Champions of Change: 55 in 55, Let's Make One Last Push!

Published in Government Relations on October 16, 2023

With 2023 quickly coming to an end, this year’s congressional session is also reaching its end. It is time to make one final push before the end of the session. VGM Government Relations is asking you to make one final push to get H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 passed.

“The goal of 55 in 55 is to schedule 55 visits with legislators and/or their staff in 55 days,” said Mike Isaacson, SVP of Government and Regulatory Affairs, VGM & Associates. “We are in the bell lap of the legislative session, and your voice is needed now to get us across the finish line. There is so much happening on Capitol Hill that the noise can drown out the real work that has to be done.  We need you, our Champions of Change, to make sure that the message is heard LOUD AND CLEAR. We need your elected officials to support H.R. 5555 in the House, and S. 1294 on the Senate side.”

These meetings are important because we must let our legislators know that the industry cannot sustain 30% cuts in reimbursement.  We need to let our legislators know that people and communities must have access to the life-changing home health services that you provide.

We are asking you to reach out to your congressperson TODAY to schedule a visit with them or their staff in their home district and ask them to support H.R. 5555 and S. 1294. If you would like to learn more about these bills or see who is already sponsoring, please click here. While the key committees continue to work through bill priorities, we need your congressperson to stand up for you and for your clients to ensure that our bills are passed and that services can continue. If you have already reached out to your legislator, please consider doing so again.

VGM Government Relations has many tools in place to help you with the meeting process. To prepare for the meeting, please review the Congressional Meetings 101 Guide. If you would like further assistance in scheduling your meeting, please reach out to Mike Isaacson at mike.isaacson@vgm.com.

One last request: Once your meeting is complete, please click the link at the top of the legislation page to tell us about your meeting, and please include a picture if you can.

Thank you for being a Champion of Change!

From Our Experts

Call To Action - Access to Power Seat Elevation on Standard PWCs Threatened thumbnail Call To Action - Access to Power Seat Elevation on Standard PWCs Threatened As reported by NCART: Do you use, recommend or provide power seat elevation for individuals with any of the diagnoses below? If so, and you answer YES to any of the questions below, it is important for Medicare to hear your story in writing by midnight on Saturday, April 4 at PMDRecon@noridian.com. Florida Becomes First State To Follow Medicare; Issues A Six-month Moratorium On DMEPOS Suppliers Enrolling In Medicaid thumbnail Florida Becomes First State To Follow Medicare; Issues A Six-month Moratorium On DMEPOS Suppliers Enrolling In Medicaid As reported by The van Halem Group: On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) issued a temporary moratorium on enrollment of new Medicaid providers for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year thumbnail CMS Rule Phases Out Fax Machines, Snail Mail to Save Taxpayers $781.98 Million a Year As reported by CMS: “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is slashing wasteful spending and antiquated paperwork by swapping out faxing and mailing for streamlined electronic transactions. This action lets providers spend less time on administrative hassle and more time caring for patients. PAMES Raises Critical Concerns Over Sole-Source Supply Shift thumbnail PAMES Raises Critical Concerns Over Sole-Source Supply Shift PAMES and DME suppliers across Washington are taking an important stand on behalf of both providers and patients. The Tacoma Daily Index recently reported on the state's plan to move to a sole-source contract for incontinence and urological supplies. Under this decision, the Health Care Authority intends to transition all Medicaid recipients to receiving these products from a single vendor. SBA Advocacy: Your Input Matters thumbnail SBA Advocacy: Your Input Matters Make your voice heard about how the CBP has affected your business. New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Improve Access to Diabetes Technology & Education for Medicare Beneficiaries thumbnail New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Improve Access to Diabetes Technology & Education for Medicare Beneficiaries U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), Cochairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, have introduced the Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology, and Education Services (DIABETES) Act, S.4037. VGM Reintroduces the Fraud, Waste & Abuse Reporting Resource Center thumbnail VGM Reintroduces the Fraud, Waste & Abuse Reporting Resource Center VGM Government Relations is proud to announce the reintroduction of its Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA) Reporting Resource Center—a newly refreshed online hub designed to protect the integrity of the DMEPOS industry and reinforce our unwavering commitment to ethical, compliant care. Celebrating Another DME Champion of Change: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical thumbnail Celebrating Another DME Champion of Change: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical We're proud to once again recognize a true Champion of Change in the DME industry: Thom Harvill of Above and Beyond Medical in Tennessee. Thom has dedicated many years to the DME community—consistently showing up, speaking out, and pushing the industry forward. He's the kind of advocate who never stops asking, “Who else can I reach out to about this?”