New Association Forms for Independent Providers

HALIFAX, Va.–In an announcement sent last week, state
association executives and officers were invited to a prelaunch
informational meeting about a new organization called the National
Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers.

NAIMES is being formed “as a grassroots advocacy, DME support
and information resource organization for independent DME
providers,” according to the invitation.

“If you look at the numbers, there are 113,000 supplier numbers
in the United States, and 108,000 of those do less than $1 million
a year with Medicare … There is no association focused on the
smaller supplier side of this,” said industry consultant Wayne
Stanfield, who will serve as president and CEO of the new
group.

Along with creating advocacy campaigns in every state, the
association intends to support state DME associations in dealing
with legislative and regulatory issues affecting providers, such as
Medicaid, sales tax and licensure.

“We believe that politics are local,” said Stanfield, who has
interests in two HME companies and also serves as executive
director of the Home Care Alliance of Virginia, a provider network.
“We think that the home district is where minds are changed, not in
Washington, so our goal for this organization is going to be
grassroots advocacy and education entirely focused on supporting
state associations in their lobbying activities.”

Other officers of the new association include Neil Caesar of
Greenville, S.C.-based Health Law Center, who will serve as vice
president and general counsel, and H. Wayne Sale, president of
Richmond, Va.-based Health First, who will be the group’s board
chairman. Other members of the nine-member board have not been
announced.

The organization, which said it is aiming to sign up 10,000
members, plans a formal launch shortly after Medtrade
Spring.