AAHomecare to Feature Oxygen Technology Fair at Fly-In

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.–The American Association for Homecare’s
annual Legislative Fly-In next month will include a home oxygen
technology fair to show lawmakers firsthand how patients actually
use home oxygen equipment and to demonstrate some of the
technologies currently available.

Scheduled June 19-20 in Washington, the event also will include
meetings for providers and other HME stakeholders with their
state’s federal legislators.

According to Cara Bachenheimer, vice president, government
relations, for Invacare Corp., most members of Congress “don’t
understand this is really a life-sustaining technology; it’s not
just a toaster that you plug into the wall. “Because some
congressmen think that’s all a concentrator is, she explained,
“they also think ‘sure, patients can take care of it,’ and they can
just call their Sears repairman when it breaks.

“They don’t understand the FDA issues and the consumer safety
issues–and they don’t understand that when you’re dealing with
frail seniors you’re placing a huge burden on them when you ask
them to take care of this equipment.”

The technology fair is an effort to raise the educational level
of Congress members and their staffs “so they can really see what
this whole thing is about,” Bachenheimer said.

According to association Chair Tom Ryan, the fly-in is also an
opportunity to combat a number of specific legislative challenges
facing the industry and to make sure those who shape health care
policy know that home care is a key part of the answer. He urged
all stakeholders to take part in the fly-in and to “get
involved.”

“Right now, more than ever, we need as many boots on the street
as possible,” he said.

For information on the fly-in, visit www.aahomecare.org.