U.S. Rehab and VGM Government Relations Attend Congressional Briefing in Washington D.C.

Published in Government Relations on September 19, 2022

Congressional Briefing

Wednesday, Sept. 14, was a momentous day of advocating for CRT and other key legislative issues. Greg Packer, president, U.S. Rehab, and Tom Powers, consultant, VGM Government Relations, spent time in Washington D.C. attending the NCART/NRRTS Virtual Congressional Fly-In and a congressional briefing on power seating and standing systems for power wheelchairs.  

The congressional briefing was held Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. and was attended by U.S. Rehab, NCART, and many other industry advocates. There were over 50 people at the briefing, and over 20 congressional offices had some form of representation present.  

“It was a great turnout, and it went very well as key members of the research community, the consumer community, and the legislative community spoke to the key issues on power seat elevation and standing systems,” said Greg Packer. “They also discussed the need to continue the push of having power standing brought to the front of attention so that comments can be started for it soon.” 

The briefing was held to continue the discussion about why it is incorrect for Medicare to list power seat elevation and standing systems for power wheelchairs as “not medically necessary” for people with disabilities.  

Thank you to all the speakers who attended this briefing, including current wheelchair users who offered their perspectives such as Kent Keyser, Jim Meade, and Ali Ingersoll, who was recently crowned Miss Wheelchair America 2023. They were followed by a physician’s perspective given by Dr. Anjali Shah and research perspectives from Cara Masselink and Dr. Mark Schmeler. The briefing was finished with congressional perspectives from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA).  

The virtual fly-ins were also extremely successful with over 300 advocates who held meetings with 292 congressional offices throughout the day. There was representation from all areas within the CRT community, including consumers, clinicians, providers, manufacturers, family members, caregivers, and others.  

All of this happened on the same day that CMS’ 30-day comment period on Medicare coverage of power seat elevation concluded. The comment period had massive success with over 3,500 comments being submitted during the period.  

One important request that came from the meetings on Wednesday is for the House of Representative members to join a BIPARTISAN sign-on letter being led by Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and John Rose (R-TN). The letter, which can be read here, urges CMS to move expeditiously in the review and coverage of power seat elevation systems and to open the comment period for power standing systems as soon as possible. The House of Representatives has until Oct. 3 to sign on, and we need your help. Click here to email your representative and ask them to sign on. We want to send a strong message to CMS!

Send Your Message Now


TAGS

  1. advocacy
  2. complex rehab
  3. dmepos
  4. medicare
  5. vgm
  6. vgm government

From Our Experts

Deadline To Comment On CMS' Proposed Rule Is Today thumbnail Deadline To Comment On CMS' Proposed Rule Is Today VGM Group has submitted our comments on the CY26 CMS DMEPOS/Home Health Proposed Rule and encourages you to do the same (if you haven't done so already)!  Our comments provide key recommendations aimed at protecting patient access and supporting the HME community.  VGM's Key Recommendations Include: CONNECT for Health Act Gains Bipartisan Telehealth Support thumbnail CONNECT for Health Act Gains Bipartisan Telehealth Support On April 2, 2025, a bipartisan group of 60 senators reintroduced the CONNECT for Health Act, legislation that would expand patient access to telehealth services through Medicare while removing barriers to adoption. The bill would also make permanent the COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities currently set to expire Sept. 30. The lead sponsors of the bill are Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Peter Welch (D-VT), and John Barrasso (R-WY). [Vlog] Important Updates Regarding NIPPV NCD thumbnail [Vlog] Important Updates Regarding NIPPV NCD Watch below an important update from Ronda Burhmester, Sr. Director Payer Relations & Reimbursement, VGM & Associates, regarding non-invasive pressure ventilation. Make Your Voice Heard On The Competitive Bidding Program thumbnail Make Your Voice Heard On The Competitive Bidding Program “If the Competitive Bidding Program goes forward, it will be devastating—not just for providers like me but, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Jonathan Temple, owner of OxyMed LLC. You Got the Contract! Part 2: Maintaining It thumbnail You Got the Contract! Part 2: Maintaining It In our last article, we discussed the key provisions to be sure you know about your contract. It is critical to understand these provisions to help comply with the contract terms, fulfill your obligations as your business changes, and understand the payer's obligations and your rights under the contract. In this article we discuss some best practices for managing your contracts once you get them. Industry Uncertainty & Advocacy: What You Can Do Now thumbnail Industry Uncertainty & Advocacy: What You Can Do Now The proposed rule introduces broad structural changes without full clarity on implementation timelines or enforcement. Industry groups like VGM, AAHomecare, and CQRC are urging stakeholders to engage in advocacy to shape final rules. To prepare for the sweeping changes in the 2025 CMS Proposed Rule for DMEPOS, companies should take a multi-pronged strategic approach. Here is a breakdown of key preparation strategies: Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA) Seeks New Executive Director thumbnail Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA) Seeks New Executive Director The Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA) is now accepting applications for the role of Executive Director. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for an individual with a passion for healthcare, industry advocacy, and association management. 2025 CMS Proposed Rule Challenges and To-Dos thumbnail 2025 CMS Proposed Rule Challenges and To-Dos The 2025 CMS Proposed Rule for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) introduces several significant changes that present both operational and financial challenges for DME companies.