Skip to main content

VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO

Search GO

Search GO

VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO LEARN ABOUT VGM

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

Evaluating the Value of a Payer Contract thumbnail

Evaluating the Value of a Payer Contract In our last article, Key Payers Denied Your Application Citing Their Network Is Closed – Now What?, we discussed strategies for addressing payer contracting denials due to a closed network. As indicated, this process can be an extremely time-consuming exercise with no guarantees and mixed results. Below are a few things to consider as you evaluate whether a contract is worth the extra effort.

Webinar: "Navigating The New CMS Landscape: RADs, HMVs, and Supplier Survival" on June 25 at 1 p.m. CT. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final National Coverage Determination (NCD) for RADs and HMVs used in treating chronic respiratory failure due to COPD. While the rule potentially expands access to bilevel ST therapy (RADs), it also introduces complex compliance requirements, tighter usage criteria, and increased documentation burdens—without additional reimbursement.

The Return of Competitive Bidding thumbnail

The Return of Competitive Bidding The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) appear to be laying the groundwork for another round of the Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). While full implementation will take a couple of years, an official announcement is expected this summer—potentially as early as July.

Out With The Old RAC, In With The New thumbnail

Out With The Old RAC, In With The New On April 28, 2025, CMS awarded Cotiviti GOV Services LLC, the new RAC Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Region 3, 4, and 5 contracts. RAC Region 3 includes the following Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) jurisdictions: JJ, JM, and JN. RAC Region 4 includes jurisdictions: JE, JF, and JL. And RAC Region 5 includes jurisdictions: JA, JB, JC, JD, as well as the HH/H MACs: J6, J15, JK, and JM.

Iowa Leads the Charge! All Four Representatives Back H.R. 2005—Will Your State Step Up? thumbnail

Iowa Leads the Charge! All Four Representatives Back H.R. 2005—Will Your State Step Up? At VGM Group, Inc. we have the pleasure of serving our members and partners throughout the country.  One of the many ways we do this is through legislative advocacy, working with our partners to create a more equitable and effective healthcare system. All our VGM units are dedicated to advancing our partners' businesses, streamlining operations, and working every day to enhance reimbursement for the quality in-home healthcare our industry provides all people.

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.

Give your business an advantage over the competition.

Become a Member