In this edition of the Industry Matters podcast, Heather Trumm, Director of Wound Care, at VGM & Associates talks to Trish Skiendziel, Director, Market Access, Nestle Health Science, about value-based care. As payers reduce reimbursement rates, they are looking to providers to prove their worth. Listen in as Heather and Trish talk about this large topic, how HMEs can prove their worth, why it's important to combat declining reimbursement rates, and what resources are available to our members. Resources Referenced for our VGM MembersVGM Government Relations TeamVGM members-only portal with resources and tools for providersEnteral Guide for entering the market as an HME provider Nestlemedicalhub.com - resources available that showcases the value of the intervention with specialized nutrition and the impact on outcomes and Cost of Care  Resources For Payers: Malnutrition | Nestlé Medical HubAAHomecare Enteral Infographic and Value of HMEAAHomecare Enteral White PaperNestle Toolkit to Take to Their Payers - contact your Nestle RepresentativeAAHomecare Advocacy

In this edition of the Industry Matters podcast, Heather Trumm, Director of Wound Care, talks with Jesi Stracham and Bri Paauwe, brand ambassadors for Wellspect. They discuss their health journeys and their successful search for user friendly catheters and a new product that makes bowel management easier for those with spinal cord injuries.

In this Respiratory edition of the Industry Matters podcast, Boone Lockard, VP of Respiratory chats with Chris Abad, Product Manager, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), treatment, and their new product, F&P Solo Pillows.

In this edition of Industry Matters, Respiratory Edition, Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services with VGM & Associates, talks with Michelle Douek, Product Manager with Fisher & Paykel, about respiratory humidification, when it's needed and the latest humidification product innovation from Fisher & Paykel. Listen in as they discuss what humidification is, when it's needed, and the new F&P my820 System and it's applications.

In today's episode of Industry Matters, Jim Greatorex, VP of VGM Live at Home, discusses Alisa Brownlee's company, ALS at Home. Listen as they talk about her amazing work, the challenges of working with ALS patients, and interactions with the home access industry.

Listen to Ike Isaacson, SVP of VGM Government Relations, and Brian Leitten, Leitten Consulting, discuss Brian’s latest findings related to DME investment and their outlook on competitive bidding.

In this U.S. Rehab edition of the Industry Matters podcast, Ted Metcalf, Director of Business Development, for U.S. Rehab talks all things seat elevation for Group 2 non-complex power wheelchairs with Dan Fedor, Director of Education and Reimbursement for U.S. Rehab, and Bret Tracy, VP of Sales for Merits. They discuss codes, prior authorization, fee schedules, and more.

In this episode of Industry Matters, Respiratory Edition, Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services, discusses humidified high flow and how it can positively impact COPD patients. Zach Haynes, Market Development Manager - Airvo from Fisher & Paykel discusses some challenges that homecare and long-term care clinicians face and how humidified high flow therapy has helped alleviate some of these issues. 

Most people keep an eye on their personal health to make sure they are operating at peak levels. So why wouldn't you do the same for your business? Listen in as Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement and Kim Cuce, Director of Business Optimization about VGM & Associates newest program, Revenue Cycle Strategies.

In today’s episode of Industry Matters, Jim Greatorex, vice president of VGM Live at Home talks with Cindi Petito, occupational therapist and owner of CHAS Consulting, about best practices for collaboration between home access professionals and medical communities to enhance the next level of care.  

 In today's episode of Industry Matters , Dave Lyman, SVP of Sales, discusses the future of VGM & Associates with new president, Lindy Tentinger. Listen as they talk about opportunities, challenges, and how VGM plans to disrupt traditional paradigms to influence the continuum of care. 

 In today's episode of Industry Matters , Respiratory Edition – In today's episode, Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services with VGM & Associates talks with Greg Apostolou, President and CEO, and Elliot Campbell, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer with Trace Medical on their new myTrace device and how this device can be integral in high-value asset tracking and inventory management. They also discuss ventilator rentals and biomed services.

In today’s episode, Dave Lyman, Senior Vice President of Sales for VGM & Associates talks with our vendor partner, Direct Supply. Dave and Nick Bush, Director of Business Development for Direct Supply, discuss supply chain reliability, creating outrageous customer service, and the importance of innovation and technology.

In today's episode of Industry Matters, U.S. Rehab edition, Tyler Mahncke of U.S. Rehab discusses a new partnership between MK Battery and Rolko. By formulating this new partnership, U.S. Rehab members will now be able to order wheelchair parts through MK Battery, which is a cost and time savings for complex rehab providers. 

Welcome to Industry Matters, in today’s product spotlight, Adam Miller, president of OGPA talks with supplier partner TriOx  about one of their innovative products, ROSS. Use code: OPGA2024, to receive a discount on ROSS. If you have any questions reach out to [email protected].

In today’s episode Heather Trumm, Director of VGM Wound Care talks with Linda Murray from Abbott Nutrition about the important role nutrition plays in wound healing and how a simple drink can help heal wounds. They talk about the different types of food groups to include, how much water is needed, and much more. Additional Resource: Patient Education - Support Wound Healing Through NutritionJuven Decision TreeJuven Sales BrochureNutrition to Support Your Wound Healing Blog

In today’s episode Tyler Mahncke, V.P of U.S. Rehab sits down with one of the top complex rehab technology providers in the U.S. along with Dr. Viswanathan, Founder and CEO of Braze, as they share stories about the success of this growing smart technology for power and manual wheelchairs. We chat a bit about how this has impacted their businesses, how satisfied their clients have been, how this technology has protected the health and safety of their clients and lastly, Braden shares some personal stories about his father and how this technology could have helped lengthen his life had he had access to smart wheelchair technology. 

In today’s episode, VGM Live at Home’s vice president, Jim Greatorex talks with Rick Lair from Challenge Specialties about bank trusts and how they impact home accessibility clients and home modification companies. 

In today’s episode Tyler Mahncke, V.P of U.S. Rehab sits down with Caleb Polley, the CEO of Cubby Beds, one of the most innovative and fastest growing companies in CRT, as they share stories about the success of their life changing bed solution for children with special needs. We chat a bit about how Caleb got into the home medical industry, some of the hardships he had to work through early, how Covid may have created a tailwind in their business, the incredible features that their bed has, and even gives us a sneak peek into the future of the company.

In today’s episode, VGM’s Craig Douglas and Ronda Buhrmester talk about the importance of taking action to pass Bill S. 1294 which would extend the 75/25 blended rate from the Cares Act. Listen as they explain why this is necessary and what you can do to help! Understanding the 75/25 Blended Rate and Why We Need Legislative Action!In 2020, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry witnessed the introduction of the 75/25 blended rate through the passage of the CARES Act. This rate adjustment, named after its 75% and 25% allocation model, aimed to protect access to DME products and services in non-rural, non-competitive bid areas by temporarily increasing Medicare reimbursement rates for providers serving those areas. Craig Douglas, VP of Payer and Member Relations, and Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Reimbursement and Payer Relations, recently released a podcast going into a deep explanation of the 75/25 blended rate and why keeping them in place is so important to the industry. In this article, we will highlight some of the key points around the 75/25 blended rate, its significance, its implications for the industry, and the ongoing legislative efforts to extend its benefits. Origins of the 75/25 Blended Rate The 75/25 blended rate emerged as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the enactment of the CARES Act in early 2020. This legislative action was designed to ensure that medical equipment suppliers could continue providing essential services despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. The "75/25" in its name refers to the proportion of reimbursement rates calculated from two different periods: 75% from the post-competitive bidding rates and 25% from the unadjusted fee schedule in place before competitive bidding. This blended rate was implemented to counter the decline in reimbursement rates experienced in the years leading up to the CARES Act. Understanding the Blended Rate Calculation To grasp the concept of the 75/25 blended rate, let's consider an illustrative example with a CPAP device (HCPCS code: E0601). Prior to competitive bidding and rate adjustments, the reimbursement for this device was approximately $100. Through various rounds of competitive bidding, the reimbursement rate saw a substantial reduction to around $40 by 2020. The blended rate calculation takes 75% of the lower 2020 rate (75% of $40) and 25% of the pre-competitive bidding rate ($100), yielding a blended rate of approximately $55 for most non-rural areas. Extension Efforts: Senate Bill S.1294 The 75/25 blended rate significantly impacted the reimbursement landscape for specific medical equipment codes, particularly those that experienced substantial decreases due to competitive bidding. This adjustment aimed to ensure that suppliers could continue providing essential medical equipment to patients while maintaining financial sustainability. However, the 75/25 rates are not permanent; they are currently slated to end on 12/31/2023. When this happens, those rates will revert to what was in place prior to the implementation of the 75/25 blend, adjusted for inflation. This will mean a decrease in reimbursement of up to 40% for many DME products provided to non-rural, non-CBA beneficiaries. Click here to view a chart with examples of what the impact will look like for several high-utilization products.Click here for more information on MLNs in this CMS article.For more information and to take action read this article.

In today’s episode Boone Lockard, Director of VGM Respiratory talks with Encore Healthcare and MedSouth Inc about their partnership and the positive outcomes MedSouth Inc has seen using Encore’s Nexus Software and Program. You won’t want to miss this amazing story of how MedSouth Inc is changing people's lives. 

In today's episode, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing at VGM & Associates. talks with 3 of our payer, billing, and reimbursement experts; Ronda Buhrmester, Dan Fedor, and Craig Douglas about the end of the Public Health Emergency, or PHE and what that means for our members. Thank you all for taking time out of your hectic schedules to discuss this important topic. 

In today's episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner discusses all things wound care with the Director of Wound Care, Heather Trumm, and Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement. They walk through billing, intake, wound care categories, and much more!

In today’s episode, Adam Miller, president of OPGA, talks with Jeff Brandt, of Brandt Ventures, about the  Limb Loss and Preservation Registry and the progress they’ve seen in the last year. They discuss the importance of the outcomes program in providing evidence-based care in the O&P profession.

In today’s episode, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing for VGM & Associates, as well the Marketing Pillar for Heartland Conference talks with other members of the Heartland Conference planning committe about what to expect for 2023! She is joined by Jill Blaser, Heartland Chair; Kayla Mahler, Education Chair; and Samantha Doering, Events Chair. 

In this episode of Industry Matters, Alan Morris, Director of Research and Strategy for VGM Government Relations, and John Gallagher, VP of VGM Government Relations, talk with Brian Leitten from Leitten Consulting, about a new study, "OIG Recommends 'High Risk/Low Reward' Strategy on Intermittent Catheters." The study looks at concerns and costs associated with reducing access to urinary catheters. 

In today’s episode, Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement for VGM Government Relations, and Mandi Joyner, Sr. Director of Marketing, finish up their three-part series. In this final episode, they talk about billing the claim, HCPC Codes, modifiers, and avoiding some audits.

In today’s episode, Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement for VGM Government Relations, and Mandi Joyner, Sr. Director of Marketing, continue their three-part series. In this second episode, they talk about medical records, delivery, and ongoing need, including drop-shipping and remote setups. 

In today’s episode, Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement for VGM Government Relations, and Mandi Joyner, Sr. Director of Marketing, kick off a three-part series. In this first episode, they talk about the intake process and ordering and how to help make this process as smooth as possible.

In today’s MUST listen to the episode, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing,  talks with Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement for VGM Government Relations, and Kelly Grahovac, General Manager for the van Halem Group, about how the Mississippi River is playing a role in the changes to the DMEPOS provider enrollment and what, if anything, you need to be doing. Helpful Links:Medicare revalidation list: https://data.cms.gov/tools/medicare-revalidation-listNPE West: https://palmettogba.com/palmetto/npewest.nsfNPE East: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/DMEPOSSite visit checklist: https://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/nsc.nsf/DIDC/AFQLMT4106~Supplier%20Enrollment~Standards%20and%20Compliance

In today’s episode, Jim Greatorex, VP of VGM’s Live at Home talks with Gabrielle Welter, Strategic Business Development Manager at AAG. They talk about how people can use reverse mortgages as funding resources for home accessibility projects.   

In today’s episode of Industry Matters, Miranda Murphy, with VGM Therapy speaks with Greg Guinter, the Director of Therapy and Rehab Sales for Medline. They talk about the changing landscape of healthcare, the challenges healthcare systems are facing as they relate to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy service providers, and the evolution of innovation and technology in the therapy space. They will be discussing ways to help you find solutions.  

In today’s episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing  for VGM & Associates, talks with Nikki Jensen, VP of Essentially Women, the women’s health division here at VGM. They are talking about the launch of the new Lily Program. 

In today’s episode of Industry Matters VGM & Associates' Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, talks with VGM’s Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement about CMNs, LCDs, CPAP Policy changes, National Coverage Determination...in short, helping you understand how to get paid faster and keep your money. Ronda, thank you so much for being here today, please introduce yourself.  

In today’s episode of Industry Matters Boone Lockard, Director of VGM Respiratory talks with Chief Commercial Officer for Trace Medical, Elliot Campbell about Trace Medical’s history and growth to the ventilator rental company in the U.S., how they navigated COVID-19, and why you should be looking to Trace Medical to help optimize inventory, take advantage of asset flexibility, and increase EBIDTA margins.

In this episode of Industry Matters, John Gallagher, VP of Government Relations and Mark Higley, VP of Regulatory Affairs for VGM & Associates talk with Brian Leitten, CEO of Leitten Consulting about a recent study looking at three additional categories for building a case for additional Medicare and Medicaid investment.  Read the Full StudyVisit VGMGOV.com

In this episode of Industry Matters we continue our series for our OPGA community. In this edition of “Women Leaders in O&P,” Ashlie White, OPGA’s O&P 2021 Woman of the Year and Director of Health policy and Strategic Alliances for AOPA, talks with Kelly Gies, COO and Partner of Cornerstone Prosthetics and Orthotics. They discuss the importance of data and analytics, cost indexing, insurance contracts and if they are helping your business be profitable, and much more. 

In this episode of Industry Matters Barry Thwaits, VP of Business Development for VGM & Associates talks with Adam Clark, Business Development Consultant for Post-Acute Care at Philips about long-term and post-acute care opportunities for providers. They analyze the business opportunity, reimbursement, and the resources needed to get into this growing market.  

In this episode of Industry Matters, OPGA president, Todd Eagen, talks with Dr. Kenton Kauffman of the Mayo Clinic about the Limb Loss and Preservation Registry. They discuss the importance of the outcomes program in providing evidence based care in the O&P profession.  

In today’s episode of Industry Matters we are talking about the upcoming Heartland Conference which is quickly approaching! June 13-15 VGM will hold its annual premier educational conference. And that is right here in our hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Joining me to talk about Heartland Conference are Committee Chair, Jill Blaser and Education Pillar, Kayla Mahler. 

In this episode of Industry Matters Mandi Joyner, Director of Marketing Strategy and Communications for VGM & Associates, talks with Mark Higley, VP of Regulatory Affairs for VGM Government about succession planning. Mark recently wrote a guide, “Succession Planning: Identifying What is Next for Your Business and How to Make it Happen,” to help members plan for the future. This podcast has common mistakes made, how to avoid to them, and best practices.Click HERE for the Succession Planning Guide  Mark Higley Cell Phone: 319.504.9515 

On today’s episode of Industry Matters we continue our series for our OPGA community. In this edition of “Women Leaders in O&P,” Ashlie White, OPGA’s O&P 2021 Woman of the Year and Director of Health policy and Strategic Alliances for AOPA, talks with Lesleigh Sisson, owner of O&P Insight. They discuss the importance of thorough and timely documentation to ensure proper reimbursement, challenges with same and similar devices, tips for your business, and much more.

In this episode of Industry Matters, Senior Director of Payer Relations for VGM Government, Ronda Buhrmester, and Dan Fedor, Director of Reimbursement and Education for U.S. Rehab, talk about lists - the master list, prior authorization, face to face, and written order prior to delivery. They cover the differences between the lists, recent changes with codes being added and removed from lists, the timing of additional changes, and what all of these updates mean for your business.  Standard Documentation Requirement Policy https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/article.aspx?articleid=55426 MLN SE 20007https://www.cms.gov/files/document/se20007.pdf UPCOMING WEBINAR Whaaaaat - CMS Announces the Codes on the Master List, Required List, and Those March 24, 2022 1:00 PM Central https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/795866519440662799?source=podcast  

We are very excited to be launching a new podcast series on Industry Matters for our OPGA community, “Women Leaders in O&P.” In this series, Ashlie White, OPGA’s O&P 2021 Woman of the Year and Director of Health policy and Strategic Alliances for AOPA, interviews other women leaders in the orthotics and prosthetics profession. In this first episode, Ashlie talks with Nikki Grace-Strader, the incoming fellow for NAAOP.  

In this episode of Industry Matters,  VP of Payer Relations for VGM Government Relations, Craig Douglas, talks with Market Sales Director for VGM Vendor Partner, Medline, Sal Grillo, about the impact from supply chain challenges, rising costs and stagnant reimbursement rates, shipping delays, workforce shortages, and how Medline is working to combat these issues. 

In this episode, Mandi Joyner, Director of Marketing and Communications at VGM & Associates talks with Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement at VGM Government Relations about the changes coming to the oxygen equipment medical policy and how the renewed PHE continues to impact waivers. * Note: Since this recording, the PHE was renewed on January 14, 2022 for an additional 90 days.  More information is available here.  Additional Resources[Webinar] Live Chat with Ronda - Reviewing the PHE WaiversPublished in Billing & Reimbursement on January 20, 2022Click here to view the recording. [Webinar] New Oxygen NCD - Let's Discuss What This Means!Published in Respiratory on October 01, 2021Click here to view the handout.Click here to view the recording.Vlog: New Oxygen NCDVlog: Update to Prior Auth List and F2F/WOPD RequirementsNCA - Home Use of Oxygen and Home OxygenNew Oxygen Decision Memo for NDC

In today’s episode of Industry Matters we talk with Brian Leitten, CEO of Leitten Consulting, John Gallagher, VP VGM Government Relations, and Mark Higley, VP VGM Regulatory Affairs about an updated study, “Competitive Bidding - A Decade Focused on the Wrong Prize the Case for Medicare Investment in DME in 2021.” This study looks at how investing in DME instead of trying to control distribution, specifically in regard to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and falls, could save the government billions of dollars, as well as allow for more providers and greater care of beneficiaries. The study can be found here: https://www.vgmdclink.com/uploads/Document-Library/61cb718f762181b1af06911ee8dfef04.pdf  

In today’s episode of Industry Matters, Heather Trumm, director of VGM Wound Care, talks with Dr. Nancy Collins, a Registered Dietician about the role nutrition plays in wound healing. Listen as they discuss how important protein and vitamin C and D are in the healing process, what other foods and supplements need to be considered, overcoming objections to nutrition in wound healing, and advice for patients dealing with hard to heal wounds.  https://drnancycollins.com/  https://www.vgm.com/communities/hme/wound-care/