In today’s episode, VP of Essentially Women, Nikki Jensen talks with Jolly Rechenberg, partner, chairmen, and co-CEO of American Breast Care (ABC) about the start of ABC, the importance of communication and feedback in the product development process, custom breast prothesis, and why the rose is much more than just a logo to American Breast Care.  

In today’s episode,  VP of Sales for VGM & Associates, Dave Lyman talks with CEO of Encore Health Care, Zach Gantt about the importance of respiratory outcomes in the DME world and how Encore can help manage patients, not devices. They also talk about building out individual care plans, managing populations of patients, and partnering with hospitals. www.encorehc.com 

In today’s episode, VGM and Associate's VP of Sales, Dave Lyman, talks with Founder and CEO of Circadiance, David Groll, about a new infant monitoring technology and program. They also discuss why all DMEs should be providing infant monitoring. www.circadiance.com 

In this episode of Industry Matters Mandi Joyner, director of marketing and communications for VGM & Associates, talks with two members of the Heartland Conference planning committee, Sarah Conger and Jill Blaser about all things Heartland! Listen to find out what new is coming to Heartland, how the committee is keeping attendees, vendor partners, and employee owners safe amidst COVID-19, educational opportunities, and this year's farewell event! 

In this episode of Industry Matters, VP of VGM Live at Home, Jim Greatorex, talks with Darren Corcoran with Vets Access and Steve Dawson of Harmar about the challenges overcome in 2020 and the opportunities in 2021 for the home accessibility market. Tune in to find out about Supply chain constraints, shipping damages, and the forecast for the rest of this year. 

In this episode of Industry Matters Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations at VGM, interviews Dr. Meir Kryger, Professor of Medicine at Yale University of Medicine about the impact COVID-19 had, and is having on sleep, as well how the BodiMetrics CIRCUL Sleep and Fitness Ring can be used to accurately track oxygen levels. Dr. Krieger has more than 40 years of experience in sleep medicine and has seen more than 40 thousand patients. You won't want to miss this episode! For more information on BodiMetrics call 844-744-8800 or email [email protected]. 

In this episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner, Director of Marketing Strategy and Communications for VGM & Associates talks with Rob Baumhover, Director of VGM Retail about how VGM Retail has REWIRED its services available to VGM members to help them adjust to the ever-changing landscape. Rob has been with VGM for more than 10 years, and prior to that was with big box retail for 20 years. Any questions, please reach out to Rob at [email protected] or call him at 319-504-6539.   

In today’s episode of Industry Matters Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations at VGM talks with two VGM members Stephanie Robinson, Chief Compliance Officer for Dynamic Healthcare Services and Shelia Roberson, Chief Compliance Officer for Great Elm Healthcare about how their organizations are navigating the Public Health Emergency by quickly adapting to change at the beginning of the PHE and now, continuing to be nimble while still providing their patients with outstanding service.

In this episode of Industry Matters, VP of Sales for VGM & Associates, Dave Lyman talks with National Account Manager of On-Board Communications, Bob Wagner. Here VGM Members will learn about how On-Board’s GPS fleet management system provides functionality, control and risk management not found in Mobile Delivery systems. 

In this episode of Industry Matters, we talk with Lindy Tentinger, President of VGM Forbin and Miriam Lieber, of Lieber Consulting to discuss what leadership looked like in 2020 and key lessons learned that we should keep as we transition to 'back to normal.' You won't want to miss these amazing women and their insight into authentic leadership. Be sure to get more details at their joint presentation at Medtrade West, "Patient Engagement and the Path to Value Based Care," on Tuesday, July 13th at 9:30am!

Director of VGM Wound Care, Heather Trumm talks with vendor partner, Dermarite about cost effective wound management without compromising the value of the products. The average cost to heal a wound is between $4,000 and $9,000. Listen to this episode to find out what impacts that cost, and how to improve wound healing. 

In this episode of Industry Matters, VGM’s Midwest Regional Account Manager, Jay Kopriva talks Harley and Beth with VGM Member, Advanced Medical DME about a study they conducted using the Afflovest and the astounding results they found in increase of quality of life and healthcare cost decrease. 

In today’s episode of Industry Matters Dave Lyman, VP of sales for VGM & Associates talks with Business Marketing Managers from Philips Respironics and the President of VGM Fulfillment about different options for fitting patients for CPAP masks as well as inventory management.

In today’s episode of Industry Matters we discuss a home accessibility tax incentive bill and what you can do to help! Vice President of VGM Live at Home, Jim Greatorex, talks with Louis Tenebaum, Founder and CEO of the HomesRenewed Coalition.  For more information visit www.homesrenewedcoalition.com.

In this podcast, billing and reimbursement experts Ronda Buhrmester and Dan Fedor discuss the funding landscape in 2021 and cover ongoing COVID-19 waivers, the payment rates (fee schedule, SPA, etc.), and what we are seeing as the most common denials and how to avoid them. Access all billing and reimbursement resources on the members-only portal! Log in today at vgm.com/portal.

In today’s episode of Industry Matters President of U.S Rehab, Greg Packer and Vice President of Rehabilitation Program Development at HOMELINK, Kyle Walker,  wrap up a 3-part podcast series on the importance telehealth has played, and will continue to play in the complex rehab industry.  

In this episode of industry matters Director of Wound Care, Heather Trumm talks with Stacey Mullis, Director of Clinical Marketing at Permobil where “Every person has the right to have his or her disability compensated as far as possible by aids with the same technical standard as those we all use in our daily lives.” Heather and Stacy are going to dive right into dive into something that is often overlooked, and that is seated posture in wound care. 

In this episode, Wayne van Halem, President of The van Halem Group, and Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations for VGM & Associates, work through the important details around billing, reimbursement, and audits when it comes to knee and back braces, the two categories included in Competitive Bidding Round 2021.

Today, we sit down with Christina Throndson, Business Development Strategist of Hellman, a division of VGM. COVID-19 is a hot topic, but how can it not be? It's the reason we've all been forced to change our lifestyle for many months. While your target audiences may not have changed, their behaviors and expectations have. As we begin to carefully approach "living as usual,” Christina chats with us about what methods of adaptation are necessary to capture and connect with our customers and prospects. For more information, you can contact Christina at 866-621-4514 or at [email protected]. You can also check out Hellman’s websites at hellman.com and hellman.com/OTS. To order a customizable video created by Hellman, visit hellman.com/myvideo/.

This is second podcast on a new course being developed for telehealth in complex rehab. This podcast will examine the finer details like procedures, documentation, service and repair, and reimbursement with a variety of experts; Kyle Walker, MHA, ATP is the Director of Operations of Assistive Technology with VGM Homelink.  Mark Schmeler is an Associate Professor and the Vice Chair for Education Training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dan Fedor  currently serves as the Director of Reimbursement for U.S. Rehab a division of VGM & Associates. Rachel Hibbs, DPT, NCS, ATP is an Assistant Professor and Director of Continuing Education at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science. She earned a B.S. in Rehabilitation Science, Steve Mitchell is an occupational therapist who works as a Clinical Specialist in Seating/Wheeled Mobility and Assistive Technology for the SCI/D Service at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System in Cleveland, Ohio. 

In this episode we sat down with Patty Mastandrea is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MedCare Equipment Co., LLC, headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. She has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and has demonstrated expertise in business development and healthcare operations throughout her career. And, most recently she won VGM's HME Woman of the Year award. This award is in its fifth year and recognizes one woman in the industry who has made significant contributions throughout her career to her company, community, and the HME industry. The award was presented during a special virtual ceremony on Oct. 22. 

In honor of Respiratory Care Week from Oct. 25-31, we chat with Nikki Strait, a respiratory therapist (RT) from Medical Services Company about what her profession means to her. 

In this episode, Todd Eagen, president of OPGA, a division of VGM  Associates, sits down with Lesleigh Sisson, owner of O&P Insight. They discuss how O&P Insight, a consulting business, offers comprehensive, specialized business training and policy and procedure manuals for practice management, workflow, staff development, and compliance to help O&P practices be more profitable, provide better care, and be more efficient. To learn more, visit https://www.oandpinsight.com/.

In this episode, we visit with Ronda Buhrmester, Sr. Director of Payer Relations & Reimbursement for VGM & Associates, and Dan Meyer, Chief Revenue Officer for Repair Authority, about providers’ most pressing questions about CPAP repair and how Repair Authority has the solutions providers are looking for.For more information, contact Repair Authority at [email protected] or visit www.repairauthority.com. 

In this episode we talk with Lori Miller and Jamie Lee Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we wanted to highlight some of the amazing women who impact this industry every day and those strong women who have not only conquered breast cancer, but dominated it! Lori Miller is the manager at Naturally Yours in Illinois. Lori is also a certified mastectomy fitter. Jamie Lee is not only a breast cancer survivor, but she is a business owner, a model, has walked the runway, and continues to be a force to be reckoned with.

In this episode, Todd Eagen, President of OPGA, chats with Wayne van Halem, President of The van Halem Group, about the return of CMS audits and what it means to orthotic and prosthetic providers. For more information, visit www.vanhalemgroup.com.

In this episode, we sit down with Arienne Martinez, director of training and development for HOMELINK, a division of the VGM Group. Arienne chats with us about her recent article that was featured in the latest VGM playbook, “Protecting Your Most Important Asset: Your People,” about keeping your employees engaged during the pandemic, especially with much of the workforce working remote.  To read this article, visit vgm.com/playbook and download "Protecting Your Most Important Asset: Your People."

In this episode, we sit down with Paul DiMarco and discuss how to maximize your team by identifying their strengths through the Clifton StrengthsFinder program. All people have a unique combination of talents, knowledge, and skills—strengths—that they use in their daily lives to do their work, achieve their goals, and interact with others. When people understand and apply their strengths, the effect on their lives and work is transformational. People who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged in their work and three times more likely to say they have an excellent quality of life. Yet, many people don't know what their strengths are or have the opportunity to use them to their advantage. In fact, many people tend to focus on fixing their weaknesses. By exploring the ways in which you naturally think, feel, and behave, you can identify and build on the areas where you have infinite potential to grow and succeed. This is not just for you, but can be used for your team(s) at work. Optimizing your employees' strengths will optimize their, and your whole organization’s, performance!To learn more, reach out to Paul at vgm.com/contact.

Shannon Eckhardt, Ryan Longhorn, and Monica Rogan, are all VPs of Operations at HOMELINK, a subsidiary of VGM Group. In this episode, they join us for a conversation about operations the size of HOMELINK and how this group has adapted this year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Mark Schmeler, Associate Professor and the Vice Chair for Education Training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh, Dan Fedor, Director of Reimbursement for U.S. Rehab, Kyle Walker, Director of Operations of Assistive Technology with VGM Homelink, and Greg Packer, President of U.S. Rehab, talk about a new educational program focused around telehealth and CRT. In this episode, they discuss the history of telehealth, how providers are willing to challenge the status quo by embracing untraditional methods for assessments and non-billable services within virtual technology, the policies surrounding telehealth services from a payer standpoint, and how telehealth is not a one-size-fits-all solution. This is first of a series of podcasts about the new telehealth course.

In this episode, Ronda provides an update on a variety of billing and reimbursement topics, including mass adjustments for non-rural areas, post-public health emergency and waivers, the oxygen equipment National Coverage Determination (NCD), competitive bidding, and more! To stay up to date on more topics like this, be sure to subscribe to the VGM Government blog to get updates sent to your email! Subscribe today at vgmgov.com.

VP of Sales Dave Lyman talks with Jeff Murray of Philips Respironics about new technological advances that can help providers continue to service their customers remotely, even for mask fittings.Listen in to learn about their three options: good, better, and best!

Listen in as Dave Lyman, vice president of sales at VGM & Associates talks with CEO and Founder of Circadiance, David Groll, about the SleepWeaver mask, the soft cloth CPAP mask.Circadiance develops, manufactures, and markets respiratory products for people with sleep-disordered breathing, who need non-invasive ventilation or who require monitoring. 

As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of keeping employees, customers, and their bottom line protected from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, it’s difficult to look through the haze and see a new world on the other side. In this episode, VGM Group CEO Mike Mallaro shares the importance of leadership through the pandemic and what opportunities await in HME, identifying “new normal” keys to operating your business and how to adapt a new strategy to evolve your business post-pandemic.     

Help us celebrate CRT Awareness Week August 10-14 as Greg Packer, President of U.S. Rehab talks with Tim Ascherl and Dr. Mark Schmeler about the importance of access to CRT and repairs. 

In this episode, we chat with Wayne van Halem and Kelly Grahovac of The van Halem Group about the CMS audits returning today, August 3, and what DMEPOS providers need to know. For more information, visit https://www.vanhalemgroup.com/.

Join us as we talk with Liz Beaulieu, Editor of HME News, about the upcoming virtual HME News Business Summit. Register at www.hmesummit.com. 

Ronda Buhrmester and Dan Fedor discuss the rule CMS-1713 related to Change in Orders and Face to Face, including master list and required list, as well as SWO recommendations. They also chat about the current and future environment for DMEPOS providers as far as telehealth, continued need for ongoing rentals, supplies and repairs, and a new ABN.Are you a VGM member? Make sure to visit vgm.com/portal to access articles, documents, and more great resources from Dan, Ronda, and all VGM experts! Not a current member but interested in becoming one? Visit vgm.com/become-a-member to get started!

Listen in as we talk with Heather Trumm, Director of VGM Wound Care about the importance of all DMEPOS providers paying attention to wound care. Heather also covers new education materials available for VGM Members, and resources that can help you get started in wound care. 

U.S. Rehab’s Tyler Mahncke sits down with Permobil’s Ashley Detterbeck, Clinical Education Manager, and Daniel Kalk, Permobil’s Territory Sales Manager. In this episode, we discuss the how Permobil has adapted to working with patients virtually, as well as the history, helpful tips, and overall benefits of the standing power chairs. For more information about Permobil, visit their website here.“Every person with a disability has the right to have his or her handicap compensated as far as possible by aids with the same technical standard as those we all use in our everyday lives.”-Dr. Per Udden, Founder of Permobil 

In this episode, VGM’s Dave Lyman and Ronda Buhrmester discuss how providers can build a profitable complex respiratory program.Be sure to attend the Heartland At Home respiratory track for more sessions tailored to those who work in the respiratory field. More information can be found here! https://www.vgmheartland.com/agenda

Reimbursement changes can be a challenge to keep track of in the healthcare industry. Heather Trumm, Director of VGM Wound Care interviews Yesenia Banks, Reimbursement Manager of 3M KCI, to help us better understand the recent Medicare reimbursement changes known as PDPM and PDGM. 

Repairs can be challenging to navigate in the CRT and reimbursement environment. Listen in to this episode of Industry Matters to hear from Patrick Meeker, VP of Ability Products, Dan Fedor, Director of Reimbursement and Education for U.S. Rehab, and President of U.S. Rehab, Greg Packer as they cover the tough topics you need to understand.Please see this note from President of U.S. Rehab, Greg Packer:Our Condolences to Patrick Meeker From Ability Products“It is with my deepest regret to have to inform you that on June 17, 2020, a dear friend within our industry Patrick A. Meeker, age 52, passed away suddenly. Patrick was a friend and colleague of mine and this news was very difficult to comprehend. In the past few months, Patrick and I were able to work very closely to establish a relationship with Ability Products, the company Patrick was moving forward in our industry and is contracted with U.S. Rehab/VGM. We were blessed to be involved with such a professional and intelligent businessman in Patrick. He had a renewed, focused effort to make this company successful, and with that, we were working on marketing efforts for the company. I wanted to profess the following podcast we had taped just a few days prior to his passing. I wanted to make sure that what Patrick worked so hard to develop was released and used to help understand how professional and energetic he was for this industry. Patrick’s passion was second to none and I will miss him, and I can guarantee you all, we as an industry will miss Patrick and his always positive and focused mentality. I pray the family is comforted and that we recognize Patrick as one of the key friends of this very powerful industry in custom rehab technology.”-Greg Packer

In the O&P industry, nothing is constant, especially when it involves outcomes measurements. That is why OPGA has partnered with Vanguard Metrics and Analytics to offer The Lower Limb Mobility Management Program (L2M2). This program is actually an outcomes measurement tool. Listen to this podcast to hear from OPGA President, Todd Eagen, and Brian Gustin, founder of Vanguard Metrics and Analytics to learn more. 

In this episode, we sit down with John Gallagher, vice president of VGM Government Relations, to discuss their latest resource now exclusively available to VGM members. “COVID-19: VGM’s Next Steps Guide A blueprint guide preparing your business for the new environment” is all about assisting employers in making (re)opening decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to protect vulnerable workers.This resource is available to VGM members at vgm.com/playbook. Not a member? Learn how to become a member at vgm.com/become-a-member/.

In this episode, President of OPGA, Todd Eagen, has a conversation with Ossur's Tyler Hocz about new products from Ossur - the Balance™ Foot S and Balance™ Foot S Torsion.

In this episode, President of OPGA, Todd Eagen, has a conversation with Ossur's Tom Bower about new products from Ossur - the Iceross Seal-In® X Locking Liner and Icelock® 562 Hybrid. 

In this episode, Dave Lyman, VP of Respiratory and Sales and Ryan Ball, Director of VGM Market Data, discuss business development strategies that providers can use during the COVID-19 environment and beyond.