VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO
Full Menu Search

Champion Of Change: Lauryn Estrella Speaks On Tariffs Impacting HME Providers And Patients

Published in Government Relations on April 21, 2025

Today, we shine a spotlight on Lauryn Estrella, the dedicated Executive Director of Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES) and a true Champion of Change in the HME industry.

Lauryn Estrella Speaks On Tariffs Impacting HME Providers And Patients
Lauryn Estrella, Executive Director of HOMES, alongside Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI).

Last week, Lauryn was the key representative of the HME industry during a roundtable discussion hosted in Rhode Island. The event delved into the profound effects of tariffs on local businesses. Lauryn focused on challenges faced by HME providers and the patients they serve. Her insights highlighted the industry's struggles and brought attention to the urgent need for solutions that would safeguard both the businesses and communities reliant on their services.

Lauryn’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Later this week, she will continue championing the cause as she takes part in discussions on Medicaid cuts in New Hampshire—another vital issue affecting healthcare access and provider sustainability.

Thank you, Lauryn, for being a true Champion of Change—passionately advocating on behalf of providers, patients, and the HME industry as a whole!

As reported by HOMES:

On April 16, 2025, HOMES Executive Director, Lauryn Estrella, participated in a press roundtable hosted by Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02) to discuss the impact of tariffs on home medical equipment (HME) providers and patients in Rhode Island.

Lauryn Estrella Speaks On Tariffs Impacting HME Providers And Patients

Lauryn joined leaders from construction, hospitality, and manufacturing organizations within the state to discuss how the recent tariffs could affect local businesses. She specifically spoke about the current challenges facing the HME industry, including the ongoing fight for sustainable reimbursement, and how tariffs would only worsen the situation - further limiting patient access to the medical equipment they need to remain safe at home.

Lauryn Estrella Speaks On Tariffs Impacting HME Providers And Patients

She pointed out that, unlike other industries, providers can’t pass added costs on to their patients and noted the significant decline in the number of providers since the implementation of Medicare’s competitive bidding program. When an industry already burdened by ongoing reimbursement concerns is further impacted by tariffs, it becomes extremely difficult - in some cases, impossible - for providers to deliver the quality care their patients need and deserve.

Rhode Island has already experienced a 22% decline in HME providers from 2013 to 2022, and by 2023, that number had risen to 33%. If tariffs are imposed on home medical equipment and supplies, that number is likely to climb even higher.

Though it's clear that tariffs on essential medical equipment and supplies pose a serious threat to HME providers and the patients they serve, it was encouraging to hear Rep. Magaziner and his team acknowledge and understand our concerns - even saying, “We’re friends for life now.”

A big thank you to Rep. Magaziner for hosting this important event and ensuring home medical equipment was part of the discussion. We’re hopeful these conversations will continue and open the door for real solutions that support both patients and providers in Rhode Island.

Get Connected

Stay up-to-date on the latest resources and news provided by VGM & Associates.

Sign Up for Email

From Our Experts

Mike Hamilton Of ADMEA Honored With The Mal Mixon Advocate Award thumbnail Mike Hamilton Of ADMEA Honored With The Mal Mixon Advocate Award Last week, during the 2025 AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, Mike Hamilton, Executive Director of ADMEA, was honored with the prestigious Mal Mixon Advocate Award. VGM Senior Leaders Engage in Advocacy at AAHomecare Legislative Conference thumbnail VGM Senior Leaders Engage in Advocacy at AAHomecare Legislative Conference This week, VGM leaders attended the AAHomecare Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., a premier event dedicated to advancing healthcare policy and advocacy. AAHomecare provided attendees with valuable insights, equipping them with key discussion points and strategies for effective meetings with legislators. Champion of Change: Paula Vineyard of Elana Health & Loop Medical Leads Healthcare Advocacy in West Virginia thumbnail Champion of Change: Paula Vineyard of Elana Health & Loop Medical Leads Healthcare Advocacy in West Virginia On Thursday, May 8, Paula Vineyard, owner of Elana Health & Loop Medical, took a pivotal step in healthcare advocacy by hosting a meeting with Tyler Ohrn, Field Representative for Congresswoman Carol Miller of West Virginia's First District. The hour-long discussion centered on the pressing need for congressional support of H.R. 2005. Manufacturer Survey On Tariffs thumbnail Manufacturer Survey On Tariffs The American Association for Homecare and VGM Group are seeking valuable insights from durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) manufacturers and vendor partners regarding tariffs imposed on certain countries. Key Payers Denied Your Application Citing Their Network Is Closed – Now What? thumbnail Key Payers Denied Your Application Citing Their Network Is Closed – Now What? This experience has increasingly become one of the most common questions we receive from our provider members as more and more payers move to narrow their provider networks. The reasons payers seek to narrow their networks are simple. Payers are highly motivated to achieve their goals while doing less work and are not required to allow providers into their networks unless there is a patient access issue. For those of you fortunate enough to be a part of a narrow network, this may not be much of Congress Returns: Medicaid Cuts Take Center Stage thumbnail Congress Returns: Medicaid Cuts Take Center Stage Congress is back in session after a two-week recess. Number one on the docket is figuring out the budget. The house is tasked with coming up with a $1.5 trillion reduction and a key committee is in the spotlight. The DMEPOS Relief Act Of 2025 – WE NEED YOUR HELP! thumbnail The DMEPOS Relief Act Of 2025 – WE NEED YOUR HELP! The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025 (or H.R. 2005) is bipartisan legislation that was recently introduced in Congress designed to increase reimbursement for a large percentage of HME providers across the country. This bill establishes a higher reimbursement rate (known as the 75/25 blended rate) for durable medical equipment in nonrural/noncompetitive bidding areas under Medicare until Dec. 31, 2025. Ensuring Access To Care: The Fight For Permanent Telehealth Flexibilities thumbnail Ensuring Access To Care: The Fight For Permanent Telehealth Flexibilities Americans utilizing telehealth services to access healthcare is at an all-time high. It's a convenient method without having to leave the home, giving access to healthcare professionals from anywhere. It expands a patient's choice of provider and enables the provider the ability to see more patients.

Give your business an advantage over the competition.

Become a Member