Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
NACDS Urges CMS to Make Pharmacies Central to Modernizing Prior Authorization and Advancing Interoperability
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 19 -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores posted the following news release:
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NACDS Urges CMS to Make Pharmacies Central to Modernizing Prior Authorization and Advancing Interoperability
In comments to the agency, NACDS calls for reforms that work within real-world pharmacy workflows -- reducing the administrative burdens that delay patients' access to their medications.
NACDS' consistent engagement on interoperability issues is part of the Association's bold commitment to fostering innovations essential for the future of pharmacies and for advancing
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 19 -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores posted the following news release:
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NACDS Urges CMS to Make Pharmacies Central to Modernizing Prior Authorization and Advancing Interoperability
In comments to the agency, NACDS calls for reforms that work within real-world pharmacy workflows -- reducing the administrative burdens that delay patients' access to their medications.
NACDS' consistent engagement on interoperability issues is part of the Association's bold commitment to fostering innovations essential for the future of pharmacies and for advancingAmericans' health and wellness.
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The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed rule on prior authorization for prescription drugs and interoperability (CMS-0062-P), urging the agency to ensure the proposals work within real-world pharmacy workflows and reduce the administrative burdens that delay patient access to medications.
NACDS supports CMS' goal of expanding electronic prior authorization, advancing data exchange, and reducing administrative burden. However, the Association cautioned that the proposal remains oriented around payers and prescribers without fully accounting for pharmacies -- the very setting where coverage and prior authorization barriers are most acutely encountered.
"NACDS appreciates CMS' leadership in advancing interoperability and prior authorization reform, and we support the rule's overall direction," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, FASAE, CAE, IOM. "But to deliver meaningful improvement for patients, the final rule must do more than expand data exchange requirements -- it must ensure those requirements work in real-world workflows, particularly in pharmacy settings where coverage requirements and patient care needs converge."
In its comments, NACDS recommended that CMS:
* Integrate pharmacies into the data ecosystem, ensuring new interoperability tools are usable within pharmacy systems and recognize pharmacists in their dual role -- both as dispensers and as providers of clinical services.
* Make prior authorization actionable, requiring real-time information with clear next steps so pharmacists are not left making phone calls, resubmitting requests, and chasing down prescribers and payers to move a prescription forward.
* Make denial reasons useful, requiring them to be standardized and actionable so pharmacists can immediately determine how to proceed rather than initiating another round of manual follow-up.
* Reflect pharmacy's real-world starting point, recognizing that pharmacies were largely excluded from the federal incentives that advanced health IT in other care settings, and providing for flexible, phased implementation and realistic timelines that match where pharmacy systems stand.
* Protect continuity of care, requiring reliable, redundant systems and fallback processes so pharmacies can keep serving patients when other systems go down.
* Strengthen care coordination, including pharmacies in electronic event notifications around hospital admissions and discharges, and making patients' prior treatment history portable so they are not forced to repeat therapies that have already failed them when they change plans.
"Pharmacists are frequently the first to identify a coverage barrier and the closest point of contact for the patient who needs their medication," Anderson said. "When information is not actionable, that burden falls on pharmacy teams -- and on patients. Reform should reduce that burden and improve access, not simply shift it downstream."
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Original text here: https://www.nacds.org/nacds-urges-cms-to-make-pharmacies-central-to-modernizing-prior-authorization-and-advancing-interoperability/
[Category: Business]
Corn Growers Continue Engagement in Ongoing Fertilizer Tariff Developments
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, June 19 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Corn Growers Continue Engagement in Ongoing Fertilizer Tariff Developments
Author: Nicole Hasheider
The U.S. International Trade Commission recently announced that it will conduct a full review of the countervailing duties on imported phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia.
In response to this development, Ohio corn farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower issued the following statement:
"Corn growers will continue to fully engage in this process to share
... Show Full Article
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, June 19 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Corn Growers Continue Engagement in Ongoing Fertilizer Tariff Developments
Author: Nicole Hasheider
The U.S. International Trade Commission recently announced that it will conduct a full review of the countervailing duties on imported phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia.
In response to this development, Ohio corn farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower issued the following statement:
"Corn growers will continue to fully engage in this process to sharetheir concerns about countervailing duties placed on imported phosphate. As we have made clear many times before, high fertilizer prices play a major role in the economic outlook for corn farmers right now, many of whom are expected to lose money for the fourth year in a row.
"Ongoing volatility in the fertilizer market brings even greater concern as we start thinking about the 2027 growing season. Any possible price relief and stability in the market we could see in the coming months will be welcome developments.
"We have repeatedly asked the companies who petitioned for these duties, Mosaic and J.R. Simplot, to reconsider their position, and they continue to refuse to do so. That leaves us with seeing this process through to its fullest extent and making the case that continuing these duties will be a detriment to corn growers and our country."
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Nicole Hasheider
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2026/06/corn-growers-continue-engagement-in-ongoing-fertilizer-tariff-developments
[Category: Agriculture]
CompTIA Course Helps Customer Service Teams Work Smarter With AI
DOWNERS GROVE, Illinois, June 19 -- CompTIA posted the following news release:
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CompTIA course helps customer service teams work smarter with AI
CompTIA AI Customer Support Essentials focuses on impactful AI skills that boost performance
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A new course to help customer service teams become more productive with artificial intelligence (AI) tools is available from CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral IT training and certifications.
CompTIA AI Customer Support Essentials is a self-paced course for customer support professionals that's designed to strengthen their AI skills
... Show Full Article
DOWNERS GROVE, Illinois, June 19 -- CompTIA posted the following news release:
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CompTIA course helps customer service teams work smarter with AI
CompTIA AI Customer Support Essentials focuses on impactful AI skills that boost performance
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A new course to help customer service teams become more productive with artificial intelligence (AI) tools is available from CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral IT training and certifications.
CompTIA AI Customer Support Essentials is a self-paced course for customer support professionals that's designed to strengthen their AI skillsas they work with tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini.
"Chatbots, knowledge assistants, automated workflows and other AI tools can boost efficiency, but only if customer support teams understand how to work with them properly," said Katie Hoenicke, chief product officer for CompTIA. "Our new course focuses on AI literacy, tool proficiency, human judgment and responsible-use training to help customer service teams thrive alongside AI."
The course uses a scenario-driven approach that walks learners through realistic support workflows. They practice prompting, drafting, triaging, documenting and troubleshooting using AI tools they may already have access to at work. Competency and knowledge retention is validated through an assessment at the conclusion of the course.
"With strategic training customer support teams can harness AI as a powerful ally," said Henry Mann, senior director, product development, for CompTIA. "Individual learners gain confidence and new skills to excel in an AI-enhanced support environment. For organizations, an investment in training can lead to improved service efficiency, consistency and customer trust."
Customer support is one of the most immediate AI adoption contexts in the workforce. Agents are already working with AI-generated drafts, chatbot handoffs and AI-assisted documentation tools, but often without formal training. CompTIA AI Customer Support Essentials can fill many gaps in skills and training, including:
* Working effectively alongside AI agents
* Using AI tools responsibly
* Interacting with AI chatbots effectively and efficiently
* Drafting and refining customer responses with AI
* Handling difficult customer situations with AI support
* Summarizing and documenting customer interactions with AI
* Using AI for troubleshooting and issue resolution
* Creating and improving support content with AI
* Analyzing customer tickets, feedback and support trends with AI
* Using AI to support personal development and onboarding
CompTIA Essentials Series courses use a learning progression model, a research-based method of presenting instruction that helps learners retain what they've learned and apply it to real job scenarios. Courses are vendor-neutral so the instruction is highly relevant regardless of the tools learners may be using at work. Learn more about the CompTIA Essentials Series at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/#all.
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About CompTIA
CompTIA, Inc. is the leading global provider of vendor-neutral training and certification products in the information technology (IT) space. Over four million CompTIA certifications have been awarded to current and aspiring technology workers, business professionals, government and military personnel, career changers, students and others. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions, governments, training providers and workforce development organizations, CompTIA uses best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources to help job seekers reach their full potential and employers develop skilled technical talent. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/.
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Original text here: https://www.comptia.org/en-us/about-us/news/press-releases/New-CompTIA-course-helps-customer-service-teams-work-smarter-with-AI/
[Category: Computer Technology]
CMA Statement on the Passage of the 2026-27 Budget and Health Budget Trailer Bill
SACRAMENTO, California, June 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on June 18, 2026:
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CMA statement on the passage of the 2026-27 budget and health budget trailer bill
In response to the passage of the 2026-27 state budget and accompanying health budget trailer bill, California Medical Association (CMA) President Rene Bravo, M.D., issued the following the statement:
"As physicians, we see every day how difficult it is for patients to afford healthcare. Many families are often forced to forgo coverage completely to save money for other basic expenses. The
... Show Full Article
SACRAMENTO, California, June 19 -- The California Medical Association issued the following statement on June 18, 2026:
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CMA statement on the passage of the 2026-27 budget and health budget trailer bill
In response to the passage of the 2026-27 state budget and accompanying health budget trailer bill, California Medical Association (CMA) President Rene Bravo, M.D., issued the following the statement:
"As physicians, we see every day how difficult it is for patients to afford healthcare. Many families are often forced to forgo coverage completely to save money for other basic expenses. Theexpiration of Obamacare tax credits has already led to steep premium increases and enrollment drops, and the full implementation of H. R. 1 will lead to further massive coverage losses, with more than 2.5 million Medi-Cal enrollees and 660,000 Covered California participants expected to lose coverage.
"At a time when the consequences of federal actions are already being felt across the state, it is deeply concerning that California has enacted a budget that will make health care coverage even more expensive.
"Today's passed budget and accompanying trailer bill includes a $1.5 billion tax increase that will be passed on to Californians through higher health insurance premiums--as high as $400 more a year for a family of four. Raising health insurance premiums to help balance the state budget is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will only make it harder for families to keep coverage and get the care they need.
"While the Legislature made important progress protecting key programs and delaying some of the most harmful proposed cuts, increasing premiums so significantly will compound the financial pressures facing California families and further erode access to affordable healthcare.
"There is no shortage of external threats to the health of Californians, from devastating federal cuts to misguided and destructive ballot measures. Unfortunately, this budget adds yet another obstacle by making healthcare less affordable for the very people it is meant to serve."
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Original text here: https://www.cmadocs.org/newsroom/news/view/ArticleId/51221/CMA-statement-on-the-passage-of-the-2026-27-budget-and-health-budget-trailer-bill
[Category: Medical]
BoatUS Foundation Calls on Boaters to Take Action on Abandoned Vessels This Boating Season
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, June 19 -- Boat Owners Association of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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BoatUS Foundation Calls on Boaters to Take Action on Abandoned Vessels This Boating Season
Nationwide reporting of abandoned vessels help drive safer, cleaner waterways
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This summer, the BoatUS Foundation is urging boaters and coastal residents to help address the issue of abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) by reporting them through the nation's only and first of its kind national abandoned vessel database.
Built to turn individual sightings into collective action, each report
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, June 19 -- Boat Owners Association of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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BoatUS Foundation Calls on Boaters to Take Action on Abandoned Vessels This Boating Season
Nationwide reporting of abandoned vessels help drive safer, cleaner waterways
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This summer, the BoatUS Foundation is urging boaters and coastal residents to help address the issue of abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) by reporting them through the nation's only and first of its kind national abandoned vessel database.
Built to turn individual sightings into collective action, each reportstrengthens a national understanding of the issue, empowering communities, agencies, and advocates to identify risks, prioritize removals, and accelerate efforts to keep waterways clean.
Abandoned boats cause significant damage to waterways, crushing seagrass and coral habitats, leaking fuel and pollutants, blocking navigation channels, and putting other boaters at risk. With removal costs averaging $24,000 or more depending on the size, location and condition of the vessel, identifying where they are is a critical first step to getting them out of the water.
"Boaters now have an easy way to take action when they encounter an abandoned vessel," said Alanna Keating, Director of Outreach for the BoatUS Foundation. "By reporting a vessel, a boater is taking the first step to help give communities and agencies the information they need to prioritize cleanups and stop the problem before it grows."
To report an abandoned or derelict vessel, boaters can visit https://boatus.org/database. Once on the site, users can upload an optional photo, log the date and time of the sighting, answer a brief set of safety and vessel-related questions, and pinpoint the vessel's exact location on an interactive map.
The database is part of BoatUS Foundation's national initiative to remove hundreds of ADVs from coastal waterways, supported by a 2023 award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. This initiative also supports targeted ADV removals in eight states and territories, as well as a national summit on sustainable disposal solutions for ADVs, called Turning the Tide Summit.
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ABOUT THE BOATUS FOUNDATION:
BoatUS Foundation is supporting projects that were selected through their nationally competitive grant program for the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels throughout coastal and marine areas of the United States, including the Great Lakes, U.S. territories, and Freely Associated States. This project is supported by a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. In an effort to help educate and prevent future ADVs, the Foundation also created a national ADV database to track the scope of the challenge and measure success, document ADV prevention and removal activities to share with the public, and support a national dialogue and education efforts on boating-related debris disposal.
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Original text here: https://www.boatus.com/news-room/release/boatus-foundation-calls-on-boaters-to-take-ac
[Category: Travel]
Another Blow to Florida's SB 7072: Court Rejects Florida's First Amendment Defense, Sends Case to Trial
WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Business] -- NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations that says it makes the internet safe for free enterprise and expression, posted the following news release:
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Another Blow to Florida's SB 7072: Court Rejects Florida's First Amendment Defense, Sends Case to Trial
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida denied both parties' motions for summary judgment in NetChoice & CCIA v. Uthmeier, the five-year challenge to Florida's unconstitutional SB 7072. While NetChoice and CCIA would have welcomed a final ruling
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Business] -- NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations that says it makes the internet safe for free enterprise and expression, posted the following news release:
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Another Blow to Florida's SB 7072: Court Rejects Florida's First Amendment Defense, Sends Case to Trial
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida denied both parties' motions for summary judgment in NetChoice & CCIA v. Uthmeier, the five-year challenge to Florida's unconstitutional SB 7072. While NetChoice and CCIA would have welcomed a final rulingtoday, the court's order firmly reaffirms the constitutional principles that have protected Floridians' access to a free internet since this litigation began, and it flatly dispatches Florida's only remaining defense.
"Florida's central argument was that the First Amendment simply does not apply to websites' editorial decisions. That argument did not survive today," said Paul Taske, Director of the NetChoice Litigation Center. "We would have preferred to end this at summary judgment after five years of litigation, but we go to trial with full confidence that a full record will only make the constitutional problems with SB 7072 clearer. This law was designed from the start to punish websites for their political viewpoints. That is precisely what the First Amendment forbids."
Today's order leaves no doubt where the First Amendment stands. The court confirmed that website content curation, including so-called "mixed curation" that blends editorial standards with algorithmic ranking, receives First Amendment protection. The government cannot regulate its way around the First Amendment simply because websites use algorithms. The court rejected that argument as "plainly incorrect," citing the Supreme Court's own analysis in Moody v. NetChoice and the long line of precedents it discussed.
SB 7072 has been blocked from taking effect since June 30, 2021.
Read today's order here (https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/335.-2026-06-18-Order-Denying-Summary-dckt-335_0.pdf).
Find case resources for NetChoice & CCIA v. Uthmeier here (https://netchoice.org/netchoice-ccia-v-moody/).
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Original text here: https://netchoice.org/another-blow-to-floridas-sb-7072-court-rejects-floridas-first-amendment-defense-sends-case-to-trial/
Air Line Pilots Association International: Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
MCLEAN, Virginia, June 19 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
DENVER, Colo. -- Yesterday, the Frontier pilot leadership, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), elected Capt. Bob Masse as the MEC chair to complete the term vacated in April and ending on March 31, 2027.
"As we continue our fight for a fair and equitable contract, it is more important than ever for all Frontier pilots to stand unified," said Capt. Masse. "I am committed to working with our local representatives,
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, June 19 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
DENVER, Colo. -- Yesterday, the Frontier pilot leadership, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), elected Capt. Bob Masse as the MEC chair to complete the term vacated in April and ending on March 31, 2027.
"As we continue our fight for a fair and equitable contract, it is more important than ever for all Frontier pilots to stand unified," said Capt. Masse. "I am committed to working with our local representatives,committee chairs, and every Frontier pilot as we chart a path forward and achieve the contract that Frontier pilots have earned."
Capt. Masse has been with Frontier Airlines since 2016 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio. He currently serves as the Merger Committee chair. Prior to joining Frontier, he was a pilot with Midway Airlines, an ALPA carrier, and flew business jets worldwide. He also served two terms as a trustee on his local school board, including being the liaison for union contract negotiations.
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Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, including the more than 2,200 Frontier pilots. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.
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Original text here: https://www.alpa.org/press-room/2026/06/frontier-pilots-elect-mec-chair
[Category: Transportation]
