Tag: VGM Group
VGM promotes Thwaits, prioritizes customer success
February 19, 2025HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has promoted Barry Thwaits to the newly created role of executive vice president, customer success, for VGM & Associates. Thwaits will continue to develop a long-term vision for coordinated communications and strategies that help VGM’s customers scale their businesses, including aligning services across sales teams to create a seamless customer experience for HME providers. “VGM has an ongoing responsibility to our members and partners to provide the highest...
Medicare Advantage: Play it smart
January 9, 2025Kim Cuce
Q. How can we strategically plan for the continued growth of Medicare Advantage Plans?
A. The average Medicare beneficiary has 43 MAPs to choose from. More than 54% of beneficiaries participate in a MAP, and this is expected to grow to 61% by 2032. Why? MAPs are using celebrities to entice Medicare beneficiaries. Have you ever bought something after seeing an infomercial, a viral video or a TikTok, only to be disappointed that the “item” wasn’t quite as shiny as they made...
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...
VGM to celebrate Woman of the Year at Heartland
October 17, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has announced that the ninth HME Woman of the Year Award celebration will be held during its Heartland Conference, June 9-11, 2025, in Waterloo, Iowa. “The HME Woman of the Year Award honors the incredible dedication and impact women have on this industry,” said VGM Group CEO Jeremy Stolz. “And Heartland is the perfect occasion to honor their achievements and contributions. I cannot wait to shine a light on these deserving leaders, and to celebrate...
'We need to be the answer,’ says Dan Bunting
July 26, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa – Dan Bunting has worked with more than 130 business owners in his career, something that’s “super valuable” as he seeks to help the VGM Group develop long-term strategies to promote and support its customers and the HME industry.
Bunting, who was recently named strategic advisor at VGM, spent a good chunk of his career working alongside Steve Griggs at Aerocare as it rolled up companies prior to its sale to AdaptHealth.
“All of those...
VGM names Dan Bunting as senior advisor
July 15, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has announced that Dan Bunting, who was most recently COO and strategic advisor to the CEO of AdaptHealth, has joined its team as a senior advisor. In this role, Bunting will help VGM develop long-term strategies to promote and support its customers and the HME industry. “I don’t think there’s anyone in the United States who knows more about our industry than Dan,” said VGM Group CEO Jeremy Stolz. “The health care industry, and HME in...
Industry keeps heat on Medicare Advantage
July 3, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – There’s a lot of noise right now around improving the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans and the HME industry needs to make sure it continues to add its voice to the conversation, say stakeholders.
Most recently, in June, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate reintroduced bipartisan legislation to streamline and standardize the use of prior authorization for these plans. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care...
Medicare Advantage: Industry fights back
June 14, 2024Liz Beaulieu
WATERLOO, Iowa – There’s a renewed call to submit data that demonstrates Medicare Advantage plans are wrongly denying coverage for home medical equipment, and during a panel at the VGM Group’s Heartland Conference on June 11, stakeholders shared a prime example.
Stakeholders have been encouraging providers, where applicable, to submit claims through the prior authorization process for traditional Medicare, even for Medicare Advantage patients. If Medicare approves the claim...
Ryan Wood on the ‘automation race’ in cybersecurity
May 10, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa – Ryan Wood, VGM Group’s new chief information security officer, believes health care companies, as a general rule, need to “assume compromise” in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
“Without knowing the specifics of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, I think we should be leaning on building our cyber program and infrastructure for resilience, rather than being focused on backup and recovery,” said Wood, a recent guest on the...
VGM welcomes two new board members
April 8, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group has two new board members: Steve Ryan, senior vice president of client services at GreatBanc in Chicago; and Dr. Rebecca Ehretsman, president of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. They replace VGM co-founders John Deery, Jr., who resigned from his position on the board at the end of 2023, and the late Jim Walsh, who passed away in 2023. “We are fortunate to add two exceptional leaders to our board of directors,” said Mike Mallaro, who serves as the VGM...