A Week of Advocacy in Iowa

Published in VGM 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

Showing Up...It Matters! thumbnail Showing Up...It Matters! We've all heard the phrase, "Showing up matters." That can mean a lot of different things at different times in our lives, even changing daily. Perhaps it means leaving work early to attend your children's event. Maybe it means not missing that important meeting at work. No doubt, both of those things are important. For us here in the Government Relations corner of VGM Group, it means something additional. Matthew Flatt: A Champion for Change in Home Medical Equipment thumbnail Matthew Flatt: A Champion for Change in Home Medical Equipment In every industry, there are people who do more than simply lead organizations. They inspire progress, build relationships, and create lasting change. In the home medical equipment (HME) industry, Matthew Flatt, CEO of Medicap Home Medical (formerly NuCara Home Medical) and President of the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES), is one of those individuals... Full Legislative Text Released for Bipartisan Ostomy and Urological Supply Bill- H.R. 10787 thumbnail Full Legislative Text Released for Bipartisan Ostomy and Urological Supply Bill- H.R. 10787 Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) have introduced the bipartisan Access to Medical Supplies Act, legislation designed to protect Medicare beneficiaries who rely on ostomy and urological supplies. The bill would... Action Alert: Support H.R. 10787 to Protect Patient Access to Urological and Ostomy Supplies thumbnail Action Alert: Support H.R. 10787 to Protect Patient Access to Urological and Ostomy Supplies The DMEPOS community has an important opportunity to protect access to vital urological and ostomy supplies for Medicare beneficiaries. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) have introduced H.R. 10787, bipartisan legislation that would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare competitive acquisition programs for five years... CMS Announces Registration and Bid Window Dates for Round 2028 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program thumbnail CMS Announces Registration and Bid Window Dates for Round 2028 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Yesterday, CMS announced the Round 2028 bidding details with registration opening December 1, 2026, and the bid window opening January 5, 2027. The new Round 2028 timeline is as follows... Congratulations to CAMPS On This Important Legislative Victory thumbnail Congratulations to CAMPS On This Important Legislative Victory The signing of AB 1794 is another reminder of the critical role state associations play in shaping healthcare policy, removing barriers to patient care, and ensuring providers have a seat at the table when important decisions are made. Legislative successes like this do not happen by accident. They are the result of engaged members, strong advocacy efforts, and collaboration with policymakers to address real-world challenges facing providers and the patients they serve. S.247, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025, Passes U.S. Senate thumbnail S.247, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025, Passes U.S. Senate S.247, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 has passed in the Senate through unanimous consent. It now heads to the President to be signed into law. Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), The Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 would... August Recess Recap: Building Relationships, Advancing Advocacy thumbnail August Recess Recap: Building Relationships, Advancing Advocacy As Congress worked through the August recess, the VGM Government Relations team remained actively engaged in securing meetings and building relationships with legislators, candidates, and key congressional staff across the country. This summer, the team made a strategic decision to focus getting a strong balance between Republican and Democratic offices, recognizing the importance of broadening support for DMEPOS priorities and ensuring policymakers from both parties understand the challenges..