In my role as chairman of the American Association for Homecare, I’m getting out to some state association meetings I might not otherwise attend. The Virginia folks just completed their summer meeting and I had the privilege of being invited. VADMEC had a dynamo program with a wonderful speaker’s lineup.

The room was relatively full of attendees, but it would have been—should have been—much bigger. Where were the rest of those member companies? Where were the nonmembers who could have gotten some great information from speakers like Neil Caesar, Kay Cox, John Gallagher, and Wallace Weeks?

The situation at your state association may be the same, and the same question arises: Where were you? I know we have some super companies that send people to their state association meetings, actively participate with phone calls and letters to legislators, and even write checks to campaigns and causes.

But for every one company that is working to preserve its future, we have 50 that are not. Would you let me have your checkbook and control of your company’s assets for the next 3 years? Of course you wouldn’t. But I have to ask, why are you giving the keys to your business to Congress?

Neither the legislature nor I is qualified to run your business. But by not joining your state association, or by not being a member of AAHomecare, you are allowing CMS, the GAO, the OIG, your state Medicaid, and a few other entities to make decisions in a proverbial vacuum. Those decisions affect your chances, my chances—our chances—of surviving the turmoil of the coming months.

The home care industry is sitting on the cusp of a metamorphosis. Congress is being forced to make decisions in the coming 2 to 3 years that will direct health care systems to establish long-range programs that will manage disease states. The struggle will be to establish effective programs for the early diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of these chronic diseases that are eating up the lion’s share of health care expenditures. Homecare must be an active participant in the development of these programs, and in the provision of those products and services that keep patients in their homes, and out of more expensive venues.

We are asking every HME supplier and home health care provider to contact their local Congressman and Senator today and ask them to sign on in support of the COPD Caucus begun by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark). Ask your Congressman to sign on in support of HR 4491.

If you are not familiar with these two initiatives, you can go to www.aahomecare.org, www.vgm.com, or www.medgroup.com—or any state or regional association Web site. MedGroup and VGM also have great links called Capitol Connection and DC Link. Just type in your zip code, and your legislator’s information will appear!

Imagine the impact of 17,000 phone calls and letters to Capitol Hill on the same issue. Imagine the impact of every employee of every company making that call, and sending that e-mail. Imagine the impact of the millions of patients if we ask them to make that one call on their behalf.

This is not a hard thing to do, but it starts with you. Someone in your company needs to start the ball rolling. Once you do it the first time, it can become habit-forming! Don’t wait. Congress is already talking about where to get money for next year, and we are still fighting to minimize cuts to your company’s revenue.

Before you scoff at the idea of spending those dollars to join your state association, and to join AAHomecare, ask yourself who is fighting for your company’s survival. What’s an investment of less than 1% of your Medicare revenues to preserve your current rates—or minimize cuts of up to 25% in your key product lines? AAHomecare’s phone number is (703) 836-6263. Tucker Ophof is the membership specialist and can be reached at tuckero@aahomecare.org.

Tim Pontius, RRT, is chairman of the American Association for Homecare.