New York HMEs reinvigorate NYMEP

April 26, 2004 ALBANY, N.Y. - The New York Medical Equipment Providers Association, realizing the need for a strong industry voice in the state, recently hired its first full-time staff member, Executive Director Matthew Guilbault. "We chose to move to a staff model association because we felt with all the things coming down the pike and all that is happening as far as cuts in reimbursement that a lot of the issues needed a little more attention," said NYMEP President Gloria Murray. " We wanted someone to be working for us on a constant basis all week long." NYMEP previously was managed by Negri Management Resources, an association management company. Board members, however, were worried about NYMEP being just one priority out of many when issues like competitive biding take center stage in the state. "It's important for our members to know that we have this one person who is ours and who is going to be there for them and help them get though things," said Murray. "We have stepped up the assistance for them." Guilbault is an attorney and previously served as the assistant state director for the New York office of the National Federation of Independent Business, an organization of 30,000 small business owners. He also has lobbied on behalf of physicians for the Medical Society of the State of New York. "Working with the NFIB [Guilbault] had an understanding of the independent business owner, which is a lot of what DME is all about," said Murray. "He has a lot of good qualities to bring to [NYMEP]."