VGMHealthcare MSO
Full Menu

VGM Government and Great Lakes State Association attend Legislative Event in Indiana

Published in VGM Government Relations on July 15, 2022

Earlier this week, VGM's John Gallagher, VP of Government relations, attended a legistlative event for former Indiana state senator and Congressional candidate for the US House of Representatives Erin Houchin hosted by Great Lakes state assocation.

As reported by Great Lakes State Association:

Great Lakes president Chuck Williams and his team hosted a site visit and meet-and-greet at Williams Bros. Healthcare Pharmacy location in Paoli, Indiana, for Erin Houchin, former Indiana state senator and Congressional candidate for the US House of Representatives. She is seeking election to serve Indiana’s 9th Congressional district replacing Rep. Trey Hollingsworth who announced he was not seeking re-election earlier this year. As a state senator, Ms. Houchin has been supportive of the HME industry and engaged on a number of issues related to the state’s Medicaid program working closely with Great Lakes. 

Group Photo

The event included representatives pictured left to right: Derek Johnson and Jennifer Lowe, RN with Williams Bros. Healthcare Pharmacy; Kevin Stewart, Community Health Network and Great Lakes past president; Chuck Williams, Executive VP of Williams Bros.; Senator Houchin; Kam Yuricich, Great Lakes executive director; John Gallagher, VP of Government Relations for The VGM Group and Josiah McSpadden, manager of Williams Bros. Healthcare Pharmacy's Paoli, Indiana, branch.

The discussion focused on the value of HME services and the operational and financial challenges providers experience today, especially those serving rural areas, due to increasing costs, supply chain disruption and labor shortages all while facing fixed reimbursement by payers. This is a difficult combination that risks patients' access to services at home. The group discussed the declining network of HME providers as evidenced by the most recent quarterly tracking report showing a 29% decline in the number of HME supplier locations in Indiana since Round 2 of the bidding program launched in July 2013.  

TAGS

  1. advocacy
  2. state association
  3. vgm
  4. vgm government

From Our Experts

The Elections Are Over. Democrats Control Congress. What Now? thumbnail The Elections Are Over. Democrats Control Congress. What Now? The votes have been counted, the campaign signs are finally coming down, and Democrats will enter 2027 controlling both the House and the Senate. While election outcomes always grab the headlines, what matters most for the home medical equipment industry is what happens next. HME Suppliers Guide to the 2026 Elections thumbnail HME Suppliers Guide to the 2026 Elections As policymakers at both the federal and state levels continue to shape healthcare policy, it is more important than ever for HME suppliers to stay informed and engaged. Decisions made by elected officials can have a significant impact on patient access to care, reimbursement, regulatory requirements, and the future of the home medical equipment industry. Showing Up...It Matters! thumbnail Showing Up...It Matters! We've all heard the phrase, "Showing up matters." That can mean a lot of different things at different times in our lives, even changing daily. Perhaps it means leaving work early to attend your children's event. Maybe it means not missing that important meeting at work. No doubt, both of those things are important. For us here in the Government Relations corner of VGM Group, it means something additional. Matthew Flatt: A Champion for Change in Home Medical Equipment thumbnail Matthew Flatt: A Champion for Change in Home Medical Equipment In every industry, there are people who do more than simply lead organizations. They inspire progress, build relationships, and create lasting change. In the home medical equipment (HME) industry, Matthew Flatt, CEO of Medicap Home Medical (formerly NuCara Home Medical) and President of the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services (MAMES), is one of those individuals... Full Legislative Text Released for Bipartisan Supply Bill H.R. 10787 thumbnail Full Legislative Text Released for Bipartisan Supply Bill H.R. 10787 Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) have introduced the bipartisan Access to Medical Supplies Act, legislation designed to protect Medicare beneficiaries who rely on ostomy and urological supplies. The bill would... Support H.R. 10787 to Protect Patient Access to Supplies thumbnail Support H.R. 10787 to Protect Patient Access to Supplies The DMEPOS community has an important opportunity to protect access to vital urological and ostomy supplies for Medicare beneficiaries. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) have introduced H.R. 10787, bipartisan legislation that would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude urological and ostomy supplies from Medicare competitive acquisition programs for five years... CMS Announces Registration and Bid Window Dates for Round 2028 thumbnail CMS Announces Registration and Bid Window Dates for Round 2028 Yesterday, CMS announced the Round 2028 bidding details with registration opening December 1, 2026, and the bid window opening January 5, 2027. The new Round 2028 timeline is as follows... Congratulations to CAMPS On This Important Legislative Victory thumbnail Congratulations to CAMPS On This Important Legislative Victory The signing of AB 1794 is another reminder of the critical role state associations play in shaping healthcare policy, removing barriers to patient care, and ensuring providers have a seat at the table when important decisions are made. Legislative successes like this do not happen by accident. They are the result of engaged members, strong advocacy efforts, and collaboration with policymakers to address real-world challenges facing providers and the patients they serve.