Make Advocacy Part of Practice, Providers Urged

LAS VEGAS — The American Association for Homecare’s Walt
Gorski told providers at Medtrade Spring that “advocacy must be a
part of your practice.”

With DMEPOS competitive
bidding and a raft of other legislative and regulatory issues
threatening HME, Gorski, vice president of government relations,
and AAHomecare President Tyler Wilson said lobbying on the
industry’s behalf should become part of every HME owner’s everyday
business.

“Home care is cost-effective and home care is
patient-preferred,” Wilson said at the association’s “Washington
Update” session Wednesday afternoon. “As the population ages, we
are the right solution to help rein in health care spending. But
you can’t decimate the HME sector and then expect it to meet the
needs of a growing Medicare population. Congress and CMS need to
work with us to fashion solutions that are good for Medicare but
don’t undermine the viability of the home care community.”

Both Wilson and Gorski urged providers to keep up support for
H.R. 3790 to repeal the bidding program. The bill continues to gain
cosponsors in the House as advocates push for a companion bill in
the Senate, the AAHomecare officials said.

The association’s Stand Up for Homecare reception Wednesday
night raised $30,000 for an ongoing public relations campaign to
paint an accurate picture of the HME industry in the media.

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