Act Now For Reimbursement Relief and Tell Us About Your Priorities For 2023

Published in Government Relations on November 22, 2022

Leg Update

The time between November and the new year is called the “lame-duck session” due to some legislators finishing up their term after losing in the recent elections. That doesn’t mean that the process of legislating stops, as two fiscal issues are likely to be a major focus during the last weeks of the 117th Congress: getting an omnibus spending bill done, and deciding whether or not to deal with the debt limit. Typically, during the lame-duck session, legislators are free to make decisions that exercise the standard powers with little fear of consequence. Simply put, they are more apt to sign on to bills.

As we enter the final weeks of the 117th Congress and 2022, the VGM Government Relations team will be working to push Congress to include reimbursement relief into any end-of-the-year packages. 

What can you do to help pass reimbursement relief for DMEPOS?

We strongly encourage you (and your co-workers, friends, and family) to reach out to your members of Congress before Thanksgiving and ask them to support a 90/10 blended rate in CBAs, and to extend the 75/25 rate relief for non-CBA suppliers granted in the CARES Act. You can quickly and easily send a message by visiting our website where a prepared message is housed. We’ve created the message so that you can edit it to include your own, personalized story of how this impacts you, your business, and your customers. Click here to enter your zip code and send a message to your Senator and member of Congress. 

Survey: What are your priorities for 2023?

As reported last week, VGM held its annual State Leaders’ Summit at the VGM headquarters in Waterloo, IA. There, the group of state associations leaders were able to network and share ideas with other associations. They also discussed industry concerns within their local membership. The group of state association leaders came up with a solid list of priorities for 2023, including:

  • Improved reimbursement
  • Audit relief
  • MCO/Medicaid accountability
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • CRT issues, coverage, right to repair
  • Merging Medicare A & B
  • Marketing efforts to showcase the HME story
  • Sequestration

We want to hear from you! We want to know what are VGM members' priorities are for 2023. The VGM Government Relations team will review the survey responses and frame our planning for 2023 around the feedback received. 

Click here to take the survey

This survey will be open for one week, closing next Tuesday, Nov. 29! Please take a minute to fill out this short survey, letting us know what your primary concerns are in 2023.


TAGS

  1. billing & reimbursement
  2. cms
  3. dmepos
  4. hme
  5. state association
  6. vgm
  7. vgm government

From Our Experts

Federal Actions This Week Signal The Administration Is Doubling Down On Its Goal To Eliminate Fraud Waste And Abuse thumbnail Federal Actions This Week Signal The Administration Is Doubling Down On Its Goal To Eliminate Fraud Waste And Abuse This week, the Trump administration, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced a significant deferral of federal Medicaid matching funds to Minnesota alongside the release of a new Request for Information (RFI) tied to the administration's Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative. These actions along with the changes to DMEPOS accreditation and enrollment signal the administration's aggressive posture on Medicaid and Medicare... VGM Response To CMS Moratorium On New DMEPOS Provider thumbnail VGM Response To CMS Moratorium On New DMEPOS Provider The federal moratorium on new DME suppliers presents a defining moment for us as an industry—an opportunity to demonstrate that the VGM members serving patients are the gold standard. We have long shown that our members operate with integrity, excellence in compliance, and unmatched commitment to service, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Now, we must elevate that message. Trump Administration Announces Nationwide DMEPOS Enrollment Moratorium thumbnail Trump Administration Announces Nationwide DMEPOS Enrollment Moratorium In a press release published on the CMS website Feb. 25, 2026, it was announced that CMS will implement a six-month moratorium on new enrollments for DMEPOS suppliers. Proposed LCD Changes to Impact Seat Elevation on Group 2 Non-Complex Power Wheelchair Bases thumbnail Proposed LCD Changes to Impact Seat Elevation on Group 2 Non-Complex Power Wheelchair Bases The DME Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) issued a proposed Local Coverage Determination (LCD) change for seat elevation use on group 2 non-complex power wheelchair bases (K0830, K0831 and K0108 on group 2 non-complex HD bases). John Quinlan Named 2026 Van G. Miller Homecare Champion thumbnail John Quinlan Named 2026 Van G. Miller Homecare Champion AAHomecare announced earlier this week that John Quinlan of Quinlan's Pharmacy in New York has been selected as the recipient of this year's Van G. Miller Award. John has been a valued VGM member for many years, and his leadership within the DMEPOS community has made a meaningful impact on patients, providers, and the industry as a whole. His commitment to quality care, patient access, and industry advocacy consistently sets him apart. Legislative Update On DMEPOS Bills – Letter To CMS Admin Dr. Oz To Delay Competitive Bidding Program thumbnail Legislative Update On DMEPOS Bills – Letter To CMS Admin Dr. Oz To Delay Competitive Bidding Program Many of you have already contacted your legislators in support of key DME legislation, including the DMEPOS Relief Act, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, and the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act. We now have another important issue to bring to your attention. CMS Revises Nebulizer Policy and ABN Form thumbnail CMS Revises Nebulizer Policy and ABN Form CMS has issued an update regarding revisions to the CMS Nebulizer Policy Article and guidance on the Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) Form. For dates of service on or after Feb. 1, 2026, suppliers must include the KX, GA, or GZ modifier to claims for the following nebulizer items: CMS Releases Updated Telehealth FAQ After Funding Bill Extends Flexibilities Through 2027 thumbnail CMS Releases Updated Telehealth FAQ After Funding Bill Extends Flexibilities Through 2027 Earlier this week, Congress extended Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec, 31, 2027, as part of the newly signed federal funding bill. In response, CMS has released updated Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to provide clarity on what the extension means for both patients and providers.