VGM’s Heartland Conference Attendees Welcomed in Waterloo

After regional flooding caused an evacuation of VGM’s Heartland
Conference last year, more than 800 HME providers,
manufacturers and others gathered earlier this month in Waterloo,
Iowa, the member services group’s hometown, for the eighth annual
event. Held at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center June
8-11, the conference featured 109 educational sessions across eight
tracks: executive, operations, products and technology, regulatory
issues, rehab, reimbursement, respiratory and sales and marketing.
In the exhibit hall, 73 vendors showed off their latest products
and services.

Attendees were able to earn up to 23 continuing education units
from eight accrediting bodies: NRRTS, RESNA, AARC, University of
Pittsburgh, IACET, ABC, BOC and the Iowa Board of Nursing. They
also got a welcome dose of VGM’s famous Midwest hospitality at a
hog roast, gala party and bowling tournament.

VGM officials called the event particularly timely this year
with health care reform “a front-burner issue.”

In other VGM news, the group has revised the schedule for its
competitive bidding seminar dates to align with CMS’ new timeline
for the rebid of Round One. Beginning next month and running
through early September, the seminars will be held in all nine bid
areas. For dates, cities and information, visit VGM’s National
Competitive Bidding Services Web site.