The American Association for Homecare is the voice for homecare in Washington. AAHomecare represents healthcare providers, equipment manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. The association advocates on behalf of the entire homecare community in legislative and regulatory arenas. On a daily basis, AAHomecare staff and government relations consultants communicate with Members of Congress, key Committees, and Congressional staff as well as various federal agencies, especially the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Homecare provides tremendous value for Americans’ healthcare dollar and is an important part of the solution to the nation's healthcare crisis.

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Membership Information

Tell Congress: Hands Off Homecare!

Members of Congress need to hear that there must be “No More Cuts to Homecare.”  Contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them that we cannot solve the nation’s debt problems by making further cuts to the most cost-effective form of health care, which is homecare.

AAHomecare expects that HME will be on the chopping block in the months ahead, along with many other Medicare sectors, as Congress considers additional spending cuts.  As specific recommendations emerge, we will be working to protect HME.  In the meantime, it’s essential to remind policymakers that additional cuts to home medical equipment and services are unwarranted and will only weaken the nation’s ability to provide cost-effective care to seniors and people with disabilities.

As AAHomecare has reported, cuts to Medicare reimbursement for home medical equipment are on the list of options in the ongoing deficit reduction negotiations conducted by the White House and congressional leaders. 

One of the key lists of cost-cutting targets that White House and congressional leaders are considering includes reductions to DME payments that would total $5.4 billion over 10 years: cuts to Medicaid DME payment rates by basing pay on competitive bidding rates, cuts to diabetic strip pharmacy payments, and repayment review for power wheelchairs.

The message is clear: The home medical equipment (HME) sector has been targeted for significant payment reductions to reduce Medicare spending over the past 7 years and cannot withstand additional cuts.  Reducing HME payments will threaten the ability of the health care sector to save money by allowing patients to stay in their homes rather than in more costly settings like hospitals and nursing homes.  Tell Congress that patients and providers can’t afford additional cuts to the home medical equipment sector.

Call your Senators and your Representative through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.  And use our Take Action Center to e-mail your federal legislators. 

AAHomecare Stand Up for Homecare Reception
Medtrade – Atlanta, GA
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Georgia World Congress Center

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for the premiere event supporting public awareness and media outreach for the homecare community.

Stand up for Homecare has generated positive media coverage, developed and funded credible research for policymakers, increased physician and clinician awareness of HME issues, and expanded our sector’s grassroots advocacy capabilities.  Please join us in Atlanta and Stand Up for Homecare!

You can support the campaign by attending the 2011 fundraising reception.  Click here to learn what your ticket purchase will include at Medtrade.

The campaign achieved the following in 2010-11:

Positive Media Coverage

• Waged a successful media campaign to raise awareness about flaws in the bid program and other top HME issues. Issued more than 50 locally tailored press releases and dozens of national releases.

• Results: Positive news and editorials in dozens of daily and weekly newspapers, front page of USA Today, and key Washington publications. Also, a radio announcement expressing opposition to the bidding program was broadcast 120 times on 41 radio stations in 22 states during October and November.

Expanded Grassroots via the Save Homecare Campaign

• Continued work with Washington, D.C. public affairs / public relations firm Rational 360 to expand grassroots capacity and organization.
• Signed up more than 1000 homecare advocates (providers, patients, families) and generated more than 3,200 messages to Congress from 46 states on HME issues through AAHomecare’s Save Homecare Campaign.

Credible Information for Lawmakers

• Commissioned a comprehensive study of bidding program impact on Medicare beneficiaries and providers by respected healthcare consulting firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC and shared results with congressional offices and the media.
• Greater Awareness in Physician Community.
• Raised awareness about HME issues in national physician publications and state physician magazines through advertising and news articles including Case In Point, and the South Carolina, Kansas, and Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

Leveraged the Power of Social Media

• Expanded network and mobilized action through social media: Stop HME Bidding on Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more or to lend your support, visit www.aahomecare.org/standupforhomecare

Thank you to our Gold Sponsors:

Homecare Champions:

Georgie Blackburn     Blackburns
Tom Borcherding       The ROHO Group
Lynn Bryson              Roberts Home Medical
Carol Ann Hoepner   Essential Medical Supply
Joel Marx                   Medical Service Company
Danny Schaub           Bay State Medical, Inc.
Brian Ueda                Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Inc.

Industry Advocates:

Teresa Camfield        Kentucky Medical Equipment Suppliers Association
Pete Coburn             Sunrise Medical
Roberta Domos         DOMOS HME Consulting Group
John Durkee              MedSage Technologies
Richard Glass            Steve Richards & Associates, Inc.
Larry Johnson           Dependable Health Services
Dave McCausland     The ROHO Group
John Shirvinsky         Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers

Patrons: