HME Business

VGM Bidding Seminars Underway

Series of two-day events aims to give attendees the “ins and outs” of Round Two of competitive bidding.

• By David Kopf
• Oct 06, 2011

VGM has launched a series of in-depth, two-day seminars, “The Ins and Outs of Competitive Bidding Round Two and How to Make Money in Uncertain Reimbursement Environment.”

Based on the notions that providers need a comprehensive understanding on how to think through their bidding; how their business and operational performance must match industry changes; and how growth through new lines of business and diversifying payor source is important to their business, the seminars will offer:

• Four full hours of education from Mark Higley on competitive bidding alone, enough time to address rules, processes, forms, tips and strategies.
• Two experienced professionals (among these four: Mike Mallaro, chief financial officer of VGM; Alan Morris, director of Alternate Care Programs for VGM; Miriam Lieber, president of Leiber Consulting; and Sarah Hannam vice president of ECS Billing & Consulting Inc.) who will serve each venue as faculty to educate providers on financial and operational analysis.
• Three hours to detailing 12 distinct growth opportunities that will be of interest to all providers as they formulate their future business plans.  HME providers looking to prepare for Round Two and build a sustainable business models post-Round Two should plan to attend.

The series began this week and continues into December:

Oct. 3-4, Chicago
Oct 5-6, Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 10-11, Hartford/Bradley, Conn.
Oct. 12-13, Philadelphia, Penn.
Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 2-3, Detroit, Mich.
Nov. 7-8, Sacramento, Calif.
Nov. 9-10, Las Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 15-16, Waterloo, Iowa
Nov. 28-29, San Antonio, Texas
Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Raleigh, N.C.
Dec. 12-13, New York City
Dec. 14-15, Nashville, Tenn.
TBA, Atlanta, Ga.

The seminars are open to both VGM members and non-members. The costs for the seminar is:

• $249 per non-member
• $149 per VGM member.
• $199 per state association/AAHomecare member
• Special pricing will be offered for the session in Waterloo. It is free for VGM Members, $99 for state association members and $125 for non-members. It will also include a tour of the VGM facilities and a social event.

Those wishing to attend can register through VGM Education at http://www.vgmeducation.com/traveling_education.asp#27.

"We understand the implications of competitive bidding, and want to offer our members information about that, but also solid ideas about streamlining their operations, understanding their financials and considering new business opportunities that would make them less reliant on Medicare bid categories," VGM’s Mallaro said. "VGM believes the future of HME is bright, but a bright future should not be confused with a static future. Our businesses must change to adapt to the realities of changing reimbursements, changing payer focus, patient and physician preferences and product category lifecycles."

Comments