Tag: Essentially Women
Addressing gaps in women’s health care
December 18, 2024Tracy Orzel
Recent years have seen a marked increase in attention to women's health, signaling a transformative shift in the health care landscape that challenges long-standing norms.
A crucial aspect of this shift is the recognition that women are not simply "small men," says Nikki Jensen, vice president of Essentially Women, a division of Waterloo, Iowa-based VGM Group.
Data suggests that the next five to 10 years will bring substantial opportunities for the development...
EW’s Focus is at Heartland
April 26, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM’s Heartland Conference will host Focus at Heartland this year, a change in format for Essentially Women’s annual conference that will allow organizers to “go above and beyond” what they offer women’s health providers, says Nikki Jensen.
“The abundance of resources and thought leaders that we have at Heartland – this is an unprecedented opportunity to bring it to EW members,” said Jensen, vice president of EW, a division...
Because it only affects women
November 21, 2023Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
An Amy Schumer standup special I watched recently on Netflix had me thinking about the latest iteration of legislation that seeks to require Medicare to pay for custom breast forms.
Schumer was talking about a common women’s health condition she was seeking treatment for.
“Oh, we haven’t studied that yet,” she deadpans, “because it only affects women.”
Cue Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who introduced the Breast Cancer Patient...
Stakeholders push hard for custom breast forms bill
October 27, 2023Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – The top priority for supporters of legislation seeking to require Medicare to pay for custom breast forms is to get it re-scored, says Nikki Jensen.
A previous score by the Congressional Budget Office in December 2020 came in much higher than expected because the CBO scored it as if all women, not just some of them, would choose the pricier custom option.
“We’re working now with Senator Duckworth’s office, hoping to send a letter to the CBO with...
Senators re-introduce custom breast forms legislation
October 25, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have re-introduced The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act, a bill that would provide Medicare coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses.
The bill is a companion bill to H.R. 4779, introduced in July by Reps. Judy Chu, D-Calif., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa.
“We can do so much more to help patients and survivors of breast cancer fully recover and achieve the best quality of life,”...
Take holistic approach to women’s health
August 25, 2023John Andrews
Women’s health comprises many sectors, but the major ones are maternity and postpartum, as well as post-mastectomy and menopause products. And although those sectors have very different characteristics, they actually represent an opportunity for HME providers to care for female patients over the course of their lives, specialists in the field say.
The advantage for astute providers is to establish relationships with clients while they are young by furnishing maternity items and offering...
Bill to cover custom breast forms reintroduced in House
July 27, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON — Reps. Judy Chu, D-Calif., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, have reintroduced the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act, which would provide Medicare coverage of custom breast prostheses to breast cancer survivors.
The bill, H.R. 4779, would allow hundreds of thousands of women each year to choose a custom prosthesis after a mastectomy.
“This is a great step forward in our efforts to expand access to life-changing health care for breast cancer...
EW partners with Nymbl
May 16, 2023HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – Essentially Women has announced a partnership with Nymbl Systems, a cloud-based billing and business management solution. “Essentially Women is incredibly excited to partner with Nymbl Systems,” said Nikki Jensen, vice president of Essentially Women. “Nymbl’s business management system will allow our members to streamline their processes by helping with complicated billing processes, customizable forms, appointment reminders, point-of-sale (POS) system,...
EW refreshes website
April 7, 2023HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – Essentially Women, a division of VGM & Associates, has launched a redesigned website at essentiallywomen.com. Refreshed and enhanced for a more user-friendly experience, this updated site makes it easier for members to find the information they’re looking for. The site also includes a members-only portal, making it even easier to access the resources that are exclusively available to EW members. “At EW, we strive to provide the resources members need to lower...
In brief: AAH on Medicaid, AdaptHealth on expectations, GAO on waivers
January 13, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s Payer Relations Team has begun a nationwide campaign to work with state/regional association leaders to better align state Medicaid rates with higher costs.
The association says HME providers are experiencing increasing product prices and operational costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, as well as ongoing inflation pressures.
“Our work will include requesting that rates reflect the 6.4%+ CPI-U increases granted by...