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VGM Lobbies for Oxygen on World COPD Day
Yesterday, World COPD Day, the VGM Group sponsored Enough Is Enough: Shut Down the Switchboard Day. Providers were urged to join VGM associates and state associations in rallying citizens to call the U.S. Capitol switchboard.
The goal was to get 50,000 calls to Washington to raise awareness of the DME industry and urge members of Congress to co-sponsor bills H.R. 1845/S. 1428 (Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act) and H.R. 621/S. 1484 (Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act). Callers were urged to tell Congress that further cuts to oxygen should not be included in any upcoming Medicare reform.
Nearly 8,000 calls to Washington were logged. Ohio and Iowa logged the most calls, with Massachusetts, Virginia and Florida tailing close behind.
"The numbers are staggering," says Van G. Miller, CEO and founder. "The actual count is not where we're coming from. It's the results that count."
VGM hosted a live Web cast to update the industry all day in telethon style. Those calling Congress were urged to enter the number of times a particular member of Congress had been contacted. To assist callers, senators and members of Congress were listed by state on the Web site.
John Gallagher, vice president of government relations, commended Utah, specifically UTMed for getting all of its members to call in.
Jim Walsh, general counsel, reported that many callers got through to live aides and in some cases, congressmen and senators.
"It's so easy to make a difference," said a caller from Utah.
Walsh encouraged providers to follow up next week to make sure representatives and senators follow through with their promises.
A caller from Georgia said the nice thing was that all of the offices seemed to be aware of the different bills for home care.
Invacare's CEO Mal Mixon called in to talk about the release of its report that refutes the OIG report on power mobility device. Walsh, who answered the call, praised Invacare for all of the company's hard work in Washington. He specifically praised Invacare's Vice President of Government Affairs Cara Bachenheimer.
"Invacare's put their money where their mouth is," Walsh said.
