Dear Colleague Letter Circulates Through Congress Seeking Support for DMEPOS 75/25 Blended Rate

Published in Government Relations on October 16, 2024

A new Dear Colleague letter, released this morning by Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Paul Tonko, and Randy Feenstra, is calling for the reestablishment of the Medicare 75/25 blended rate for durable medical equipment (DME) in non-rural, non-competitive bid areas for 2025.

Take Action Now!

This letter will remain open for signatures until the upcoming election. However, time is of the essence. Please reach out to your members of Congress today to ask them to show their support for the DME industry by reaching out to Rep. Miller-Meeks' staff or Rep. Tonko’s staff. Let them know that DME suppliers need fair reimbursement rates in order to provide Medicare beneficiaries with the supplies and services needed to heal in their home, not in the hospital.

How You Can Help:

Contact Your Member of Congress: Urge them to support the DME industry by reaching out to the staff of Rep. Miller-Meeks or Rep. Tonko.

Highlight the Importance: Emphasize that fair reimbursement rates are crucial for DME suppliers to provide Medicare beneficiaries with the necessary supplies and services to heal at home rather than in a hospital.

Contact Information:

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ Health Staff: Blake Thelander (blake.thelander@mail.house.gov)

Rep. Paul Tonko’s Health Staff: Emily Silverberg (emily.silverberg@mail.house.gov)

You can find your member of Congress’s contact information by clicking here and entering their details or your zip code. Call or email their office and ask them to support this important initiative.

From Our Experts

Senate Backs DME Relief Act with Bipartisan Support thumbnail Senate Backs DME Relief Act with Bipartisan Support In a significant development for the durable medical equipment (DME) industry and Medicare beneficiaries, the U.S. Senate has introduced S.2951, the companion legislation to H.R. 2005, known as the DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025. The Senate bill is being led by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and has gained bipartisan support with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joining as a co-sponsor. Gov't Shutdown: What It Means for Providers thumbnail Gov't Shutdown: What It Means for Providers As expected, Democrats and Republican members of the Senate was unable to agree on terms in passing a continuing resolution (CR) ahead of the October 1st deadline, resulting in a government shutdown. But how did we get here? Oppose DMEPOS Bidding Expansion – Take Action Now thumbnail Oppose DMEPOS Bidding Expansion – Take Action Now A critical Congressional Sign-On Letter is now circulating in the House of Representatives, led by Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Greg Murphy (R-NC). This bipartisan letter calls on CMS to stop the proposed expansion of the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program to include ostomy and urological supplies. Gov't Shutdown & Telehealth Flexibility Expiration thumbnail Gov't Shutdown & Telehealth Flexibility Expiration September 30 represents an important date for HME providers for two reasons: 1) The potential of a government shutdown and how that affects HHS and CMS, and 2) the expiration of Telehealth Flexibilities unless a Continuing Resolution (CR) is agreed upon in time. Josh Turek Visits VGM to Champion Accessibility & Advocacy thumbnail Josh Turek Visits VGM to Champion Accessibility & Advocacy Waterloo, IA — On Monday, VGM Group hosted the first of our “Meet The Candidate” forums by welcoming Iowa State Representative Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Senator Joni Ernst. VGM & NCART Rally in D.C. to Defend CRT & HME Access thumbnail VGM & NCART Rally in D.C. to Defend CRT & HME Access Washington, D.C. – September 2025 — A powerful few days of advocacy wrapped up in the nation's capital as representatives from VGM Group, NCART, AAHomecare, and other key stakeholders in the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) and Home Medical Equipment (HME) industries met with lawmakers to address urgent policy concerns. Igniting Champions Of Change During August Recess thumbnail Igniting Champions Of Change During August Recess This August recess, DME suppliers across the country seized the opportunity to engage with lawmakers and advocate for critical DMEPOS legislation. Their efforts are helping to build momentum and expand the network of congressional supporters. You Got The Contract! ...Now What?! Part 3: Contract Implementation thumbnail You Got The Contract! ...Now What?! Part 3: Contract Implementation Contract Implementation: Turning Agreements Into Revenue  Securing a contract is worth celebrating—but what happens next is just as critical. Do you have a structured process for implementation, or does the contract sit in your inbox waiting for an issue to arise? A robust implementation workflow is essential to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement and avoid preventable denials.