Would you consider buying a home over the Internet? Most of us
would answer that question with a resounding “no.” We
want to see the neighborhood. How good are the schools? Is the roof
sound, or is there water damage?
Pictures can be deceiving. And many questions cannot be answered
without healthy give-and-take between the buyer and seller.
A comparison can be made with what is required for our elected
officials. Washington policymakers are consumers of information and
make decisions based on what is presented to them. Through a
consistent relationship with your members of Congress, you can
provide the healthy give-and-take needed to encourage a full
understanding of HME and the patients we serve.
And our field has an awful lot of selling to do.
Our businesses are facing competitive bidding, proposals to cap
oxygen rental at 18 months and change power wheelchair
reimbursement options, price erosion and other legislation that
could seriously impair our industry. However, we have the potential
to affect legislative outcomes by becoming involved in the process.
We must stand up for home care.
Congressional perspectives can easily be tainted by word of
mouth or by news articles highlighting massive fraud in the
industry. These perceptions will only continue to go unchecked if
providers and patients do not give direct input on the issues. Can
we afford to let our policymakers make major decisions about home
care without hearing our side of the story?
It is AAHomecare's job to present our message on Capitol Hill.
But the association cannot be effective without your support and
guidance. We all must participate, advocate and educate.
I strongly suggest getting to know your congressional delegation
and the key legislative staff in their home and Washington offices.
Face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to share
information with members of Congress, but phone calls, letters and
encouraging your patients to get involved are also beneficial.
You don't need exhaustive knowledge about current legislation.
Remember, we are not here to rewrite the Constitution but to
explain the issues we are facing and what problems future
legislation may cause the industry. Should your representatives or
senators have questions to which you don't know the answers, it is
fine to tell them you'll get back to them with more information.
Remember, ultimately, they work for you.
When I meet with my congressman, I like to think that this is
just another sales call — and I know my business better than
they do. If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of a congressional
meeting, please feel free to contact a member of AAHomecare's
lobbying staff for guidance.
It is important that you educate yourself on the issues that are
going to directly affect you, including competitive bidding and
accreditation. Medtrade, our industry's largest event, is a great
place to learn and is an opportunity to meet with your
contemporaries. Pre-conferences on reimbursement and continuum of
care provide a focused curriculum on issues HME providers face, and
you will have opportunities to network with your peers and discuss
the issues facing your business.
AAHomecare's annual Washington Legislative Conference is another
excellent opportunity to learn about lobbying and advocacy. This
year, we had the most successful conference in recent memory
because home care providers realize that our industry will not
survive if we do not accept the challenges and advocate for our
future.
One of the primary goals of AAHomecare is to advocate forcefully
for home care and seek policies that will make us flourish. This,
in turn, will ensure that we are able to provide quality care to
our patients.
But an association needs industry-wide input to be truly
effective. If we, home care providers, are better able to harness
the experience and know-how of those who have direct knowledge of
our business, we can be a formidable force on Capitol Hill, and we
will be more successful in charting a positive course for ourselves
and the patients who rely on us.
Alan Landauer is chairman of Landauer Metropolitan, Mt. Vernon,
N.Y., and serves as chairman of the American Association for
Homecare, Alexandria, Va. He may be contacted by e-mail at alandauer@landmetro.com. For more information about
the association, call 703/836-6263 or visit www.aahomecare.org.
