“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
— Pogo, 1971
Earlier this month, Invacare CEO Mal Mixon reminded a bunch of
us press folk of this famous quote from Walt Kelly's legendary
comic strip “Pogo.” But Mixon wasn't talking about the
goings-on in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, where the cartoon possum
lived. He was talking about the HME industry and its divide over
oxygen reform, and that's not a subject for the funny papers.
With health care reform at the top of the agenda when Congress
returns to work in September, virtually every other health sector
with any kind of stake is revving up the noise, just like this
industry.
The difference, Mixon said, is that other groups — such as
hospitals, doctors and pharmacies with powerful, well-funded
lobbies — are all on the same message. HME proponents are
not, airing their differences over reform of Medicare's oxygen
benefit in full view of the nation's lawmakers.
The irony is the industry now has a perfect platform at the
right time, Mixon said. Home care is the “trifecta of health
care,” a message he took to the White House at a roundtable
discussion on health reform: It's patient-preferred, has better
clinical outcomes and — drum roll, please — it saves
money versus institutional care. A lot of money.
“We're finally getting the story of home care out,”
Mixon said, pointing to President Obama's mention of home care at a
town hall meeting in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in July. (Check
“Notable & Quotable” on page 8.)
At issue is H.R. 3220. Introduced by former HME owner Rep. Mike
Ross, D-Ark., the bill would make sweeping changes to the oxygen
benefit, including moving from “supplier” to
“provider” status and requiring cost-reporting
measures. Opponents, including NAIMES and CSI:HME, say the proposal
is too complicated, too burdensome for small providers and perhaps
too much to tackle right now; supporters, including AAHomecare, say
it's the only way the industry will ever break the cycle of
year-after-year cuts to oxygen.
One of the things I admire most about this industry is the
commitment of the providers in it, those whose unflagging care for
their patients makes it possible for the nation's seniors and
people with disabilities to remain in their homes and live as they
wish. Staying profitable in order to keep providing that service
takes owners who are willing to go to the mat to do what they think
is best for their businesses.
There are numbers of those passionate providers on either side
of the oxygen issue. They've got strong opinions, and they believe
their solutions are best. It will take even more strength to come
to terms on what's best for all.
At press time, there were signs of progress in closing the gap,
and both sides seemed willing to keep working at consensus. That's
another thing I admire about providers: They will always go the
extra mile to get the job done. And that's good, because it's going
to take a loud voice — one united HME industry voice —
to be heard above the din for any sort of oxygen reform to become
part of the nation's health reform plan.
I'm not sure whether this is one of those “teachable
moments,” as the president called his recent gathering over
beer at a picnic table outside the White House. But the oxygen
debate has been tough, so maybe those involved could use a cool
one. With all the legislative and regulatory challenges brewing,
maybe we all could.
