02/27/2026
Providers from across Tennessee gathered at the Capitol in Nashville for Legislative Day — a powerful show of unity and advocacy for our industry.
This marked the first large-scale advocacy effort in many years energized by ACMESA, proudly bringing together long-standing members alongside those who recently joined from ATHOMES. The momentum was evident throughout the day, and the engagement proved to be a tremendous success.
Throughout the day, the group attended nearly 20 legislative meetings, ensuring our industry’s voice was heard clearly and consistently. In addition to participating in those meetings, Cindy Howard (Protech Medical, LLC) dedicated hours attending both House and Senate hearings, gathering valuable insight to further strengthen our advocacy strategy moving forward.
Special thanks to AAHomecare for retaining John Goetz (Bridge Public Affairs) to work on behalf of ACMESA, AAHomecare, and the industry. John and Laura Williard (AAHomecare) expertly coordinated legislative meetings and equipped attendees with strategic, impactful talking points that resonated with lawmakers. We also extend our appreciation to Michael “Ike” Isaacson (VGM Group) for representing the supplier community and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with providers throughout the day.
The collaboration, preparation, and unified message made a strong impression — and attendees left encouraged and optimistic about the positive changes these advocacy efforts can help drive.
Participating providers and partners included: Beth Bowen (ACMESA), Laura Williard (AAHomecare), John Goetz (Bridge Public Affairs), Thom Harvill (Above & Beyond), Michael Isaacson (VGM Group), Jill Ferrell (Lincare), Bill Gutknecht (Mobilcare Medical), Charles Satterfield, PharmD (Archer’s), Janet Butler (Access DME, LLC), Becky Bell (Archer’s), Tim Havel (NSM), Ted Malkowski (Numotion), Cindy Howard (Protech Medical, LLC), Cullen Barney (Prism), Stephanie Wood (Lincare), Jonathan Kolakowski (Advanced Medical), Carrie Pitcock (Rhythm Healthcare), Lynnette Evans (Buckeye DME), and Lee Armstrong (Buckeye DME).