Skip to main content

VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO

Search GO

Search GO

VGM & ASSOCIATESHealthcare MSO LEARN ABOUT VGM

OMEPA Celebrates Another Successful Capitol Rally Day

Published in Government Relations on April 29, 2024

OMEPA Updated May 21, 2024

Once again, OMEPA has been successful with state grassroots. On April 23, OMEPA members gathered at the Oklahoma (OK) Capitol in support of HB1712. The “Patient’s Right of Choice” bill prohibits health insurers from refusing coverage for durable medical equipment and supplies as prescribed by a healthcare provider, regardless of whether the provider is in or out of network. No health benefit plan, HMO, PPO, or other provider network authorized to administer healthcare coverage in this state shall refuse coverage to an insured for durable medical equipment and supplies as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

OMEPA continues to push for HB1712 and works to overcome the Governor's veto after almost unanimous approval from the state legislature.

“HB 1712 has been two years in the making. We had unanimous support in the OK House and then got stuck in 2023 in the Senate when the Health Authority held up the bill. The group met with the Health Authority in February and was able to make amendments,” reports John Gallagher of VGM, who has been involved since the inception.

OMEPA owes much of their success to the strong relationships built with supportive state legislators over the years. The group reports receiving a standing ovation as the bill passed the Senate.

Congratulations on your success on the near-unanimous approval from the state legislature, OMEPA!

OMEPA board members at the Capitol

OMEPA board members at the Capitol: Zach Hall of Cimarron Medical Services, John Gallagher of VGM, Larry Dalton of Advanced Care Medical Equipment and President of OMEPA, Rep. Dean Davis, Victor Clay of Complete Care Medical, Rep. TJ Marti, Larry Jantzen of Larry’s Home Oxygen, Kelly Kicklighter of VentilateOK, and Jennifer Martin of Advanced Care Medical Equipment.

TAGS

From Our Experts

You Got the Contract! …NOW WHAT?! A Short Series thumbnail

You Got the Contract! …NOW WHAT?! A Short Series Congratulations! You FINALLY got the contract you've been working so hard on all these months. Now that you have it, what are the critical next steps you need to take to maintain and implement the contract and generate ROI? Welcome to the first of a short series of articles to help you accomplish just that.

NAAOP Hosts First Ever In-Person Legislative Fly-In thumbnail

NAAOP Hosts First Ever In-Person Legislative Fly-In Last week, 33 stakeholders, advocates, and leaders from around the O&P industry convened at the offices of Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC in Washington, D.C., as part of The National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics's (NAAOP) first ever in-person legislative fly-in. Co-sponsored by OPGA, the fly-in kicked off with an in-depth discussion and strategy session surrounding several legislative priorities affecting O&P providers and patients.

VGM Government Relations Unveils Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit to Empower DME Champions of Change thumbnail

VGM Government Relations Unveils Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit to Empower DME Champions of Change The VGM Government Relations team is proud to announce the launch of its Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit, thoughtfully crafted to support durable medical equipment (DME) professionals, caregivers, industry partners, and patient advocates in advancing legislative initiatives that impact home medical equipment and services.

Featuring Two Champions Of Change: Robert Beard of YD Home Medical & Rob Minicucci Jr. of Health System Services thumbnail

Featuring Two Champions Of Change: Robert Beard of YD Home Medical & Rob Minicucci Jr. of Health System Services Today, we're proud to spotlight two outstanding durable medical equipment (DME) champions whose advocacy efforts are making a meaningful difference: Robert Beard of YD Home Medical of Alabama and Rob Minicucci Jr. of Health System Services of New York. These individuals took time out of their busy schedules to personally connect with elected officials, demonstrating how local action can spark national change.

Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Proposed Accreditation Rule Changes thumbnail

Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Proposed Accreditation Rule Changes CQRC, VGM, and AAHomecare are requesting your feedback on a new proposed rule that could significantly impact accreditation procedures. Under the proposal, accreditation organizations would be required to conduct site visits every year—a major shift from the current once-every-three-years schedule.

WEBINAR: Navigating New CMS Guidelines: Unlocking Opportunities in NIPPV and RAD Coverage for COPD Care thumbnail

WEBINAR: Navigating New CMS Guidelines: Unlocking Opportunities in NIPPV and RAD Coverage for COPD Care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised the NCD for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) in the home setting for treating Chronic Respiratory Failure (CRF) due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The changes aim to establish clear coverage policies for devices such as Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs) and home mechanical ventilators (HMVs), potentially expanding access to these critical therapies for eligible patients. Adapting to new CMS guidelin

Bipartisan Medicare O&P Bill Introduced thumbnail

Bipartisan Medicare O&P Bill Introduced In a timely move ahead of next week's NAAOP Legislative Fly-In, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act, a bill aimed at improving access to high-quality orthotic and prosthetic care for Medicare beneficiaries. The Patient-Centered Care Act seeks to address critical gaps in Medicare coverage for orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) services. Under current rules, beneficiaries may receive devices without the necessary clinical services

Proposed Rule Suggests Significant Change To Accreditation Process thumbnail

Proposed Rule Suggests Significant Change To Accreditation Process The recently released proposed rule CMS-1828-P contains a significant change that could reshape how suppliers navigate accreditation. The rule proposes a major change that would require suppliers to be surveyed and reaccredited annually instead of the current three (3) year cadence. This proposal raises substantial questions about both operational feasibility and cost implications.

Be Part of Something Bigger

Become a Member