# Florida DMEPOS Consortium & Association Targets — v1

**STTIL Solutions LLC | Signal | Research Date: April 2026**
**Purpose:** Identify Florida-based DMEPOS networks, associations, and buying
groups as outreach targets for the Signal asset package sale and/or
future subscriber acquisition.

---

## Research Notes

All findings below are sourced from public web searches conducted April 2026.
Direct membership directories, contact lists, and conference registration
links require follow-up with each organization. Where specific 2026 data was
unavailable, that gap is flagged explicitly.

---

## 1. Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS)

**Status: Primary Florida-specific target — confirmed active**

FAHCS is the Florida state-level trade association for HME/DMEPOS suppliers.
It functions as the Florida counterpart to AAHomecare nationally, and AAHomecare
actively coordinates with FAHCS on state-level legislative and regulatory work.

- **Website:** [fahcs.us](https://www.fahcs.us/)
- **Focus:** Statewide advocacy, member benefits, annual conference
- **Membership profile:** Florida HME/DMEPOS providers — direct Signal buyer
  profile match
- **Annual conference:** FAHCS hosts an annual statewide meeting with 150+
  attendees (suppliers, vendors, sponsors). 2026 conference dates and location
  not confirmed in search — check [fahcs.us/Events](https://fahcs.us/Events)
  directly for current listing.
- **Relevance:** Exhibit sponsor or speaker slot at the FAHCS annual conference
  is the highest-leverage single Florida touchpoint. Members are exactly the
  supplier profile Signal targets.
- **Action:** Contact FAHCS directly for 2026 conference sponsorship/exhibit
  opportunities and membership directory access.

> **Note on FAMES:** Search for "Florida Association of Medical Equipment
> Suppliers (FAMES)" did not surface an active, distinct organization by that
> name. FAHCS appears to be the operative Florida state HME/DMEPOS association.
> FAMES may be a former name, a subsidiary body, or defunct. Verify before
> referencing FAMES in outreach materials.

---

## 2. AAHomecare — Florida Engagement

**Status: National body with active Florida legislative presence**

AAHomecare is the national trade association for home medical equipment
suppliers. It does not operate a formal state chapter structure, but it works
directly with FAHCS on Florida-specific legislation and regulatory advocacy.

- **Website:** [aahomecare.org](https://aahomecare.org/)
- **Florida legislative work:** AAHomecare + FAHCS are jointly advancing
  legislation for Medicaid rate stability and anti-self-referral protections
  for Florida DMEPOS providers.
- **CB 2026 activity:** AAHomecare is the lead national voice on Competitive
  Bidding Round 2028. Bidding window is scheduled to open late Summer/Fall 2026.
  CGMs, insulin pumps, ostomy/urological supplies, and OTS braces are included.
  This is a direct urgency driver for the Signal pitch.
- **Relevance:** AAHomecare does not sell to members directly, but it is a
  credibility signal and a source of referrals. Consider positioning Signal
  as a tool that helps suppliers navigate CB pressure.
- **Action:** Monitor [aahomecare.org/Competitive-Bidding](https://aahomecare.org/Competitive-Bidding)
  for CB timeline updates. Use CB urgency in outreach copy.

---

## 3. VGM & Associates

**Status: National MSO — no Florida-specific affiliate structure found**

VGM & Associates is the largest Member Service Organization (MSO) for
post-acute/HME providers nationally, covering DME, respiratory, sleep, wound
care, complex rehab, orthotics and prosthetics.

- **Website:** [vgm.com](https://www.vgm.com/)
- **Florida affiliates:** No Florida-specific chapter or regional affiliate
  structure was identified in search results. VGM operates nationally and
  Florida-based DME suppliers may be VGM members without a state-level node.
- **State associations directory:** VGM maintains a state HME associations
  resource at [vgm.com/services/government-relations/state-associations/](https://www.vgm.com/services/government-relations/state-associations/)
  — FAHCS is the Florida listing.
- **2026 regulatory updates published by VGM:**
  - CMS 2026 CPI-U fee schedule adjustments for DMEPOS
  - Updated accreditation rules (annual surveys required effective Jan 1, 2026;
    36-month majority ownership change restrictions)
- **Relevance:** VGM members are a qualified buyer profile. Approach via VGM's
  vendor partner program or present at VGM-affiliated regional events.
- **Action:** Contact VGM vendor partner team ([vgm.com/about/vendor-partner-resources/](https://www.vgm.com/about/vendor-partner-resources/))
  to explore co-marketing or listing as a preferred technology partner.

---

## 4. Northeast Florida / Jacksonville — Buying Groups and Networks

**Status: No active buying group identified — individual supplier market**

No formal DMEPOS buying group or consortium specific to Northeast Florida or
the Jacksonville metro was identified in search results.

**Jacksonville-area DMEPOS context:**
- The CMS DMEPOS competitive bidding administrative office (C-HIT / Chags Health
  Information Technology) has a Jacksonville processing address
  (P.O. Box 45266, Jacksonville, FL 32232) — this is a CMS contractor node,
  not a supplier organization.
- NPI directory lists active DME/HME suppliers in Jacksonville; no network
  or buying group association is apparent from public data.
- JC Home Medical ([jchomemedical.com](https://jchomemedical.com/)) is an active
  Jacksonville-area HME supplier — representative of the independent supplier
  profile that is Signal's core buyer.

**Buying group landscape generally:**
National buying groups active in DMEPOS include VGM (above), Brightree user
communities, and regional HME coalitions. No Northeast Florida-specific group
was surfaced. The Jacksonville market appears to be served by independent
suppliers and national group affiliates without a distinct regional consortium.

**Action:** Direct outreach to independent Jacksonville-area suppliers via NPI
directory or FAHCS membership list is the recommended approach for this geography.

---

## 5. Conferences & Events — 2026 / 2027

### Medtrade 2026 — **Already occurred**
- **Date:** March 2–4, 2026 (conference); March 3–4 (expo)
- **Location:** Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ
- **Notes:** Largest national HME/DMEPOS trade show. ~2,000 attendees, ~200
  exhibitors. Post-show attendee lists and HME News coverage available.
  [medtrade.com](https://medtrade.com/)

### Medtrade 2027 — **Next national opportunity**
- **Date:** March 23–25, 2027
- **Location:** Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX
- **Notes:** Plan exhibitor presence or sponsorship for 2027 if Signal
  asset has not sold by Q4 2026. Registration likely opens Q3–Q4 2026.

### FAHCS Annual Meeting 2026 — **Highest-priority Florida event**
- **Date/Location:** Not confirmed in search — check [fahcs.us/Events](https://fahcs.us/Events)
- **Format:** Statewide conference, 150+ attendees, exhibit space available
  to non-members as sponsors
- **Notes:** This is the single best Florida-specific venue for Signal
  exposure to the exact buyer profile. Prior year (2024) meeting dates were
  set mid-year. Expect 2026 meeting to follow similar calendar.

### Florida Healthcare Association (FHCA) Annual Conference 2026
- **Date:** July 26–30, 2026
- **Location:** Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
- **Notes:** Primarily long-term care / skilled nursing focus; adjacent to
  DMEPOS but not a direct match. Consider only if FAHCS conference is not
  available. [fhcaconference.org](https://fhcaconference.org/)

---

## Regulatory Tailwinds — Use in Outreach

These events are live as of April 2026 and should anchor all supplier outreach:

| Driver | Detail |
|--------|--------|
| Florida Medicaid DMEPOS Moratorium | AHCA moratorium effective March 20, 2026 — no new Medicaid DMEPOS suppliers enrolling for 6 months. Incumbents face rising patient load with no new competition. |
| Nationwide Medicare Enrollment Moratorium | CMS moratorium effective Feb 27, 2026. Enrolled suppliers have protected market position — and rising management burden. |
| CB 2028 Bidding Window | Opens late Summer/Fall 2026. CGMs explicitly included. Margin compression begins for suppliers who don't reduce denial overhead now. |
| PA Expansion — April 13, 2026 | CMS added seven new HCPCS codes to the Required PA List. CGM codes sit on the Master List and are on the trajectory. Suppliers with clean PA submission habits now will be positioned when CGM codes follow. |
| 2026 Accreditation Rule Change | Annual surveys now required (previously 3-year cycle). Compliance overhead is up — suppliers want tools that reduce other administrative burden. |

---

## Summary: Priority Outreach Order

| Priority | Target | Channel |
|----------|--------|---------|
| 1 | FAHCS — annual conference sponsorship/exhibit | Direct contact via fahcs.us |
| 2 | FAHCS member list — individual supplier outreach | Request via FAHCS membership |
| 3 | VGM vendor partner program | vgm.com vendor partner portal |
| 4 | Jacksonville independent suppliers | NPI directory cold outreach |
| 5 | Medtrade 2027 exhibitor | Plan if asset unsold by Q4 2026 |

---

*Sources: aahomecare.org, fahcs.us, vgm.com, medtrade.com, gtlaw.com,
federalregister.gov, hme-business.com, npiprofile.com*
