Washington
Bill Thomas, former chairman of the powerful House Ways and
Means Committee and a long-time foe of the HME industry, has signed
on as a visiting fellow of the American Enterprise Institute for
Public Policy Research.
Thomas, considered the father of the cap on Medicare oxygen
reimbursement, joined the conservative think tank as a scholar on
tax, health care and other policies.
“We are very proud to welcome Bill Thomas to the AEI
team,” said Christopher DeMuth, president. “Both his
intellect and his vast legislative experience will be an enormous
asset to AEI.”
Industry stakeholders were less enthusiastic.
“He certainly has been a problem for the HME community
regarding understanding of home care costs and services,”
said Bob Achermann, executive director of the California
Association of Medical Product Suppliers.
Added AAHomecare's Michael Reinemer, “Mr. Thomas is still
a force to be reckoned with. He won't have the same direct power he
wielded as Ways and Means chair, but at AEI, he will probably
influence the way members of Congress and the administration
approach issues such as Medicare.
“I suspect his zeal to ‘reform’ entitlement
programs has not diminished since leaving office.”
