Tag: VGM

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has merged three of its marketing and events businesses into one business called Moxie. Hellman, a marketing agency acquired by VGM in 2018, has joined VGM Marketing and VGM Events, bringing 30 professionals together. “We are very excited to introduce Moxie,” Christa Miehe, the company’s president. “This strategic alignment blends three very talented teams and allows us to expand our capabilities and offer current and new clients a broader...

WATERLOO, Iowa ­– VGM has launched the 2021 cost of delivery survey to provide data points for the industry’s efforts to preserve patient access to HME. The data points from a similar survey in 2018 were provided to elected officials, payers and regulatory entities, and helped to secure reimbursement relief. “We were successful in obtaining some reimbursement relief via a 50/50 blend in our rural areas, and CMS and other payers seemed to acknowledge there would be access...

WATERLOO, Iowa – Wayne van Halem and Kelly Grahovac of The van Halem Group have joined state association boards. van Halem, president, was named to the board of the Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers; Grahovac, general manager, was named to the board of directors for the South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association. van Halem and Grahovac have both been speakers at their association meetings. “I have worked with GAMES for many years, and I am...

BRISBANE, Australia – Oventus Medical’s pivot to telehealth and a home care option has allowed the company to continue growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Dr. Chris Hart, CEO.  Due to closures, Oventus Medical has transitioned to online or phone conversations to complete the verifications needed for insurance coverage and to schedule scan appointments for its O2Vent Optima oral device.   “Out of adversity comes...

WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders are making a final push to get H.R. 8158 included in an omnibus package that must pass before the 116th session of Congress convenes.  The bill, spearheaded by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, would remove the budget neutrality requirement for home oxygen therapy in rural areas.  “We’re doing our best to convince the committees of jurisdiction that...

BRISBANE, Australia - Oventus Medical has signed a marketing agreement with VGM & Associates. Per the agreement, VGM has named Oventus Medical as a preferred supplier of oral appliance therapy and will promote the company's “lab-in-lab” program to its 2,500-plus members with 7,000-plus locations. “The difficulties associated with CPAP therapy and optimum patient care are well understood,” said Scott Owen, senior vice president of contracting for VGM & Associates. “By...

WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders hailed CMS's decision not to move forward with most of Round 2021 as a “watershed” moment, but they also criticized the agency for trying to have it both ways. CMS on Oct. 27 announced new single payment amounts for off-the-shelf knee and back braces but not for 13 other product categories because they did “not achieve expected savings.” “You can't have a one-way bid program,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “You...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - WellSky is buying CarePort Health from Allscripts in a bid to improve patient care transitions across the continuum and drive better outcomes.  With the addition of CarePort, WellSky is positioned to manage the acute-care discharge process, track patients across post-acute care settings, apply patient and population level analytics, and support EMR-based care, the company says.  “Together with CarePort, WellSky will establish new, meaningful connections...

VGM is offering a low-cost virtual conference platform to help state associations hold virtual conferences. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to force associations to cancel in-person events, a primary source of income for many of them. “We are trying our best to fill the hole created by COVID-19,” said John Gallagher, vice president of government relations. “Online events can't compare to the in-person events, but we can certainly continue to learn, share ideas and network with each...

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM will host a virtual event for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., on Wednesday, Oct. 14. McMorris Rodgers is the lead sponsor of H.R. 2771, would make permanent a 50-50 blended reimbursement rate in rural areas and would introduce a 75-25 rate for non-rural, non-bid areas; and H.R. 8158, which would eliminate the budget neutrality requirement for home oxygen therapy. VGM encourages providers to join Jim Kissler of NORCO, Tom Ryan of AAHomecare, Clint Geffert of VGM and Seth...