VGM Opens Heartland Conference to Non-Members

WATERLOO, Iowa (May 15, 2019)—VGM has announced that all home medical equipment providers are now invited to its Heartland Conference, which takes place June 10-12, 2019.

This marks the first time non-VGM members are invited in Heartland Conference’s 18-year history. According to VGM, the move was driven by CMS’s plans to consolidate the competitive bidding areas (CBAs) included in the Round 2 Re-compete and Round 1 2017 DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program into a single round of competition named “Round 2021.”

“VGM believes in supporting the dedicated stakeholders serving the HME industry,” said Clint Geffert, president of VGM & Associates. “Due to the changes in competitive bidding, VGM will carry the torch to support all HME providers whether they’re part of our membership community or not, because it’s best for patients, providers and the industry as a whole.”

As part of the registration requirements, non-member attendees will need to attend the pre-conference session, Interpreting & Preparing for Competitive Bidding Round 2021. This four-hour session will take place Monday, June 10 and will be presented by Mark Higley, VGM vice president of Regulatory Affairs, along with other VGM and industry experts.

“Mark and a team of experts will walk attendees through important changes such as lead item pricing, clearing price, bid bonds, and much more, as well as discuss how it may impact the industry now and in the future,” Geffert added. “They will also walk through use of a bid calculator specifically designed for Round 2021 bidding and address questions to make sure session attendees are ready for the new bidding program.”

VGM’s Heartland Conference, now in its 18^th year, is a two-day conference and networking event held each year in VGM’s hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. This annual event offers 10 tracks of education and more than 80 sessions, including 11 panel discussions, all related to the HME industry in areas such as retail, rehab, marketing, respiratory, accessibility, compliance and leadership, among others. Attendees can earn up to 12 contact hours and competitive bidding-specific education, all while experiencing VGM’s hometown hospitality.

Registration for non-members is $599 and includes education sessions, meals, networking events and local transportation. For more information or to register for Heartland Conference, visit vgmheartland.com/cbedu.