March Archives

Over the past 8 years, Rep. Dave Loebsack was the lead Democrat on many HME related bills; all having to do with accessibility to quality products and services, increasing reimbursement rates, and decreasing regulatory burdens for HME providers. When our team needed him, he was always there. His staff was forever attentive to our issues. In 2019, Dave announced that he was not going to be running for U.S. Congress. This was news felt by the whole HME industry. He was always willing to venture...

CMS released information today regarding a temporary claims hold pending congressional action to extend 2% sequester reduction suspension. It appears the pause that is in place on the sequestration may be extended, however, there may be some delay in paying claims. Keep reading here.

Questions? Please contact Ronda Buhrmester. 

Earlier this week President Joe Biden signed the SAVES LIVES Act into law which allows the VA to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, their spouses and caregivers. This act removed some prior legal limits the VA can provide to Veterans based on health care eligibility and priority groups. Vaccinations will still be priortized based on vaccine availability and Veterans enrolled in VA care.

For more information, read the full press release from the Office of Public and Intergovernmental...

On the week of March 15, VGM’s John Gallagher traveled to Kentucky and Ohio to discuss durable medical equipment related topics with members of Congress.

On March 18, Gallagher accompanied KMESA member, Thad Connally of First Choice Home Medical LLC, to a meeting with staff from Rep. Brett Guthrie’s office in Bowling Green. Rep. Guthrie sits on the Energy and Commerce committee of the U.S. House. A key talking point of the meeting was to address supplier needs in rural region...

Please take action today by reaching out to your Senators asking them to support S.748 - Medicare Sequestration Relief.

If you recall late last year, legislation passed to extend the 2% sequestration relief to March 31, 2021 - that’s next week!

Congress passed H.R.1868 last week to continue the pause of the 2% Medicare sequestration cuts through the duration of the public health emergency, but we need it to make it through the Senate too.

So please...

On Thursday, March 18th, the senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as the next secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra has held judicial and legislative positions in California, serving as the attorney general of the state and holding congressional office in three different districts. He will be replacing Alex Azar, who held the position from 2018 to 2021.Read more

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Changes

In this vlog, Ronda Buhrmester outlines what you need to know about the corrections made to the new DME fee schedule. Watch below!