Resources
Policy and Informational Materials from VGM Government Relations
Our resource center offers presentations, talking points, papers and studies all to keep you informed on the latest government developments and their effects on both the consumers and the HME industry. Please check back often for new resources materials.
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| Congressional Meeting Toolkit | |
| Congressional Meetings 101 | A comprehensive guide on congressional meeting etiquette, advice, and other tips. |
| Delivery Cost Study | Costs have risen for suppliers in the wake of the pandemic. Although they are still rising, we captured the increased costs suppliers have been facing through a snapshot survey. View the results (separated by region) here. |
| Geographic Classifications | View how physical locations of beneficiaries determine reimbursement rates for suppliers. |
| Committees of Jurisdiction for Health Care | |
| Decreasing number of HME suppliers nationwide | We have tracked the number of HME suppliers since 2010. Every year, we update these numbers and have found 41% of suppliers have exited business since then. View this document to see how suppliers have decreased nationwide. |
| What the government could gain from investing into HME | A page from a study by Brian Leitten over cost savings the government could achieve by investing into HME. Additionally, there is a chart that shows how much the government currently spends on HME. |
| Round 2021 | |
| CURES Act codes with rates | |
| Mark Higley's Analysis of Bid Variance |
| Top Legislative Priorities | |
| Custom Breast Prosthesis Information | This document explains bills H.R.3087 and S. 2051, the Custom Breast Prosthesis legislation in the 117th Congress. |
| Competitive Bidding Calculators | |
| OTS Back Braces | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Round 2021 Pivotal Bid | |
| OTS Knee Braces | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Oxygen | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Support Surfaces | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| TENS Devices | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Ventilators | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Walkers | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Hospital Beds | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Commode Chairs | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| PMD/Power Wheelchair | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| CPAP and RAD Devices | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Enteral Nutrition | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Patient Lifts and Seat Lifts | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Manual Wheelchairs | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Nebulizers | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| Calculator Instructions | Instructions for calculator use. |
| NPWT Calculator | This calculator will allow you to input your own book of business to see the impact your chosen bid price has on your revenue. |
| State Licensure Tool Box | |
| Kentucky DME Licensure Language | |
| Colorado Licensure | |
| Welcome Letter | |
| State by State Progress-DME Licensure Map | Requiring DME licensure within states will create safeguards for our industry and allow us to raise the bar for local care |
| Key Points-DME Licensure Bill | |
| Grassroots Strategies for your State Association | |
| Talking Points for State Licensure | |
| Making a Bill Supporter Prospect List | |
| Tips on Finding a Legislative Sponsor | |
| Temperature Check Meetings with Individuals | |
| Planning an Effective Communication Strategy | |
| Planning a Capitol Lobby Day | |
| Meeting Recap Form | |
| Sample Press Release | |
| Status of Support and Opposition Form | |
| Sample of DME State Licensure Bill Language | |
| Alabama DME Licensure | |
| Tennessee Licensure |
| Research Studies & Articles | |
| State request President release federal stockpile of supplies | |
| Study: Competitive Bidding - A Decade Focused on the Wrong Prize | Over the past decade, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed its competitive bidding program on the durable medical equipment (DME) supply industry, attempting to reduce DME spending and attempt to eliminate the fraud they saw in the system. CMS spent the entire decade focused on the wrong prize. Instead of squeezing every dollar they could out of the system, often without due regard to the needs of their Medicare beneficiaries or the realities of the DME marketplace, they totally missed the big opportunity, orders of magnitude larger ‐‐ reducing the cost of treating injuries and illnesses that befall Medicare beneficiaries who lack the critical DME they need to stay well. |
| MAP- Decline of Medical Equipment Suppliers in the U.S. over the past 10 years | Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers, many of them being small businesses, are being forced to close their doors due to reimbursement cuts, regulatory restrictions, and excessive and unreasonable audits. The map indicates the number and percentage increase or decrease in DME suppliers over the last ten years. |
| DME Supplier Numbers | Use this spreadsheet to illustrate the issues DME suppliers are facing to elected officials and their staff. When printing, print in landscape orientation. |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Far West | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Great Lakes | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Mideast | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-New England | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Plains | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Rocky Mountain | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Southeast | |
| Delivery Cost Survey Results-Southwest | |
| Medicare Cost Shifting-Leitten Study July 2018 | |
| The Case For Medicare Investment in DME - Brian Leitten | |
| The Case for Medicare Investment in DME (Full Study) - Brian Leitten | |
| Rural HME Provider Study (NE,ID,KS,UT,SD) | |
| Rural HME Provider Study (MT,ND,OR,WA,WV,WI) | |
| ADA official statement on NMQF Study | |
| NMQF Press Release Diabetes Care | |
| The Case for Medicare Investment in DME-2014 by Brian Leitten | In an effort to reduce health care costs, Medicare has implemented policies that drastically cut medical equipment access for seniors and people with disabilities. However, a recent study shows that the healthcare system and beneficiaries will actually save on long-term costs if the governement invests in durable medical equipment services up front. |
| DMEPOS NPI Count | DMEPOS NPI Count 2010-Sept. 2020 |
| Congressional Letters | |
| Dear Colleague Letter-CMS to Ensure Access to DME Items |
| Getting Involved Guide | |
| State Politics are More Important than People Think | |
| August Recess-What to do when your Congressman turns you down, by Tom Powers | |
| Another Way to Stand Up for Your Small Business |
If excessive fines, penalties or unfair regulatory enforcement |
| How a Bill Becomes a Law |
| Presentations | |
| Mark Higley HME News Business Summit | A copy of Mark Higley"s Financial Benchmarking Survey presentation given at the 17th annual HME News Business Summit |
| Results of the 2021 benchmarking survey | 63 people participated in this survey (n = 63). Shows all answers for the financial benchmarking survey administered by HME News |
| How to Win a VA Contract | |
| 2020 Benchmarking Responses | |
| 2020 Benchmarking Survey Results |
| Coronavirus | |
| PPP and EIDL revitalized // 12.30.20 | Updates on the recent bill passed and changes to PPP, EIDL and tax implications |
| Tax Issues Relief Bill // 12.23.20 | updates on taxes |
| Vaccine Distribution info | |
| VGM & Associates Guide to OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS | As of June 21, 2021, OSHA"s newly created COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) has appeared on the federal register, and businesses impacted by that ETS are expected to be compliant with the new standards very soon. VGM has created the following guide to walk you through the various requirements of the ETS to help you efficiently develop and implement your business’s plan to better protect your employees from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. |
| VGM Notice State Vaccinations Plans // 12.23.20 | Updates to vaccines by state |