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. 

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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. 

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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. 


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