Industry Prepares for Change in Congressional Leadership

WASHINGTON–Now that the Democrats have taken control of both
the House and Senate after 12 years of Republican rule, it remains
to be seen how the shift in power will affect the home medical
equipment industry.

The mid-term election gave Democrats 51 seats in the 100-seat
Senate and 230 in the 435-seat House.

“It’s too early to predict exactly how the 110th Congress will
deal with home care issues, but the shift in power does open new
doors and new possibilities, and we’re looking for a more positive
environment,” said Michael Reinemer, vice president for
communications and policy for the American Association for
Homecare.

“The industry has always been careful to cultivate relationships
on both sides of the aisle,” added Tyler Wilson, the association’s
newly appointed president. “You have to do that in Washington over
the long term because the pendulum swings back and forth.”
Currently, he said, it may be important to direct more education
toward Democrats since they now represent the party in power.

While a number of home care champions were defeated during this
election, there were also a number of victories. Democratic Rep.
Mike Ross, who owns an HME in Prescott, Ark., easily won
re-election, as did Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., a quadriplegic.

According to Wilson, three new House members with ties to home
care were elected Tuesday:
–John Yarmuth, a Democrat in the 3rd District of Kentucky, worked
in public relations and marketing for Caretenders Healthcorp, a
home health care company, in the late 1980s;
–Nick Lampson, a Democrat from the 22nd District of Texas who took
the seat vacated by Republican Tom Delay, owns a home health care
business; and
–David Davis, a Republican from the 1st District of Tennessee,
holds a degree in respiratory therapy and has owned two health care
businesses.

One huge loss for the industry is Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.,
according to Seth Johnson, vice president, government affairs, for
Exeter, Pa.-based Pride Mobility Products. “He was truly a champion
for the industry and people with disabilities,” Johnson said. “He
has introduced many bills and offered countless amendments before
the Senate Finance Committee on the industry’s behalf.”

Johnson noted that other industry champions that were not
re-elected include Reps. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.; Don Sherwood,
R-Pa.; and Melissa Hart, R-Pa.

However, Johnson added, “I think a shift in power from time to
time is a good thing. The shake up in the balance of power in
Congress should provide some real checks and balances between the
administration and Congress.”

And with the change in parties also comes a change in committee
chairs. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., is expected to become chairman
of the House Ways and Means Committee. Wilson said the association
has already had some “very positive conversations” with Rangel, who
is “going to be in driver’s seat for a lot of issues that confront
home care and home health.”The committee is currently overseen by
California Republican Bill Thomas, a longtime industry foe who many
blame for the Medicare Modernization Act’s DME competitive bidding
requirement and the Deficit Reduction Act’s oxygen rental cap.

Pete Stark, D-Calif., will chair the Ways and Means Health
Subcommittee, and John Dingell, D-Mich., is expected to chair the
House Energy and Commerce Committee. Both committees hold some
jurisdiction over the government’s health programs.

In the Senate, Max Baucus, D-Montana, will become the new
chairman of the powerful Finance Committee–which oversees Medicare
and Medicaid for that chamber–a position Sen. Chuck Grassley,
R-Iowa, has held on and off for more than a decade.

Although there is a degree of uncertainty with the new
leadership in Congress, Wilson said, “I think we can forge some
positive relationships, and I’m very optimistic that we’re going to
start off on the right foot.”

As the lame duck session begins this week, AAHomecare will
follow the appropriations bills closely, Reinemer said. “For the
remainder of the 109th Congress, our key objective is to make sure
that there are no assaults on home care.”