Daschle Debacle Deals a Blow

ATLANTA — Home care providers reacted with shock at the
news that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., had
withdrawn his nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services.
“While we are not in any worse shape because he withdrew, it is a
blow to what could have been,” said Tim Pederson, CEO of WestMed Rehab,
Rapid City, S.D.

As a Capitol Hill veteran of personal meetings with Daschle,
Pederson looked forward to the prospect of working with a fellow
South Dakotan on various HME issues. Factor in Daschle’s
well-publicized meeting last year with Invacare Chief Mal Mixon,
and last week’s events leave behind an unmistakable aura of lost
opportunity. (See HME
Advocates Hopeful about Daschle’s HHS Leadership, HomeCare
Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.)

Although questions about Daschle’s unpaid taxes — more
than $128,000 — dominated the headlines, Pederson said
concerns about past lobbying efforts were also to blame. “What did
him in was his perceived cozy relationship with health care
providers as a lobbyist,” said Pederson, who chairs AAHomecare’s
Rehab and Assistive Technology Council. “You combine the two and it
is a volatile mix.”

While acknowledging Daschle’s understanding of HME, AAHomecare
officials were quick to point out that had he ascended to the HHS
post, there were no guarantees of positive developments for the
industry. “Sen. Daschle was familiar with many of our issues, and
better policy for home medical patients and providers might have
emerged from CMS under his leadership at HHS,” said Michael
Reinemer, vice president of communications and policy. “But even
with Daschle as secretary, there was no certainty about how our
issues would have fared under the Obama administration and new
Congress.

“The fact is,” he said, “no matter who winds up at the big desk
at HHS, we will have our work cut out for us.”

Speculation immediately rippled across Capitol Hill about who
might emerge as the next nominee to fill the vacant HHS slot.
According to press reports, a slew of Democratic governors are all
possible candidates, including Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius,
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm,
former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber and former Vermont governor
and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean (a
physician).

Jeanne Lambrew, who co-authored a book on health care reform
with Daschle, is also in the mix. An additional name is Sen. Debbie
Stabenow, D-Mich. “I think she [Stabenow] has a keen sensitivity to
our issues,” said Pederson. “She was the prime sponsor of the rehab
carve-out legislation that was introduced last spring.” (See
Rehab Carve-Out Gets Boost
from Senate Trio, HomeCare Monday, May 5, 2008.)

At AAHomecare, advocates are gearing up for Capitol Hill visits
this week, and despite the empty spot at HHS, Reinemer said there
is no time to waste. “We are not putting anything on hold while the
secretary’s job is vacant,” he emphasized. “We have deep concerns
about the [competitive] bidding program. There are many problems
with the oxygen cap. We need to preserve strong policy for rehab
and power wheelchairs. Policy-makers and the media need to
appreciate our leadership in trying to stop Medicare fraud, and our
specific 13-point proposal is very aggressive.”

The association expects more than 175 providers and others at
its Washington fly-in on Wednesday.