A Week of Advocacy in Iowa

Published in Government Relations on October 05, 2022

On Monday, Oct. 3, VGM hosted a visit from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for a meet-and-greet event. Sen. Grassley has been a long-term supporter of the industry from his position on the Senate Finance Committee. The VGM team spoke to him about concerns in the DMEPOS industry, including an extension of the CARES Act, reimbursement, sequestration, and overall concerns with reimbursement and accessibility to quality product and service issues. With Sen. Grassley up for reelection this year, this was a terrific opportunity for him to come and speak about his campaign as well. 

Grassley GroupGrassleyspeaks

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, CarePro hosted an event with Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-2) in Coralville, IA, who is also up for re-election in the 2nd district of Iowa. The team at CarePro did a fantastic job of painting a picture of the issues the industry is facing. Being a physician, Rep. Miller-Meeks had familiarity with most home medical equipment. The group educated her on the significant reimbursement cuts over the years which have decimated HME suppliers in Iowa and across the country. 

GroupSpeakingd

If you are still looking for an opportunity to speak with a member of Congress, there will be a meet-and-greet event with Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4) on October 17 at Choice Medical in Ames, IA. If you would like to attend or contribute to this event, please reach out to Emily Harken at  emily.harken@vgm.com or call 319-830-1578. 

Please continue to be an advocate for the HME industry! The need for improved policies and reimbursement has never been greater, and if you need assistance with this process, please reach out to Emily Harken and she will give you helpful resources. 


TAGS

  1. advocacy
  2. vgm
  3. vgm government

From Our Experts

Senate Backs DME Relief Act with Bipartisan Support thumbnail Senate Backs DME Relief Act with Bipartisan Support In a significant development for the durable medical equipment (DME) industry and Medicare beneficiaries, the U.S. Senate has introduced S.2951, the companion legislation to H.R. 2005, known as the DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025. The Senate bill is being led by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and has gained bipartisan support with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joining as a co-sponsor. Gov't Shutdown: What It Means for Providers thumbnail Gov't Shutdown: What It Means for Providers As expected, Democrats and Republican members of the Senate was unable to agree on terms in passing a continuing resolution (CR) ahead of the October 1st deadline, resulting in a government shutdown. But how did we get here? Oppose DMEPOS Bidding Expansion – Take Action Now thumbnail Oppose DMEPOS Bidding Expansion – Take Action Now A critical Congressional Sign-On Letter is now circulating in the House of Representatives, led by Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Greg Murphy (R-NC). This bipartisan letter calls on CMS to stop the proposed expansion of the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to include ostomy and urological supplies. Gov't Shutdown & Telehealth Flexibility Expiration thumbnail Gov't Shutdown & Telehealth Flexibility Expiration September 30 represents an important date for HME providers for two reasons: 1) The potential of a government shutdown and how that affects HHS and CMS, and 2) the expiration of Telehealth Flexibilities unless a Continuing Resolution (CR) is agreed upon in time. Josh Turek Visits VGM to Champion Accessibility & Advocacy thumbnail Josh Turek Visits VGM to Champion Accessibility & Advocacy Waterloo, IA — On Monday, VGM Group hosted the first of our “Meet The Candidate” forums by welcoming Iowa State Representative Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Senator Joni Ernst. VGM & NCART Rally in D.C. to Defend CRT & HME Access thumbnail VGM & NCART Rally in D.C. to Defend CRT & HME Access Washington, D.C. – September 2025 — A powerful few days of advocacy wrapped up in the nation's capital as representatives from VGM Group, NCART, AAHomecare, and other key stakeholders in the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) and Home Medical Equipment (HME) industries met with lawmakers to address urgent policy concerns. Igniting Champions Of Change During August Recess thumbnail Igniting Champions Of Change During August Recess This August recess, DME suppliers across the country seized the opportunity to engage with lawmakers and advocate for critical DMEPOS legislation. Their efforts are helping to build momentum and expand the network of congressional supporters. You Got The Contract! ...Now What?! Part 3: Contract Implementation thumbnail You Got The Contract! ...Now What?! Part 3: Contract Implementation Contract Implementation: Turning Agreements Into Revenue  Securing a contract is worth celebrating—but what happens next is just as critical. Do you have a structured process for implementation, or does the contract sit in your inbox waiting for an issue to arise? A robust implementation workflow is essential to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement and avoid preventable denials.