MAMES Members discuss critical industry issues with Senator Thune

Published in Government Relations on June 30, 2022

MAMES and Thune

As reported by MAMES:

"MAMES is very grateful to Senator Thune for taking the time to sit down in person with MAMES Members in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to discuss the critical issues facing our industry and the clients we so devotedly serve every day. Members thanked the Senator for his leadership on past legislation including the CARES Act and the important relief it provided during extraordinary times.” said Rose Schafhauser, MAMES Executive Director.

“Senator Thune spent an hour listening to MAMES providers explain how they were an integral part of the health care continuum during the pandemic, playing a critical role in getting patients out of the hospitals and long-term care and allowing patients to recover in their homes”. continued Schafhauser.” ”Members also shared the immense challenges they are operating under as healthcare providers including: Critical staffing shortage, incredible cost increases for patient products plus additional surcharges for each items that cannot be passed on to the consumer, reimbursement rates based on flawed 2015 pricing for Medicare and most private pay insurances and even lower rates for many Medicare Managed Care programs and burdensome documentation requirements that place the HME Provider in the middle between patients and their Doctors.”

Representatives from MAMES, VGM Group, AAHomecare asked Senator Thune for help in extending the CARES Act relief for the HME community after the public health emergency ends and to assist the industry in getting answers from CMS on the future of the so-called competitive bidding program going forward.

“MAMES looks forward to working with Senator Thune as we continue to work to protect our industry, our members and the clients and patients they serve every day. I would like to also extend my sincerest gratitude to each of the MAMES Members who took the time from busy schedules to travel to this event. And also, Jay Witter, AAHomecare and John Gallagher, VGM Group for attending and bringing your expertise to this critical meeting.” added Rose Schafhauser.


TAGS

  1. vgm
  2. vgm government

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.