operations. If finalized as proposed, we anticipate both potential positive and negative unforeseen consequences for medical groups; accordingly, many of our comments involve considerations for practice implementation and for helping to ensure stability as well as innovation. With fewer guardrails offering vendors greater flexibility and supporting expanded data access and FHIR-enabled automation, we believe trust, governance, and consistency at scale will be essential to successful technology implementation and overall policy execution.
From recent feedback we received (January 2026) on regulatory administrative burden from nearly 250 MGMA members, of the top three factors contributing to physician burnout at practices, inefficient or overly complex electronic health record workflows and systems were ranked number three. Federal policies and investments must ensure health IT not only helps with administrative burden but also supports, rather than hinders, clinical care and operations, protects patient privacy, and relies on evidence and consensus-based, nationally recognized health IT data and administrative simplification standards.
We note that in addition to seeking input on this proposed rule, ASTP is also seeking input through a separate request for information on diagnostic imaging interoperability and on potential standards and certification criteria to adopt in the Certification Program. ASTP describes the diagnostic imaging interoperability current state as a fragmented ecosystem where exchange is manual, burdensome, and unreliable. ii In this instance, ASTP is inviting input on potential additions to the Certification Program as it works to help address shortcomings in market innovation and capabilities that are widely available for imaging interoperability. We look forward to future regulatory activities to build upon the Certification Program to help address these and other interoperability challenges.
In addition to the deregulatory certification-specific proposals in this rule, ASTP seeks input on which standards or implementation specifications it should retain for purposes of health IT alignment that involves support for acquiring, implementing, or upgrading health IT systems consistent with established policy in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The HHS Health IT Alignment Program that enables ASTP to work across HHS to promote greater alignment of health IT-related activities in support of its health IT and interoperability goals can help to eliminate data silos, reduce reporting burden, and further electronic health data exchange without dependency on proprietary solutions - these are all aims MGMA supports. Under this effort, standard health IT language is incorporated in federal applicable grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and rulemaking/guidance to ensure alignment of HHS' health IT investments. We thank ASTP for inviting input on the standards and specifications for its alignment activities as we believe it provides a role for ensuring continuity of standards use and adoption across HHS grants, models, demonstrations, and related reporting requirements.
While we are not currently suggesting granular specification standards, we do believe there are opportunities to advance standards alignment policy to help improve current credentialing processes to reduce burden for medical groups, ensure access for patients, and minimize unnecessary revenue loss. As we recently heard from one MGMA member, "Credentialing woes have a hard impact on our practice as everything starts with credentialing. Delays continue to impact our revenue in significant ways and often we only know of a provider credentialing problem when it negatively affects a patient. For example, we first discover an issue when we hear from patients after they go to a pharmacy and cannot access their medication due to a credentialing problem". Multiple portals (including National Plan and Provider Enumeration System-NPPES, National Provider Identifier- NPI, and Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System- PECOS) necessitate data re-entry, separate log in access, may involve additional process requests for enabling provider delegation, and present practices with a lack of standardized data and timely notifications. The credentialing process is complicated, burdensome, and inefficient. We believe a standard alignment -based approach as part of policy agenda on this (and related issues) could help to reduce credentialing burden and enable a seamless and efficient end user experience to benefit patients and practices. MGMA supports federally coordinated, HHS non-proprietary data standard use and adoption and looks forward to exploring further with ASTP how the Health IT Alignment Program can help to address the daily challenges of provider credentialing for medical groups.
We remain committed to working with ASTP to incorporate the daily realities of medical groups in implementing a final regulation that is expected to significantly reduce and remove longstanding functionality, and non-FHIR based certification criteria from the Certification Program. MGMA believes many of the proposed removals to the Certification Program warrant closer scrutiny and an extended, strategic implementation transition timeline to ensure continuity of care, preserve patient safety, and minimize workflow disruption for medical groups, especially for small and independent practices with limited capacity to compensate for these gaps in health IT functionality.
Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity
We respectfully offer the following comments in response to this proposed rule. ASTP/ONC should:
Extend timelines for certain Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) removal
As stated above, MGMA encourages ASTP to establish clear, phased transition expectations as certification shifts toward FHIR-based exchange and extend the timeline for non-redundant criteria removal should ASTP proceed to remove all the C-CDA criteria as proposed. An extended timeline for C-CDA criteria removal can help to enable both practice and market stability. Given that much of document-based exchange in healthcare interoperability today is based on the C-CDA, any retirement of the C-CDA functionality-oriented criteria should involve a phased implementation approach grounded in demonstrable readiness. We believe doing this effectively will involve conducting further analysis, including, but not limited to, FHIR readiness, focused comment review, and potential input from the Health IT Advisory Committee (HITAC) to inform sequencing, dependencies, and transition readiness before finalizing largescale certification removals. Further, the HITAC is well-positioned to explore how documentbased FHIR could work alongside API-based exchange and the value and feasibility for generating standardized FHIR document summaries as part of a transition away from C-CDA. Certification requirements have served as a critical safeguard, ensuring predictable and tested functionality. Eliminating C-CDA certification requirements without ensuring these functions remain reliably supported during a transition to FHIR risks increasing manual workflows and administrative burden while posing potential risk to clinicians and patients. Extending the timeline for criteria removal could help prevent any loss, disruption, degradation, or inconsistent support of functionality and standards that medical groups depend on to deliver care and support daily operations.
Accounting for uneven FHIR adoption and readiness will be important as part of any future effort to revisit proposed timelines. MGMA acknowledges FHIR as an important strategic direction and applauds the work of ASTP and CMS to advance an interoperable, person-centered ecosystem that leverages modern data standards for efficient, frictionless, accessible data exchange. At present, FHIR adoption and implementation are uneven across organizations, care settings, and use cases. Medical group practices, including smaller under-resourced practice groups, must operate within this reality and may support hybrid workflows and variable FHIR maturity. While FHIR offers important advantages for data sharing, implementation challenges persist, including interoperability with legacy systems, uneven adoption across organizations, ongoing maintenance demands, and inconsistent use of standardized terminologies and value sets. iii Certification program decisions could reflect actual practice costs and workflows, accounting for FHIR challenges, uneven adoption levels, and the lack of what is often described as the widespread use of "FHIR push capabilities" rather than assume an overall FHIR ecosystem readiness. Further, decisions could also consider future opportunities for standardized FHIR documents for summary-of-care exchange while transitioning away from C-CDA document summaries providers have familiarity with and depend upon.
Adopt appropriate safeguards, preserve real-world testing, and empower practice vendor due diligence
Program stability and predictability remain critical for medical group practices, making multiyear technology investments aligned with CMS program expectations. Removing certification requirements may, in certain instances, alter vendor development. In practice, it is possible certain vendors may prioritize investment in capabilities that are required, profitable, or contractually demanded, and may deprioritize document-based exchange and other functions no longer tied to certification. As certification requirements are reduced, medical group practices may face uneven FHIR implementation across products, and reduced support for established, widely used document-based interoperability workflows such as C-CDA.
We encourage ASTP to consider variable market responses and identify and advance appropriate and robust safeguards, such as maintaining expectations for end- to- end workflow reliability and encouraging continued testing and validations of interoperability functions in real-world settings if certification requirements involving C-CDA as part of real- world testing are removed. This will be impactful for medical groups navigating an altered landscape. Further, the uncertainty regarding whether new market entrants will reliably support functionality no longer tied to certification may pose risks to daily clinical workflows and interoperability goals. Medical groups depend on the knowledge that their certified product functions as intended in actual practice settings and not just successfully in a lab.
To help support and empower medical groups with related due diligence activities with their EHR vendor, we encourage ASTP to update and release a new version of the EHR Contracts Untangled guide from 2016iv and to consider developing other tools, such as an Informational Resource/v for Medical Group Practices, in concert with stakeholders such as MGMA. As an MGMA member recently shared with us, if certification criteria are removed then having a standardized way to make sense of product capabilities in a visibly clear and usable manner (like online product comparison charts used today for other products) will be essential for understanding impact and to help with future purchases, contract negotiations, and planning. As this member further explained, for their small, under-resourced practice a change in vendor is highly unlikely given the cost and disruption it entails. Indeed, the process of finding and changing EHR vendors may take a medical group 12 to 18 months, can be costly (as noted by this example), and involves increased staff time dedicated to implementation, training, and associated due diligence activities.
Maintain privacy and security certification capabilities
Privacy and security certification criteria are important for sustaining and strengthening public and provider trust in technology systems, and are foundational infrastructure for safe, trusted interoperability, especially while granular data sharing and segmentation technical capabilities continue to advance. As pertains specifically to HIPAA Security, we appreciate ASTP's rationale in the NPRM that HIPAA Security Rule requirements apply independently of certification. We believe in balancing security requirements with the practical realties faced by medical groups, recognizing that new system updates, processes such as mandatory audits, and upstream changes impacting vendors can all impose significant costs. Policies should provide flexibility for medical groups in implementing cybersecurity measures avoiding requirements that add complexity without improving patient outcomes. The security certification requirements in the Certification Program can help medical groups rely on a baseline set of security capabilities that are relevant to, and supportive of, HIPAA Security Rule implementation, without implying or guaranteeing HIPAA compliance. We believe that these certification criteria have played a critical role in enabling medical group practices to rely on consistent, tested technical security functionality within certified health IT, and that eliminating these criteria risks shifting additional implementation responsibilities to practices even where underlying legal requirements remain unchanged. These concerns are heightened as future HIPAA Security Rule regulatory actions are currently unclear. Absent certification guardrails, medical groups may bear increased responsibility for independently assessing, validating, negotiating, and maintaining security functionality across their health IT products. MGMA recommends ASTP retain critical privacy and security criteria, such as auditable reports and events, access controls, authentication safeguards, and encryption-related capabilities, or at minimum establish a longer timeframe for preserving certified security capabilities so that practices can continue to rely on foundational protections already in place. Near term removal could result in costly, inconsistent, and error-prone system customizations that shift operational risk, selection, and oversight responsibility more heavily on medical groups, particularly for small and independent practices with limited technical capacity.
Ensure information blocking exception and definition changes do not increase compliance risk
MGMA cautions that revisions to the information blocking exceptions, including those narrowing the infeasibility and manner (and removal of Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement -TEFCA- manner) exceptions, should not increase compliance risk or operational uncertainty for medical group practices acting in good faith. ASTP should ensure that revised exceptions appropriately reflect real-world implementation constraints and do not potentially penalize practices for interoperability limitations that are beyond their control. We believe ASTP and the HHS Inspector General should focus enforcement on egregious violations and provide updated, practical technical assistance and education to help providers comply. As pertains to the proposal to revise information blocking definitions to emphasize that they include automated means of access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI) including, without limitation, autonomous Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, we believe it is important to fully explore the potential impact this holds for medical practices. While the expanded definitions are intended to support innovation, medical groups remain regulated actors under information blocking policies including when automated or AI-enabled data access capabilities are embedded in a system that practices do not design. The inclusion of AI-enabled access to EHI raises additional potential concerns for practices related to patient consent, secondary data use, transparency, and additional cybersecurity risk. Enabling responsible AI use involves access to high quality data coupled with adequate guidance and having precautions in place for providers and patients. MGMA believes additional clarification is needed to ensure that revised definitions and exceptions do not unintentionally increase compliance risk for medical groups. Expanded definitions could inadvertently shift liability and oversight responsibilities to practices without providing commensurate tools or protections, increasing administrative burden and uncertainty.
Avoid leaving medical groups accountable to CMS requirements without certified tools and strategies to support them
Regulatory streamlining of the Certification Program should not weaken certified health IT capabilities in ways that could potentially increase reporting risk or operational burden for medical groups participating in HHS programs such as the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The proposed certification removals and modifications have direct implications for medical groups' MIPS Promoting Interoperability (PI) participation and other critical models or reporting requirements. ASTP and CMS should coordinate closely to ensure certification changes do not undermine program integrity or shift compliance and performance risk to practices leaving them without adequate capabilities in place to support performance and reporting in the future. This may involve extending flexibility for reporting and enforcement discretion during transition years.
In certain instances, certification criteria proposed for removal or modification underpin workflows that medical group practices must still operationalize to meet CMS program requirements, even if the formal certification mandate is eliminated. As a result, practices may face misalignment between CMS expectations and the capabilities that are assured through certification. Although CMS may not explicitly require C-CDA-based exchange, in practice many PI measures depend on the availability of reliable, standardized exchange capabilities across diverse trading partners. Even in an environment where certification criteria remain constant but there are changes to MIPS, as one practice administrator of a small medical group recently shared with us, "any change to a MIPS category involves more cost, more upgrades, staff training, and is disruptive to our workflow and patient care". As pertains to advanced payment models (APM), while we continue to advocate for CMS to rescind burdensome Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) requirements and further incentivize the transition to value-based care arrangements by reducing reporting burdens for APM participants, we do not believe, at this time, that the removal of certification criteria contained within CEHRT as proposed will lessen reporting burden for medical groups.
Medical groups remain accountable for CMS requirements even as certification criteria change and are removed. MGMA is concerned with the potential impact these proposed policies have on the base EHR and CEHRT definitions and with the absence, at present, of an implementation-focused, technically feasible and coordinated ASTP/CMS timeline-transition strategy to ensure stability for medical operations. As example, without an aligned programmatic strategy in place, CMS may need to rely more frequently on discretionary tools such as measure- suppression if technical readiness lags policy expectations rather than on a predictable transition framework additionally useful for medical group operations and planning. The development of a programmatic strategic framework could be further informed by the Health IT Advisory Committee with input from additional stakeholders such as MGMA.
Criteria Specific Comments
Consistent with the overarching recommendations and implementation considerations outlined above, below we offer additional comments on a select number of specific certification criteria from the 34 that are proposed for removal and 7 for revision. We believe these criteria, essential to medical group health operations and care delivery, provide valuable examples for reconsideration of the proposed timeline and removal approaches.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Care Coordination- Transitions of Care and Clinical Reconciliation
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP proposes to revise and simplify the transitions of care certification criterion by removing requirements to "send" and "create" clinical documents while retaining a requirement to "receive" a C-CDA document. The proposal is intended to position this criterion for future evolution to receive data via FHIR. ASTP also proposes to revise and scale back clinical reconciliation functionality.
MGMA comment: MGMA is concerned that the proposed scaling back of transitions of care and clinical reconciliation requirements weakens testing of foundational capabilities relied upon by medical groups to support safe, coordinated care. Clinical reconciliation is closely tied to transitions of care. Together, these certification criteria help enable effective referrals, care coordination, and enable the ability to meaningfully incorporate external data into clinical workflows. Without robust reconciliation capabilities, burden will likely shift further on to clinicians and staff to manually review and reconcile information across systems which can lead to further administrative burden. In practice, weakened transitions of care workflows may also exacerbate patient matching and data linkage challenges at the point of care. The inclusion of patient matching criteria within the continuity of care document (CCD) improves patient safety and security by reducing instances of patient misidentification. Difficulty matching and linking patient data can limit a practice's ability to obtain a comprehensive view of a patient's health record, undermining critical care delivery functions such as care coordination, safe transitions, utilization tracking, and follow-up care.
MGMA believes these proposed changes warrant closer scrutiny and a more deliberate transition timeline to ensure continuity of care, preserve patient safety, and minimize workflow disruption for medical groups, especially for small and independent practices with limited capacity to compensate for these gaps in health IT functionality.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Public Health Reporting Related Criteria
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP proposes removing public health criteria tied to transmission to cancer registries, antimicrobial use, and health care surveys and revising criteria for electronic case reporting. ASTP indicates that cancer registry reporting is moving from C-CDA to FHIR through the HL7 FHIR Accelerator Helios and that health care survey capabilities are already widely implemented and used.
MGMA comment: State public health data reporting policies and practices vary widely. vi Removing standardized EHR functionality that supports medical groups with public health reporting increases the risk that medical groups will face inconsistent workflows and added operational burden while detracting in the near term from federal efforts to standardize public health data exchange if removals outpace availability of replacement FHIR standards. Moreover, even as FHIR readiness may come in place, migrating to these standards is costly for small practices. Scaling back certification and testing requirements for electronic case reporting may lead to greater variability in this functionality across vendors increasing manual oversight, configuration, and troubleshooting for medical practices. Further, it may also unintentionally compromise the integrity of public health reporting. We recommend ASTP reconsider the proposed removals and revisions to electronic case reporting and, at minimum, extend the associated timelines to ensure an adequate period for adoption and implementation of FHIR based approaches from current C-CDA-based public health-related certification criteria.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Privacy and Security Certification Criteria
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP/ONC proposes to remove Privacy and Security certification criteria and the associated Privacy and Security Certification Framework, asserting that HIPAA Security Rule requirements apply independently of ONC certification and that certification has not been a primary driver of privacy and security compliance. ASTP further states that certification does not guarantee HIPAA compliance or provide an affirmative defense and seeks to reduce duplicative regulatory burden. ASTP indicates intent to prioritize the adoption of privacy and security capabilities that are fit for purpose, use case specific, and deliver technical consistency paired with specific conformance requirements.
MGMA comment: As discussed in greater detail above, MGMA believes it is important to retain certification-based privacy and security capabilities to secure patient and practice data and ensure technology systems deliver effective protections. These criteria provide medical groups with confidence that baseline security capabilities exist and function as tested - not that HIPAA compliance is guaranteed. While underlying legal requirements may remain unchanged, removal of these criteria risks shifting the burden onto medical groups (particularly small and independent practices) by eliminating a consistent certification baseline for critical security capabilities. Such a shift could increase operational risk, complexity, and variability for practices handling sensitive patient data, as practices also remain responsible for meeting HIPAA Security Rule obligations. We appreciate the future intent to, as we understand, prioritize embedded privacy and security capabilities, but believe greater information is needed by ASTP on this proposed approach and, as such, these criteria should remain in place or, at a minimum, ASTP should finalize a later date for their removal to ensure critical protections remain available.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Decision Support Interventions
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP proposes to revise and remove parts of the decision support interventions (DSI) certification criterion that helps to ensure users can leverage health IT for clinical decision making and enables users access to transparent information about DSI performance and quality. This would remove certain requirements related to source attributes that enable transparency regarding how a predictive or generative AI application was designed, developed, tested, evaluated, and should be used in practice.
MGMA comment: MGMA is concerned that this proposal involving DSI certification criteria removes certain source attributes and transparency requirements routinely available via certified health IT modules to medical practices for clinical artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools. Without these requirements, practices will have significantly less visibility into how predictive or generative AI applications are designed, developed, tested, evaluated, and intended to be used in clinical workflows.
The potential loss of standardized transparency could make it more difficult for practices, especially smaller and community-based medical groups, to evaluate AI tools for adoption, support informed provider use, and train staff appropriately. In practice, medical groups may rely on vendor-provided information (including model cards) to assess the safety, performance, and limitations of AI-enabled clinical decision support. Changing DSI requirements in this way reduces the availability and consistency of this information at the point of purchase and implementation, potentially shifting evaluation and liability risk onto practices without providing an alternative framework. Practices would be left independently assessing vendor AI tools and managing associated clinical and legal risk without access to standardized information on how those tools were developed, validated, and evaluated for real-world use. This creates a gap at a time when guardrails, governance, and trust in AI-enabled decision support are increasingly important.
MGMA believes these requirements remain valuable to purchasers and implementers of health IT and are premature to change as proposed absent a clear replacement. Transparency and knowledge about AI use directly support provider trust, appropriate adoption, and safer use at scale enabling medical groups to make informed decisions about AI deployment in clinical practice.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Real-World Testing
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP proposes narrowing real-world testing reporting to specific API focused certification criteria and to de-scope broader real-world testing conditions and maintenance of certification requirements.
MGMA response: As discussed in detail above, real-world testing of certified health IT products provides practices with assurance that the technologies they use are functioning as intended in clinical practice without adverse impact on patient care. For medical groups, real-world testing provides insight into how capabilities perform outside of a controlled laboratory, testing environment. Limiting real-world testing to specific API criteria risks reducing transparency into system performance, reliability, functionality degradation, increased vendor dependency, and could result in further unintended downstream effects on practices and patient care during realworld use. These risks are very concerning for small and independent practices that have limited resources to validate vendor performance on their own.
MGMA urges ASTP to adopt a measured approach that preserves real-world testing expectations while transitioning certification policy toward FHIR overall so that health IT for medical groups continues to enable safe, reliable care in clinical practice settings.
TOPIC/ISSUE: Direct Project and Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM
ASTP/ONC proposal: ASTP proposes to remove certification requirements tied to Direct Project and associated C-CDA content standards, indicating this functionality has been widely adopted and there is no longer added benefit to include it as part of conformance testing in the Certification Program. ASTP proposes to retain Direct Project as an available transport standard for use by vendors and providers recognizing that doing so is important for continuity and that many groups still rely on it.
MGMA comment: MGMA cautions against the proposed timeline for removing certification criteria tied to standardized C-CDA content and testing which would no longer ensure through the Certification Program the availability of standardized content transmitted via Direct Project. We believe these proposed changes warrant closer timeline scrutiny to ensure continuity and minimize workflow disruption for practices. During a transitional period toward FHIR-based interoperability, document-based push exchange remains foundational for enabling practice referrals, consults, public health reporting, electronic case reporting, and care coordination. Direct Secure Messaging, as ASTP acknowledges, is widely adopted./vii According to industry reporting, in the last quarter of 2025, over 484 million Direct Secure Messages were exchanged, meaning that over 6.5 billion messages cumulatively have been exchanged since the start of tracking message volume in 2014. viii Many medical groups use Direct-enabled secure messaging workflows, including within patient portals, to support secure information exchange. Ensuring stability of these workflows is important for patient access and practice operations. Removing Direct-related criteria does not eliminate Direct Secure Messaging but would remove the assurance that vendors continue to support standardized, reliable content exchange in ways medical groups and their patients depend on. Certification has played a significant role in promoting Direct Secure Messaging's uniform implementation, broad accessibility, and cost-effective use across the ecosystem.
Conclusion
MGMA recognizes FHIR as an important strategic direction and supports ASTP's efforts to advance a more interoperable, person-centered ecosystem built on modern data standards. We believe many of the proposed certification changes warrant closer review and a more deliberate and feasible transition timeline to ensure continuity of care, preserve patient safety, and minimize workflow disruption for medical groups, especially for small and independent practices with limited capacity to compensate for gaps in health IT functionality.
MGMA remains committed to working with ASTP to align health IT policy modernization with the operational realities of medical groups and welcomes continued collaboration to inform future policies and resources, so that medical groups can effectively navigate changes to the Certification Program and benefit from innovation without disruption or instability to their practices. We appreciate HHS's leadership in seeking to reduce burden and to provide flexibility to both developers and providers while supporting innovation through the removal and revisions of certain certification criteria and regulatory provisions. Changes to the Certification Program and to information-blocking policies that reflect and are informed by the operational realities of medical groups will help achieve the aims of these proposed policies for better health and impactful innovation enabled by technology. If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Meklir, Associate Director of Government Affairs, at smeklir@mgma.org or 202-293-3450.
Sincerely,
/s/ Anders M. Gilberg, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
* * *
Footnotes:
i U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity (proposed rule), 90 Fed. Reg. 60972 (December 29, 2025)
ii U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Request for Information: Diagnostic Imaging Interoperability Standards and Certification, 91 Fed. Reg. 4056 (January 30, 2026)
iii Gazzarata R, Almeida J, Lindskold L, Cangioli G, Gaeta E, Fico G, Chronaki CE. HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) in digital healthcare ecosystems for chronic disease management: Scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2024;189:105507. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105507.
iv Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. EHR Contracts Untangled: Selecting Wisely, Negotiating Terms, and Understanding the Fine Print. September 2016.
v Examples of ASTP Informational Resources that identify health IT certification criteria and standards to support multiple care and practice settings can be accessed at https://healthit.gov/maternal-and-pediatric-care/ vi The Pew Charitable Trusts. State Public Health Data Reporting Policies and Practices Vary Widely: Nationwide analysis outlines opportunities to improve data for disease detection and prevention. 2024. Available at: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2024/10/state-public-health-data-reportingpolicies-and-practices-vary-widely. Accessed [January 22, 2026].
vii Everson J, Andriesen B. Achieving Widespread Use of Direct Secure Messaging by US Hospitals. Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) Blog. July 15, 2025. Available at: https://www.healthit.gov/blog/interoperability/achieving-widespread-use-of-direct-secure-messaging-by-ushospitals/. Accessed January 20, 2026.
viii DirectTrust. (2025). DirectTrust enabled transactions by quarter: Number of send and receive transactions to/from trusted endpoints. Powerpoint slides. https://directtrust.app.box.com/s/0iomf8gnt5qvvd8v5k3ap0zy1sxlk4pf
* * *
Original text here: https://www.mgma.com/getkaiasset/f68fa0ca-32fe-4d4a-a13b-24ec46402c6a/MGMA%20ASTP%20HTI-5%20Comment%20Letter%202.27.26.pdf
[Category: Medical]
ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 28 -- The American Telemedicine Association issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026:* * *
ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines
March 28 Deadline: 30% of Michigan's physician workforce could lose compact-based authority to practice medicine
*
WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation allowing ... Show Full Article ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 28 -- The American Telemedicine Association issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026: * * * ATA Action Urges State Policymakers to Restore Michigan to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Allowing Physicians to Deliver Needed Care Across State Lines March 28 Deadline: 30% of Michigan's physician workforce could lose compact-based authority to practice medicine * WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation allowingMichigan physicians to continue practicing medicine across state lines under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). The IMLC allows eligible physicians to apply to practice in multiple states by submitting a single application through the Compact. While licenses are still issued individually by each state, the Compact streamlines the process, allowing physicians to obtain practice authority in multiple states quicker and with fewer administrative burdens. Since Michigan joined the IMLC in 2019, thousands of out-of-state physicians have obtained Michigan licensure while physicians located in Michigan have used the IMLC to help provide care to patients outside the state.
Michigan's statutory language, unlike most IMLC statutes, included a sunset provision, which passed on March 28, 2025, beginning a 12-month withdrawal process - until March 28, 2026 - from the Compact. If Michigan does not pass the required legislation before that date (either House Bill 5455 or Senate Bill 303), patients will suffer from care disruption and physicians will lose practice authority.
"According to data from the IMLC, more than 5,000 physicians, one-third of Michigan's physician workforce, would lose their compact-based authority to practice if lawmakers don't act quickly to pass legislation to rejoin the compact. Bipartisan bills introduced in the House and Senate are currently stalled, putting patients at risk," said Hunter Young, ATA Action's head of state government relations. "We urge leaders in both chambers to set aside differences and expeditiously restore the IMLC to statute. If this stalemate continues, patient access to care in Michigan and in other states will be harmfully disrupted. While the state will not leave the Compact until March 28 of this year, quick action is essential as providers and patients grapple with continuing uncertainty of the looming deadline.
"The IMLC is a proven, state-driven solution to the growing challenges of licensure portability - and it's never been more critical, as telehealth and multistate practice become increasingly central to how care is delivered," Young added. "State policymakers have a responsibility to protect patient access to care, particularly in rural communities, and that means ensuring physicians can practice where they are needed most."
Licensure remains one of the most significant barriers facing telehealth providers, as most states require practitioners to hold a license in the state where the patient is located. Compacts like the IMLC offer a structured, state-driven path forward, cutting through duplicative licensing requirements, easing administrative burdens, strengthening workforce mobility, and ultimately expanding access to care for patients across the country.
* * *
About ATA Action
Founded in 2022, ATA Action is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing policy and accelerating the adoption of technology-enabled healthcare. Working collaboratively with federal and state legislators and policymakers, ATA Action drives industry momentum by influencing legislative and regulatory developments in telehealth, virtual care, remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence in health, health data privacy, private sector healthcare investment, and more. Representing a diverse membership - including hospital systems, technology companies, professional associations, direct-to-consumer digital health providers, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, digital therapeutics developers, and remote monitoring organizations - ATA Action facilitates member-led coalitions focused on initiatives such as Advancing Digital Health and Prescription Drug Use-Related Software (PDURS), Virtual Foodcare, and Cross State Care.
ATA Action is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization engaged in lobbying efforts to shape industry-related legislation and serves as an affiliated trade association of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). The ATA, a 501(c)(3) entity, is recognized for its leadership in advancing innovation and leading transformation in virtual care, digital health, hybrid care, artificial intelligence, and next generation connected care.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.americantelemed.org/press-releases/ata-action-urges-state-policymakers-to-restore-michigan-to-the-interstate-medical-licensure-compact-imlc-allowing-physicians-to-deliver-needed-care-across-state-lines/
[Category: Medical]
ASA Statement on USDA's 'One Farmer, One File'
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Feb. 28 -- The American Soybean Association issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026:* * *
ASA Statement on USDA's 'One Farmer, One File'
The American Soybean Association applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for announcing the "One Farmer, One File" Initiative at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Streamlining digital services at USDA will increase efficiency and provide U.S. soybean farmers with additional flexibility in how they access USDA services.
"ASA applauds Secretary Rollins for the rollout of the 'One Farmer, One File' ... Show Full Article ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Feb. 28 -- The American Soybean Association issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026: * * * ASA Statement on USDA's 'One Farmer, One File' The American Soybean Association applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for announcing the "One Farmer, One File" Initiative at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. Streamlining digital services at USDA will increase efficiency and provide U.S. soybean farmers with additional flexibility in how they access USDA services. "ASA applauds Secretary Rollins for the rollout of the 'One Farmer, One File'Initiative at our 30th annual Commodity Classic," said ASA Vice President and Iowa farmer Dave Walton. "Farmers rely on USDA's support and technical assistance more than ever, but we also know firsthand how time-consuming paperwork and duplicative reporting requirements can be. The efficiencies implemented through this initiative will help reduce that burden and save precious time that can be spent in the field."
* * *
Original text here: https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-statement-on-usdas-one-farmer-one-file/
[Category: Agriculture]
AMWA Engages GME Leaders at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Feb. 28 -- The American Medical Women's Association issued the following news:* * *
AMWA Engages GME Leaders at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference
The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) had the pleasure of meeting many leaders in Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Residency/Fellowship programs during the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference. Attendees stopped by AMWA's booth to connect, learn about the wonderful resources we have for residency programs, and collaborate around advancing medical education and leadership.
Specific resources highlighted:
* ... Show Full Article LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Feb. 28 -- The American Medical Women's Association issued the following news: * * * AMWA Engages GME Leaders at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) had the pleasure of meeting many leaders in Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Residency/Fellowship programs during the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference. Attendees stopped by AMWA's booth to connect, learn about the wonderful resources we have for residency programs, and collaborate around advancing medical education and leadership. Specific resources highlighted: *Innovation Grants
* Global Travel Grants
* National Awards for Residents
* Subsidized Leadership Programs for trainees and faculty
* National Leadership Roles for Residents
* Discount Board Prep & Exec MBA Programs
AMWA members played an active role in this year's conference, contributing presentations and discussions that expanded the dialogue on patient-centered care, lifestyle medicine, and leadership development in GME, among the topics. Their insights reflected AMWA's commitment to promoting excellence in medical education and supporting innovations that enhance physician wellness and patient outcomes.
The AMWA booth also spotlighted talented member-authors, whose books drew considerable attention throughout the conference. In addition, we were proud to share information about AMWA's innovative Certificate in Leadership programs, designed for both trainees and faculty to cultivate the next generation of leaders in medicine.
To all AMWA members leading residency programs, we'd welcome the chance to explore how we can help you bring value-added to your program. Please reach out: jgodfrey@amwa-doc.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://amwa-doc.org/news/amwa-engages-gme-leaders-at-the-2026-acgme-annual-educational-conference/
[Category: Medical]
AICPA Urges Department of Education to Include Accounting Among List of Professional Degrees in Response Letter to Proposed Rulemaking
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:* * *
AICPA Urges Department of Education to Include Accounting Among List of Professional Degrees in Response Letter to Proposed Rulemaking
Following the release of the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) submitted its response acknowledging the Departments efforts to clarify the definition of "professional," and urging the incorporation of similar language into the final rule, making the ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release: * * * AICPA Urges Department of Education to Include Accounting Among List of Professional Degrees in Response Letter to Proposed Rulemaking Following the release of the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) submitted its response acknowledging the Departments efforts to clarify the definition of "professional," and urging the incorporation of similar language into the final rule, making theintent clear within the Code of Federal Regulations itself.
Additionally, the AICPA strongly encouraged the Department to include "accounting" in the definition or retain current language stating that, "professional degrees may include but are not limited to" the list included in the NPRM.
"Fundamentally, recognizing accounting programs as professional degree programs makes common sense. This recognition reflects the impact CPAs make on the lives of individuals, the health of communities and the integrity of financial systems, as well as the rigorous path taken to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Students pursing this pathway should have equitable access to graduate-level financing, consistent with other recognized professional programs that serve critical public needs," the group said in the letter.
The AICPA joins voices of CPAs across the country, with many state CPA societies also submitting comments to the Department of Education. The Department will review and consider all comments submitted and final regulations must be implemented by July 1, 2026, per the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
* * *
About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with 397,000 members and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.
* * *
The Hon. Linda McMahon
Secretary
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Re: Comments in response to Docket ED-2025-OPE-0944
Dear Secretary McMahon:
On behalf of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), we respectfully submit the below comments in response to the Department of Education's (Department) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled, "Reimagining and Improving Student Education" (Document ID ED-2025-OPE-0944) (NPRM).
The AICPA appreciates that the Department recognized a more expansive definition of the term "profession" by including in its summary of the NPRM the following statement: "The designation, or lack thereof, of a program as 'professional' does not reflect a value judgment by the Department regarding whether a borrower graduating from the program is considered a 'professional.' This NPRM only interprets the phrase 'professional student' as used in the context of the loan limits established by the OBBB [One Big Beautiful Bill]." While we appreciate this acknowledgment and clarification, the AICPA recommends that the Department incorporate similar language into its final rule that makes this intent clear within the Code of Federal Regulations itself.
Furthermore, to the extent that the department would consider making changes in its final rule to the definition of the term "professional degree" in 34 CFR 685.102 and in 34 CFR 668.2(b), we strongly encourage that definition to include "accounting" or retain current language stating that, "professional degrees may include but are not limited to" the list included in the NPRM.
Accounting is a profession. CPAs are state-licensed, subject to rigorous education requirements beyond a standard bachelor's degree, validated by the Uniform CPA Examination and governed by ethics and competency standards. Furthermore, the accounting profession is an essential part of our nation's economic stability, contributing to economic growth at the local, national, and global levels. This fact is supported by more than 30 references throughout U.S. Code to terms such as "professional accounting" standards, opinions and expertise.
Fundamentally, recognizing accounting programs as professional degree programs makes common sense. This recognition reflects the impact CPAs make on the lives of individuals, the health of communities and the integrity of financial systems, as well as the rigorous path taken to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Students pursuing this pathway should have equitable access to graduate-level financing, consistent with other recognized professional programs that serve critical public needs.
The AICPA is the world's largest member association representing the accounting profession, with more than 397,000 members in the United States and worldwide, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. Our members advise clients on federal, state, and international tax matters and prepare income and other tax returns for millions of Americans. Our members provide services to individuals, not-for-profit organizations, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as America's largest businesses.
Sincerely,
Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA
President and CEO
American Institute of CPAs
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-urges-department-of-education-to-include-accounting-among-list-of
[Category: Accounting]