In brief: VGM’s toolkit, Big Tech’s commitment, Dexcom’s new CEO, PBM’s harm

WATERLOO, Iowa – The VGM Government Relations team has launched a Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit to support durable medical equipment professionals, caregivers, industry partners and patient advocates in advancing legislative initiatives that impact equipment and services.  

The toolkit includes materials and resources to assist in advocating for the DME industry, including:  

• Issue briefs: Clear, concise issue briefs outlining key legislative priorities and how they affect access to DME.  
• Media outreach templates: Ready-to-use press releases to help elevate your message in traditional and digital media spaces.  
• Patient engagement tools: Thoughtful resources to educate patients and encourage them to share their stories — the real-world impact of DME support.  
• Congressional contact guides: Scripts, emails, and talking points tailored to help you confidently communicate with your elected officials.  
• Printable handouts: Shareable materials perfect for town halls, provider offices, and community forums that foster public awareness.  

Download the toolkit here. 

White House, tech leaders commit to rebuilding health care system 

WASHINGTON – The White House and CMS have secured commitments from major health care and information technology firms – including Amazon, Anthropic, Apple, Google and OpenAI – to begin laying the foundation for a next-generation digital health ecosystem that they say will improve patient outcomes, reduce provider burden and drive value. 

“For decades, bureaucrats and entrenched interests buried health data and blocked patients from taking control of their health,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “That ends today. We’re tearing down digital walls, returning power to patients and rebuilding a health system that serves the people. This is how we begin to Make America Healthy Again.” 

The administration’s efforts focus on two broad areas: 

• Promoting a CMS Interoperability Framework to easily and seamlessly share information between patients and providers; and 
• Increasing the availability of personalized tools so that patients have the information and resources they need to make better health decisions.    

At a recent White House event, CMS unveiled voluntary criteria for trusted, patient-centered and practical data exchange that will be accessible for all network types—health information networks and exchanges, Electronic Health Records (EHR) and tech platforms. 

The agency says more than 60 companies have pledged to work collaboratively to deliver results in the first quarter of 2026. Twenty-one networks pledged to meet the CMS Interoperability Framework criteria to become CMS Aligned Networks. Eleven health systems or providers committed to participate and support patient use, and seven EHRs committed to facilitate data exchange.  

In addition, 30 companies have pledged to promote real health outcomes with technology over the coming months. The new tools will use secure digital identity credentials to obtain medical records from CMS Aligned Networks that meet the agency's data sharing criteria. The apps will assist in the delivery of key services to beneficiaries, including:  

• Diabetes and obesity management; 
• The use of conversational AI assistants to help patients check symptoms, navigate care options, and schedule appointments, among other tasks; and 
• Tools to “kill the clipboard” by replacing paper intake forms with seamless digital check-in methods; and more. 

“We have the tools and information available now to empower patients to improve their outcomes and their healthcare experience,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “For too long, patients in this country have been burdened with a healthcare system that has not kept pace with the disruptive innovations that have transformed nearly every other sector of our economy. With the commitments made by these entrepreneurial companies today, we stand ready for a paradigm shift in the U.S. healthcare system for the benefit of patients and providers.” 

• For the latest information on CMS’ Health Tech Ecosystem initiative visit here. 
• An introductory video on CMS’ Health Tech Ecosystem initiative can be viewed here. 

Dexcom grows 15% YOY, taps new CEO 

SAN DIEGO - Dexcom reported revenue growth of 15% year-over-year to $1.157 billion for the second quarter of 2025.  

Of that, U.S. revenue grew 15% and international revenue grew 16% on a reported basis year-over-year. 

“During the quarter, Dexcom delivered strong revenue results, presented compelling clinical data at ADA, and further advocated for expanded coverage in key growth markets,” said Kevin Sayer, chairman and CEO. “In the second half of 2025, we look forward to continuing our commercial momentum while advancing our product portfolio with the highly-anticipated launch of our Dexcom G7 15 Day System.” 

Second quarter 2025 highlights 

• Received FDA clearance for Dexcom G7 15 Day CGM System. 
• Launched AI-based Smart Food Logging feature, simplifying the process of meal logging for our customers. 
• Enhanced the Stelo customer experience with new software features, broader distribution, and digital health partnerships. 

2025 annual guidance 

Dexcom is raising fiscal year 2025 guidance for revenue, and reiterating guidance for non-GAAP gross profit margin, non-GAAP operating margin, and adjusted EBITDA margin at the following levels: 

• Revenue of $4.600 - $4.625 billion (14-15% growth) 
• Non-GAAP gross profit margin of approximately 62% 
• Non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 21% 

New CEO, Jan.1, 2026 

Dexcom also announced the promotion of Jake Leach to CEO and the board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Current CEO Kevin Sayer will continue to work closely with Leach during the transition period and will remain executive chairman of the board of directors at the point of transition. 

“Today’s announcement of Jake’s transition to the role of chief executive officer reflects the board’s comprehensive succession planning and their confidence in Jake’s leadership throughout his tenure,” said Sayer. “We are confident that he is the right leader to build on Dexcom’s momentum and extend the company’s growth well into the future.” 

Leach has helped steer the company’s biosensing platforms since the launch of its first commercial system. He has held roles of increasing responsibility across his 21-year tenure with the company. He served as executive vice president and chief technology officer from 2018 through 2022, transitioning to executive vice president and COO in late 2022. In May 2025, he was promoted to the expanded role of president and COO, assuming the additional responsibility of oversight for the company’s strategy and corporate development efforts. 

AMA: PBM markets are at risk of harming patients 
CHICAGO – Pharmacy benefit managers had little competition in 2023, with just four firms having two-thirds share of the national market, according to a new annual analysis published by the American Medical Association (AMA). 

The analysis, based on 2022 and 2023 data on prescription drug plan (PDP) enrollees, measures competition in PBM markets and vertical integration of insurers with PBMs. The assessment demonstrates low competition in PBM markets across the nation and high vertical integration as the largest PBMs share ownership with health insurers. 

Competition in PBM markets 
Competition in the PBM market was assessed based on three functions for which insurers typically hire an external PBM: rebate negotiation, retail network management and claims adjudication. As the AMA’s findings are similar across all three functions, the results reported below focus on rebate negotiation. 

• The four largest PBMs collectively had a 67% share of the national PBM market in 2023. 
• OptumRx was the largest PBM in the U.S. in 2023 with a 22.2% market share—up slightly from 20.8% in 2022. It was followed by CVS Health with an 18.9% share—down from 21.3% in 2022. Express Scripts was third largest with a 15.5% share, followed by Prime Therapeutics with a 10.6% share. 
• Seventy-nine percent of PDP region-level PBM markets lacked adequate competition and were “highly concentrated” according to 2023 federal antitrust guidelines. 

Vertical integration of insurers and PBMs 
There was significant vertical integration of insurers with PBMs in 2023, according to the AMA analysis. 

• At the national level, 77% of commercial and Part D enrollees were in a PDP where the insurer and PBM were vertically integrated.  
• The vertically integrated share was higher in Part D than in commercial insurance (88% vs. 71%). 
• At the PDP region-level, an average of 76% of enrollees were in a PDP where the insurer and PBM were vertically integrated.  
• There was wide variation across PDP regions, with some having little vertical integration between insurers and PBMs, while others are almost entirely vertically integrated. 
• Nine of the 10 largest PBMs share ownership with health insurers. 

The AMA says its analysis adds to growing concern over anticompetitive harm resulting from low competition and high vertical integration in the PBM industry. It comes on the heels of reports by the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that found a handful of PBMs have vast power and control over medication access and affordability. Both government reports concluded that the unchecked influence of PBMs allows bad actors to inflate drug prices, limit access to necessary medications, and undermine competition. 

“As PBMs increasingly act in their own self-interest without transparency or accountability, drug prices rise and patients face health risks from cost prohibitive drug treatments,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “The AMA’s analysis is intended to provide insight to help policymakers understand the anticompetitive conditions in the PBM market that can result in harm to patients. The AMA fully supports greater transparency and accountability that is needed to prohibit PBMs from engaging in opaque and harmful business practices.” 

White returns to AOPA 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) has announced that Ashlie White will join the organization as its new senior director of external affairs on Aug. 18. A nationally respected leader in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) advocacy, health policy and strategic programming, White brings a wealth of experience and passion for improving both the O&P profession and the lives of individuals with limb loss and limb difference, AOPA says. “As AOPA doubles down on advocating for policies at both the federal and state levels that advance the profession and protect patient access to high-quality O&P care, Ashlie’s drive, vision, relationships, and leadership will play a key role in advancing AOPA’s mission,” said Teri Kuffel, JD, executive director of AOPA. White most recently served as chief strategy and programs officer at the Amputee Coalition, where she oversaw the National Limb Loss Resource Center, government relations, education and research. She previously served as AOPA’s director of health policy and strategic alliances. Her extensive background in public policy, health law, and public health leadership—paired with her proven track record of building cross-disciplinary partnerships—will be instrumental in leading AOPA’s policy, research and strategic alliance initiatives, the association says. 

• Related: Call to duty: O&P Woman of the Year pushes recognition of the clinician 

Humotech, Bio-Connect partner to expand access in Europe 

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Humotech, a U.S.-based company that specializes in prosthetics, exoskeletons and wearable robotics, has announced a strategic sales and distribution partnership with Bio-Connect BV, a Netherlands-based biomedical distributor. This collaboration will streamline purchasing and delivery across Europe by leveraging Bio-Connect’s regional expertise to support sales, contracting, fulfillment and logistics for Humotech’s Caplex System, Open Source Leg and other advanced solutions. The partnership builds on Humotech’s growing European footprint—with deployments already underway in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy—and marks a significant step forward in accelerating the company’s international expansion. “As Bio-Connect BV, we are proud to support this expansion,” said Drs. Ing. Anand Lachmansingh, CEO of Bio-Connect BV. “This partnership aligns seamlessly with our mission to remove barriers for innovation and make cutting-edge tools more accessible to the European research and health care community.” 

Inogen makes executive appointment 

GOLETA, Calif. – Inogen’s board of directors has designated Jennifer Yi Boyer, executive vice president, enterprise enablement and chief human resources officer, as an “executive officer” of the company effective July 28, according to a Form 8-K filing. Yi Boyer has 29 years of strategic and transformational leadership experience. She joined Inogen in February 2022 as chief human resources officer and has risen internally to her current role. Prior to joining Inogen, she served as chief people officer and senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Fiscal Note. Inogen’s board has also appointed Mary Wright to serve as chief accounting officer. She has 17 years of accounting and financial leadership experience. She joined Inogen in May 2015 and has risen internally to her current role. Prior to joining Inogen, Wright served in various roles of increasing seniority at Deloitte & Touche LLP.  

NikoHealth adds integration expert  

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, N.J. - NikoHealth has welcomed Alan Erceg to its team as principal solutions consultant. He brings more than a decade of experience in the health care technology space, including more than 10 years at Philips, where he specialized in API integrations, technical support and data connectivity. “We are excited to welcome Alan to the team as we continue to scale and elevate the customer experience,” the company stated in a LinkedIn post. As principal solutions consultant, Erceg will design and deliver scalable integrations, guide customers through complex implementations and serve as a trusted technical advisor to ensure solutions align with both client needs and product strategy, NikoHealth says. Earlier this year, the company added four new team members: 

• Ana-Rita da Silva as vice president of customer success 
• Adina Canada as a sales development representative 
• Chris Dragatsis as a sales development representative 
• Nina Bleacher as an account executive