VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO
Full Menu Search

December in D.C. with John Gallagher

Published in Government Relations on December 03, 2021

Amongst the end of the year whirl in Washington D.C., John Gallagher was able to have many productive meetings during his visit to the nation’s capitol this week. Discussions during this visit included reimbursement concerns for DMEPOS items against many mounting issues like COVID mandates, supply chain issues, additional surcharges on HME products, and many more. 

John had a fantastic meeting with Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) of the House Ways and Means. Rep. Arrington also serves on the Rural and Underserved Caucus and has an interest in HME issues. John met with both him and his health staff, Elle Ciapciak. 

Rep. Jodey Arrington

(Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and John Gallagher)

John also met with Rep. Mark Wayne Mullin (R-OK) who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Thanks to OMEPA, Rep. Mullin already has been educated on the concerns in the HME industry and understands the need for improved reimbursement to continue to serve patients. Rep. Mullin has agreed to be a champion to the HME industry going forward! 

Rep. Mark Wayne Mullin and John Gallagher

(Rep. Mark Wayne Mullin and John Gallagher)

While in Washington D.C., John also continued his discussions on HME issues with Sen. Grassley, Sen. Ernst’s staff, and Rep. Ashley Hinson. 

Sen. Grassley and John

(Sen. Grassley with John Gallagher)

You may recognize the nice young man standing in between John Gallagher and Rep. Hinson in the photo below. That’s Jason Becker, VGM Government Team former intern. He is now interning for Rep. Hinson’s office in D.C.

Rep. Hinson, Jason Becker, John Gallagher

(Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) with Jason Becker and John Gallagher)

We will continue to follow up on these meetings and keep you updated. 

TAGS

  1. vgm government

Get Connected

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

Sign Up for Email

From Our Experts

VGM Submits Comments Regarding the Section 232 National Security Investigation On Medical Imports thumbnail VGM Submits Comments Regarding the Section 232 National Security Investigation On Medical Imports VGM has submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce in response to its Section 232 National Security Investigation into the importation of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical consumables, and medical equipment and devices. 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.

Give your business an advantage over the competition.

Become a Member