WATERLOO, Iowa (November 29, 2018)—In early November, a group of HME industry advocates convened at VGM headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa, for a workshop that shared best practices for digital marketing and social media consumer-focused campaigns, with the goal of advancing grassroots legislative efforts that benefit the HME community.
advocacy
ATLANTA (September 20, 2018)—Industry advocate and leader Regina Gillispie, president and owner of West Virginia-based Best Home Medical, will be honored as the recipient of the 2018 Van Miller Homecare Champion Award at the upcoming Medtrade show in Atlanta, Georgia.
NEW ORLEANS (August 20, 2018)—Team Gleason and Quantum Rehab have announced an alliance to serve those with ALS via both Quantum’s financial support and increased access to high-end power chair technology.
Quantum has pledged to contribute $50,000 to Team Gleason's mission. Additionally, Quantum is funding life-enhancing seat elevation technology, such as its iLevel system, for distribution by Team Gleason for those living with ALS.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 9, 2018)—The Grassroots Accountability Project is gaining momentum as it unifies and activates industry stakeholders in engaging legislators about key HME issues. The goal of the project is to assign a grassroots HME advocate to all 535 federal legislative offices. Originating in AAHomecare’s State Leaders Council, this multi-stakeholder effort has the support of AAHomecare, VGM, The MED Group and numerous state and regional associations.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 12, 2018)—AAHomecare has developed a new two-page summary that recaps 16 significant reimbursement policy shifts affecting the HME community, including fee schedule adjustments, the implementation of competitive bidding, expansion of bidding-derived prices nationwide, and limiting the federal allowable for Medicaid.
Report does not adequately assess beneficiary access issues, CQRC says.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2018)—The Council on Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today warned a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG)—Round 2 Competitive Bidding for Oxygen: Continued Access For Vast Majority of Beneficiaries—underestimates the negative impact the Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) continues to have on beneficiary access to home respiratory supplies and services.
Message to Congress: Don't let the 10 percent get lost in larger issues.
By Liz Carey
(May 10, 2018)—Applying steady pressure to pass two pieces of targeted legislation, complex rehab technology stakeholders joined recently for the 2018 National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference in Washington. In the days ahead, they’ll be following up on their Capitol Hill visits and looking for their priorities to pass either in forthcoming opioid legislation sooner, or upcoming Medicare legislation later this fall.
WATERLOO, Iowa (May 9, 2018)—Advocacy efforts are on the rise as we near the Washington Legislative Conference as the industry pushes for relief for non‐bid areas, structural reforms to the competitive bidding program, and a critical exemption of CRT accessories from bidding‐derived pricing.
The 50th annual Summit pushes for changes in reimbursement and transparency.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 10, 2018)—This week, hundreds of community pharmacists will converge on Capitol Hill for two days. They will share with members of Congress a prescription for lowering drug costs and expanding pharmacy access and choice for seniors during the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2018 Congressional Pharmacy Summit.
Volunteering and social groups present best opportunities
Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2018)—Omnibus spending legislation has still not been released as Wednesday in Washington goes to press. Congressional and media sources currently predict text will be finalized and available this evening, but the timing for release has been a moving target all day.
Cures Act-mandated cuts would have results in a $10 million shortfall in the state.
Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 28, 2018)—When CMS released guidance for states to comply with CURES-mandated Medicaid reimbursement cuts in late December, Georgia Deparment of Community Health (DCH) officials signaled their intention to go with what CMS called the simplest option: to base Medicaid rates on the Medicare fee schedule.
Advocacy on Capitol Hill and beyond
AAHomecare team provides resource for insurance providers, congressional advocacy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 8, 2017)—AAHomecare’s Complex Rehab and Mobility Council (CRMC) has developed a new white paper that clearly explains the differences between complex rehab technology (CRT) and standard mobility products.
—Via AAHomecare—WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 15, 2017)—On account of requests from several providers to extend the deadline to enter 2nd Quarter 2017 HME Audit Key data, the survey will remain open until Friday, August 25.
21st Century Cures Act removes coverage for home infusion services.
MCKINNEY, Texas (May 23, 2017)—Soleo Health, a national provider of specialty home and alternate-site infusion services, announced it is aggressively advocating for thousands of home infusion therapy patients that stand to be affected by the recently enacted 21st Century Cures Act.
The Newport Beach resident lives every day to the fullest and ensures others can do the same.
SANTA ANA, Calif. ( May 18, 2017)—At age 14, Michelle Wulfestieg was told she wouldn’t live to be 30. She had survived a massive stroke when she was just 11 years old and a second stroke, thought to be untreatable, was imminent. For Wulfestieg, this was a revelation: life is not about quantity, but rather quality. From that day on, she committed to making each moment count, not allowing her disabilities to hold her back.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (May 1, 2017)—Cure Medical has launched a new website (curemedical.com) to spotlight their expanded portfolio of intermittent catheters and closed system catheters, as well as customized content for Cure Medical customers, medical professionals and home medical equipment providers.
Cure Medical website visitors will enjoy:
The formal letter asks Price to step up implementation of industry concerns.
WATERLOO, Iowa (March 21, 2017)—VGM Group, Inc. has submitted a formal letter of regulatory priorities to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price.
The letter outlines three top priorities that VGM's membership has identified that require immediate action from the administration in order to prevent reductions of access to care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 18, 2016)—Laura Williard, AAHomecare’s senior director of payer relations, met with representatives of Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the AIM Sleep Management program to establish a relationship and open a dialogue to represent HME provider interests.
WATERLOO, Iowa (June 30, 2016)—Advocacy group People for Quality Care is calling on HME providers to engage their patients in immediate advocacy. The organization joins the VGM Group, American Association for Homecare and state associations in a grassroots effort focused on garnering Congressional support for a joint solution to Medicare’s competitive bidding program by July 15.