Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
CMA Calls on Congress to Address the Fallout of ACA Tax Credits Expiring
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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CMA calls on Congress to address the fallout of ACA tax credits expiring
California Medical Association (CMA) President Rene Bravo issued the following statement after Congress failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits:
"Congress' decision to let the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits expire represents a significant missed opportunity to protect patients. At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, Congress
... Show Full Article
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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CMA calls on Congress to address the fallout of ACA tax credits expiring
California Medical Association (CMA) President Rene Bravo issued the following statement after Congress failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits:
"Congress' decision to let the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits expire represents a significant missed opportunity to protect patients. At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, Congresschose inaction, jeopardizing access to health care for millions and undermining the stability of our health care system. This failure will harm patients and physicians, and reverses years of progress.
In California, the consequences will be immediate and severe. Nearly 1.7 million Californians who rely on Covered California will see sharp premium increases, forcing impossible choices between health care or basic needs like housing or food. An estimated 400,000 people are expected to be priced out of coverage altogether -- a devastating and unacceptable rollback in access to care.
When patients lose coverage, they delay screenings, abandon preventive care, and go without treatment for chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Our already strained clinics and hospitals will face a surge in uncompensated care, further destabilizing the health care system.
Extending the ACA enhanced premium tax credits is one of the most immediate and impactful actions Congress can take to protect patients and the physicians who care for them. Federal leaders must act to immediately restore the tax credits. Every day of delay pushes more patients out of coverage and deepens a crisis that is entirely of Congress' making."
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Original text here: https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/51090/CMA-calls-on-Congress-to-address-the-fallout-of-ACA-tax-credits-expiring
[Category: Medical]
American Securities Association Calls on Congress to Pass the TIER Act
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The American Securities Association issued the following news on Dec. 17, 2025:
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ASA Calls on Congress to Pass the TIER Act
The American Securities Association (ASA) today called on Congress to pass the Tailoring and Indexing Regulations (TIER) Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), which would modernize regulation by indexing bank asset tailoring thresholds to reflect economic growth.
"ASA applauds Rep. Barr for championing the TIER Act, a pragmatic bill that helps end Washington's arbitrary and outdated one-size-fits-all regulatory approach to bank supervision.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The American Securities Association issued the following news on Dec. 17, 2025:
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ASA Calls on Congress to Pass the TIER Act
The American Securities Association (ASA) today called on Congress to pass the Tailoring and Indexing Regulations (TIER) Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), which would modernize regulation by indexing bank asset tailoring thresholds to reflect economic growth.
"ASA applauds Rep. Barr for championing the TIER Act, a pragmatic bill that helps end Washington's arbitrary and outdated one-size-fits-all regulatory approach to bank supervision.The TIER Act is focused on helping America's Main Street banks compete, drive economic growth, and expand opportunities in their communities," said ASA President and CEO Chris Iacovella. "We look forward to working with Congressional leadership to get this bill to the President's desk."
The TIER Act passed the House Financial Services Committee on a 33-19 vote.
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The American Securities Association (ASA) represents the retail and institutional capital markets interests of regional financial services firms who provide Main Street businesses with access to capital and advise hardworking Americans how to create and preserve wealth. ASA's mission is to promote trust and confidence among investors, facilitate capital formation, and support efficient and competitively balanced capital markets. This mission advances financial independence, stimulates job creation, and increases prosperity. The ASA has a geographically diverse membership of almost one hundred members that spans the Heartland, Southwest, Southeast, Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States.
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Original text here: https://www.americansecurities.org/post/asa-calls-on-congress-to-pass-the-tier-act
[Category: Financial Services]
Advocacy in Action: OSMA's Ohio Legislature Update
DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 19 -- The Ohio State Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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Advocacy in Action: OSMA's Ohio Legislature Update
The Ohio Legislature has wrapped up for the 2025 year and will now be recessed for the holidays until the New Year. Within the fall months, there was a rush of activity surrounding the health insurance reform legislation OSMA has been supporting this year.
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We are proud to say that halfway through the 136th General Assembly, each of the major insurance reform proposals we are supporting has had at least one hearing in the legislative
... Show Full Article
DUBLIN, Ohio, Dec. 19 -- The Ohio State Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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Advocacy in Action: OSMA's Ohio Legislature Update
The Ohio Legislature has wrapped up for the 2025 year and will now be recessed for the holidays until the New Year. Within the fall months, there was a rush of activity surrounding the health insurance reform legislation OSMA has been supporting this year.
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We are proud to say that halfway through the 136th General Assembly, each of the major insurance reform proposals we are supporting has had at least one hearing in the legislativecommittee process, and some of them have had multiple hearings. This is great progress and means that each bill has cleared at least one of the hurdles it must pass through in order to complete its legislative journey.
* HB 214: Prior Authorization Gold Card - Sponsor hearing 5/20/2025
* HB 219: Network Adequacy - Sponsor hearing 5/6/2025, Proponent hearing 10/7/2025
* HB 220: Prior Authorization-Retroactive Denials, Peer to Peer, Appeals - Sponsor hearing 5/27/2025, Second hearing 10/21/2025, Proponent hearing 10/28/2025
* HB 390: Collection of Copays - Sponsor hearing 10/21/2025
* HB 429: Prohibit Reimbursement Reduction - Sponsor hearing 10/21/2025
* SB 160: Non-Medical Switching - Sponsor hearing 6/17/2025, Proponent hearing 9/30/2025, Opponent/Interested Party hearing 10/21/2025
* SB 162: Takebacks - Sponsor hearing 9/30/2025, Proponent hearing 10/21/2025
* SB 164: Transparency in Health Plan Use of AI - Sponsor hearing 10/28/2025
* SB 165: Automatic Downcoding and Prudent Layperson - Sponsor hearing 10/14/2025
In Case You Missed It:
There were also several hearings regarding scope of practice proposals last month. As a reminder, OSMA immediate past president Dr. Elizabeth Muennich provided testimony in a hearing opposing HB 508, legislation which would grant independent practice authority to Ohio advanced practice registered nurses. In addition, OSMA VP of Advocacy Monica Hueckel testified in opposition to HB 353, which would change the title of "physician assistant" to "physician associate."
In fact, numerous physician members have taken a hands-on role in OSMA advocacy this fall and helped OSMA to carry out our advocacy work by giving legislators their uniquely powerful clinical perspective. We are endlessly thankful for their contributions.
Please stay tuned for OSMA's Advocacy Report, coming next month. This biannual magazine is your key to understanding the most important action during the past year on OSMA's legislative and regulatory priorities. It will give more details regarding our physician leaders' participation in our efforts this fall. The Advocacy Report will be released, to mailboxes and electronically, in mid-late January 2026.
Thank you for an amazing year of advocacy and happy holidays!
Support the OSMAPAC for 2026!
The OSMAPAC has started fundraising for the 2026 year and is gearing up for the fall general election coming next November! Each year, our dedicated physician leaders raise vital funds to keep supporting key elected officials that exemplify what it means to be an ally to the practice of medicine. Help us have another strong year and please consider contributing to the OSMAPAC.
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Original text here: https://osma.org/aws/OSMA/pt/sd/news_article/609233/_PARENT/layout_details-news/false
[Category: Medical]
AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) urged the establishment of a separate, lower user fee category for private letter ruling requests related to S corporations under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f) that involve straightforward, low-complexity cases. These rulings are commonly requested to obtain
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) urged the establishment of a separate, lower user fee category for private letter ruling requests related to S corporations under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f) that involve straightforward, low-complexity cases. These rulings are commonly requested to obtainrelief from inadvertent S corporation election or compliance failures, including late or incomplete filings.
The AICPA's letter proposes that Treasury and the IRS establish a separate user fee category for private letter rulings under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f). Specifically, a separate category should be created for requests under section 1362(f) where the taxpayer cannot rely on Rev. Proc. 2013-30 solely because the three-year and seventy-five-day deadline has expired. The AICPA's letter echoes concerns also raised in a 2016 AICPA comment letter recommending reduced user fees for these types of requests.
The AICPA believes establishing a separate user fee category is warranted for the following reasons:
* Section 1362(f) remains as the only source of relief for cases in which the sole failure to make an effective S corporation election or the sole reason for an inadvertent termination is the failure to timely make an electing small business trust electionor an election for a qualified subchapter S trust. Revenue Proc. 2013-30 is available only where relief is sought within three years and 75 days of the intended effective date of the election.
* Requests for relief under section 1362(f) are not "comfort" rulings. They are required to establish or preserve the S corporation status of the entity and are essential to taxpayers who must maintain their tax-favored status in response to an inadvertent trust-related election failure.
* While there was a recent increase in the small taxpayer gross income thresholds from $250,000 and $1 million to $400,000 and $10 million, it is expected that these new thresholds will subject small and closely held business taxpayers to the highest level of user fees.
"Creating a distinct category for these narrowly defined cases would better reflect the actual time and resources needed to process them," said Michelle Zou, Senior Manager for Tax Policy & Advocacy with the AICPA. "Our letter's recommendations would also align with the IRS' guiding principles for determining user fees."
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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.
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Background May 19, 2016 - Proposal to Reduce the User Fees Charged for S Corporation Private Letter Ruling Requests Under Sections 1362(b)(5) and 1362(f)
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View letter here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/aicpa-comment-letter-on-sections-1362-b-5-and-1362-f
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Original text here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-urges-treasury-irs-to-establish-lower-user-fee-category-for-private
[Category: Accounting]
AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants issued the following news release:
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AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) urged the establishment of a separate, lower user fee category for private letter ruling requests related to S corporations under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f) that involve straightforward, low-complexity cases. These
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants issued the following news release:
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AICPA Urges Treasury, IRS to Establish Lower User Fee Category for Private Letter Ruling Requests
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) urged the establishment of a separate, lower user fee category for private letter ruling requests related to S corporations under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f) that involve straightforward, low-complexity cases. Theserulings are commonly requested to obtain relief from inadvertent S corporation election or compliance failures, including late or incomplete filings.
The AICPA's letter proposes that Treasury and the IRS establish a separate user fee category for private letter rulings under section 1362(b)(5) and section 1362(f). Specifically, a separate category should be created for requests under section 1362(f) where the taxpayer cannot rely on Rev. Proc. 2013-30 solely because the three-year and seventy-five-day deadline has expired. The AICPA's letter echoes concerns also raised in a 2016 AICPA comment letter recommending reduced user fees for these types of requests.
The AICPA believes establishing a separate user fee category is warranted for the following reasons:
* Section 1362(f) remains as the only source of relief for cases in which the sole failure to make an effective S corporation election or the sole reason for an inadvertent termination is the failure to timely make an electing small business trust electionor an election for a qualified subchapter S trust. Revenue Proc. 2013-30 is available only where relief is sought within three years and 75 days of the intended effective date of the election.
* Requests for relief under section 1362(f) are not "comfort" rulings. They are required to establish or preserve the S corporation status of the entity and are essential to taxpayers who must maintain their tax-favored status in response to an inadvertent trust-related election failure.
* While there was a recent increase in the small taxpayer gross income thresholds from $250,000 and $1 million to $400,000 and $10 million, it is expected that these new thresholds will subject small and closely held business taxpayers to the highest level of user fees.
"Creating a distinct category for these narrowly defined cases would better reflect the actual time and resources needed to process them," said Michelle Zou, Senior Manager for Tax Policy & Advocacy with the AICPA. "Our letter's recommendations would also align with the IRS' guiding principles for determining user fees."
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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.
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Background May 19, 2016 - Proposal to Reduce the User Fees Charged for S Corporation Private Letter Ruling Requests Under Sections 1362(b)(5) and 1362(f)
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View letter here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/aicpa-comment-letter-on-sections-1362-b-5-and-1362-f
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Original text here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-urges-treasury-irs-to-establish-lower-user-fee-category-for-private
[Category: Accounting]
International Game Fish Association: Support the Future of Fishing
DANIA BEACH, Florida, Dec. 19 -- The International Game Fish Association issued the following news:
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Support the Future of Fishing!
Help the IGFA Cast a Future of Conservation and Angling Inspiration
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Since 1939, anglers like you have stood shoulder to shoulder through a shared love of sportfishing and a common purpose: to protect game fish, advance the science that drives their conservation, and preserve the traditions that bring us together.
For more than eight decades, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has built the foundation that makes that mission possible by advancing
... Show Full Article
DANIA BEACH, Florida, Dec. 19 -- The International Game Fish Association issued the following news:
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Support the Future of Fishing!
Help the IGFA Cast a Future of Conservation and Angling Inspiration
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Since 1939, anglers like you have stood shoulder to shoulder through a shared love of sportfishing and a common purpose: to protect game fish, advance the science that drives their conservation, and preserve the traditions that bring us together.
For more than eight decades, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has built the foundation that makes that mission possible by advancingscientific research, teaching the next generation of anglers, and preserving the integrity of our sport. These efforts endure thanks to individual anglers like you who choose to take action for the future of fishing.
Every breakthrough in conservation, every young angler inspired, and every record-setting catch released begins with a single decision: to care deeply enough to make a difference. When anglers like you unite behind that belief, we move the sport and its legacy forward together.
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Original text here: https://igfa.org/2025/12/17/support-the-future-of-fishing-2/
[Category: Environment]
CMA Warns Federal Cuts to American Academy of Pediatrics Undermine Children's Health
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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CMA warns federal cuts to American Academy of Pediatrics undermine children's health
California Medical Association (CMA) President and pediatrician Rene Bravo, M.D., issued the following statement following the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision to terminate grant funding for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
"As a pediatrician, I am deeply concerned by the federal government's decision to terminate critical funding for the American Academy
... Show Full Article
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2025:
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CMA warns federal cuts to American Academy of Pediatrics undermine children's health
California Medical Association (CMA) President and pediatrician Rene Bravo, M.D., issued the following statement following the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision to terminate grant funding for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
"As a pediatrician, I am deeply concerned by the federal government's decision to terminate critical funding for the American Academyof Pediatrics. These grants supported essential, evidence-based work to prevent sudden infant death, identify autism early, improve adolescent and mental health, and strengthen care for children and families nationwide. CMA stands with the AAP in urging federal leaders to reconsider actions that risk weakening the public health infrastructure children depend on. Decisions affecting child health must be guided by science, medical expertise, and the best interests of patients, not politics."
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Original text here: https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/51092/CMA-warns-federal-cuts-to-American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-undermine-children-39-s-health
[Category: Medical]
