GAMES Day at the Dome

On Tuesday,March 23, 2010, twenty-two GAMES members participated in our first GAMES Day at the Dome. We heard from key legislators, toured the Capitol, and spent time learning the ropes from our new lobbyist. With the recent passage of Health Care reform in Washington, the state capitol was abuzz with talk about healthcare, lawsuits, and budgets. Many of the legislators we met were interested in hearing our perspective on how DME fared in the bill the President signed.

Elected officials we met with included:

Representative Butch Parrish
Secretary of State Brian Kemp
Representative Jim Cole, Governor’s Floor Leader
Senator Bill Cowsert, Governor’s Floor Leader
Representative David Ralston, Speaker, House of Representatives (pictured)
Representative Melvin Everson
Representative Donna Sheldon
Representative John Meadows
Senator Judson Hill
Senator Buddy Carter
Senator Ross Tolleson
Senator Tommie Williams, President pro-tem, Georgia Senate

CLICK HERE for more photos. 

GAMES Members Converge on Washington!

March 1 -3, a delegation of GAMES members joined the over 250 Home Medical Equipment Suppliers attending AAHomecare's Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. The conference featured numerous "Washington Insider" speakers, elected officials, tips on lobbying, and great networking events.  All of this culminated with Wednesday's march to the Hill! GAMES members met with all 13 representatives and both senators from Georgia.  We asked these elected officials to help us and our patients put an end to Medicare (suicide) Bidding and support HR3790. We also asked them to protect Home Oxygen patients by signing on to HR2373, the bill to end the Oxygen Cap and restore the benefit through the period of medical need. Emboldened by the support of additional GAMES members at home, we also requested that the first month purchase option for power mobility be preserved!

Photo by Max Krupka

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GAMES member Georgia Home Medical of Albany participates in annual golf torunament with Congressman Sanford Bishop

Philip Stoudenmier tells GAMES, "Yesterday four of us from Georgia Home Medical spent the day with Sanford Bishop playing golf in his annual golf tournament.  We got a lot of face time, met all of his staff - Washington, Albany and Columbus.  We should be able to "get to him" in the future.  He told us "those who cry the loudest get the most attention".  I told him we were going to be like a "nursery full of newborns"."

Will Rembert, Bill Bradshaw, Sanford Bishop, Craig McCook, Phillip Stoudenmire

Jack Smedile, Health LA for Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia visits Petsch Respiratory in Martinez, GA

On Friday morning, May 29th.  Mr Smedile was visiting to observe and discuss the methods that Home Oxygen providers perform to participate in the Medicare program.  Mr. Smedile was asked many questions about the legislative process and was very informed and shared his feelings about the Medicare program and health care in general. 

We had a very good opportunity to discuss Cap 36 and Competitive Bidding and were assured that Congressman Broun is aware, very familiar and will be very supportive of these issues.  Congressman Broun, a physician is very aware of the value of homecare and along with Dr. Gingery, Congressman of Georgia and Dr. Tom Price, another physician in the Georgia delegation should be very influential in the path our health care will take. 

The staff of Petsch Respiratory thank Mr. Smedile for taking his valuable time to support our industries concerns. 
David and Janice Petsch and Staff.  

GAMES Members Participate in Fundraisers

On Thursday, October 23, GAMES members participated in a golf tournament at Eagle Watch Golf Club to show support for State Senator Chip Rogers. Senator Rogers returns to the General Assembly with an overwhelming 76.8% of the vote in Georgia’s senate district 21. GAMES congratulates Senator Chip Rogers!
 

Steve Stahlman, Sergio Silva, Senator Chip Rogers, and Todd Tyson web	Sergio Silva, Steve Stahlman, Todd Tyson, and Ken Manis

 "Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged.  No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere."  - President T. Roosevelt, 1908