Home Care Industry Prepares for Power Shift in Congress

Washington

Now that Democrats are set to take control of both the House and Senate after 12 years of Republican rule, it remains to be seen how the new leadership will affect the home medical equipment industry.

“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 [cultivated] relationships on both sides of the aisle,” added Tyler Wilson, the association’s president. “You have to do that in Washington over the long term because the pendulum swings back and forth.”

While a number of home care champions were defeated in the November mid-term elections, 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 wheelchair-user.

According to Wilson, three new House members with ties to home care were elected:

• John Yarmuth, D-Ky., worked in public relations and marketing for Caretenders Healthcorp, a home health care company, in the late 1980s;
• Nick Lampson, D-Texas, who took the seat vacated by Republican Tom Delay, owns a home health care business; and
• David Davis, R-Tenn., holds a degree in respiratory therapy and has owned two health care businesses.

One major industry loss is Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said Seth Johnson, vice president, government affairs, for Exeter, Pa.-based Pride Mobility. “He was truly a champion for the industry and people with disabilities.”

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

However, he 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. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., should 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 the driver’s seat for a lot of issues that confront home care and home health.”

The committee has been headed by retiring California Republican Bill Thomas, a long-time industry foe whom many blame for the Medicare Modernization Act’s competitive bidding mandate 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.

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, 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.”