Tag: VGM

WASHINGTON – Industry legislation will be considered by the full Energy & Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and stakeholders are hopeful lawmakers will see past partisan politics and focus on the very real issues at hand.  H.R. 5555, which currently has 11 Republican and three Democratic co-sponsors, passed out of the E&C Health Subcommittee on Nov. 15 and now it’s up to the full committee to keep the bill in play.   “We’re...

The concept of retail is not new for the HME industry. Its past stretches back decades, though it has had trouble gaining traction among providers. That may finally be changing, however, as attitudes become more receptive and opportunities continue to grow.  Tim VanAntwerp, director of retail services for Waterloo, Iowa-based VGM, says overall numbers may not indicate robust retail growth across the industry, but those individual companies adopting a retail component appear to be on the upswing,...

AAHomecare and VGM will host another virtual lobbying day next week, on Nov. 13, to help push reimbursement relief bills in the House of Representatives and Senate across the finish line before Congress wraps up its work for the year.  The event will build on AAHomecare’s annual Washington Legislative Conference, which took place less than two months prior, on Sept. 20.  Managing Editor Theresa Flaherty and I can’t swear by it, but we haven’t seen...

WATERLOO, Iowa – A singular focus and a singular voice: That’s what it takes to get the HME industry’s message across to both lawmakers and regulators, says Mike “Ike” Isaacson, who was recently named senior vice president of government relations at VGM & Associates.  Isaacson and the team at VGM currently have a goal of scheduling 55 visits with legislators or their staffers in 55 days in a final push to get H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 passed in Congress.    “The...

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Government Relations has a goal of scheduling 55 visits with legislators or their staffers in 55 days in a final push to get H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 passed in Congress.  “We are in the bell lap of the legislative session, and your voice is needed now to get us across the finish line,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of government relations and regulatory affairs for VGM & Associates. “There is so much happening on Capitol Hill that the...

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Government Relations has a goal of scheduling 55 visits with legislators or their staffers in 55 days in a final push to get H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 passed in Congress.  “We are in the bell lap of the legislative session, and your voice is needed now to get us across the finish line,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of government relations and regulatory affairs for VGM & Associates. “There is so much happening on Capitol Hill that the...

2023 WOY nominations now open  WATERLOO, Iowa – Nominations for the 2023 HME Woman of the Year Award are being accepted now through Nov. 20, 2023.   The eighth annual award, presented by VGM Group, recognizes a woman who has made increasingly significant contributions throughout her career to her company, community and the home medical equipment industry.    “The HME Woman of the Year Award honors the incredible dedication that women have to the...

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has announced that Jim Walsh, its co-founder and chairman of its board of directors, passed away on Oct. 12.  Walsh, who died of natural causes in his home surrounded by family, was 74.  “Jim has been part of the heart and soul of VGM since its inception,” said CEO Mike Mallaro. “He has been central to the VGM family and a visionary leader. His impact—not only on our company, but on the entire industry—has been tremendous....

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare and VGM are partnering on a new virtual advocacy event to bolster awareness and support for Medicare legislation as Congress enters the final legislative weeks of the year.    The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2023 (H.R. 5555 and S. 1294), would provide a 90/10 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for most home medical equipment products in competitive bidding areas for all of 2024 and extend the current 75/25 blended rate currently in effect in rural/non-CBA...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare and VGM are partnering on a new virtual advocacy event to bolster awareness and support for Medicare legislation as Congress enters the final legislative weeks of the year.    The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2023 (H.R. 5555 and S. 1294), would provide a 90/10 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for most home medical equipment products in competitive bidding areas for all of 2024 and extend the current 75/25 blended rate currently in effect in rural/non-CBA areas...