Robert S. Fary

Before the 2007 AAHomecare Legislative Conference, I spent time visiting the AAH site to get the latest information on legislative initiatives and reimbursement issues. I brought the May 2007 edition of HME Today to read in-flight, the one with my friend Bob McCoy, RRT, on the cover. In addition to his picture, the cover included a quote about the home care industry's lobbying effort. "We are sending lobbyists to Capitol Hill unarmed," said Bob.

I arrived at the meeting on Tuesday evening to see 225 of my colleagues from the industry—providers, manufacturers, consultants, and AAHomecare staff members. It was quite an impressive turnout. As we listened to the legislators who visited us, and prepared our talking points for our Hill visits, my mind kept wandering back to the quote on the cover of HME Today.

You see, I remember going up to the Hill completely unarmed—meeting with legislative aides and telling them they "could not do this to us." Back then, I told them how "unfair they were being to our industry." When they asked for my information sources, my response was, "I have been in this business for years, and I know what this will mean."

Strangely, that was not good enough for them. In all of those years, I never recall asking for an increase in reimbursement. We were attempting to stave off reimbursement cuts that have amounted to a more than 50% reduction in the past 10 years.

This old situation is no more. While home care providers have found ways to adjust and work more efficiently while providing excellent service, another effort has been under way with considerable success.

AAHomecare's leadership, members, and staff have been hard at work gathering evidence about the costs they encounter, the services they provide, and the hospital admissions they reduce by caring for oxygen patients. They have spearheaded the introduction of bills in the House and Senate that will fix some of the larger problems that resulted from the Balanced Budget Act of 2005, including repeal of the oxygen equipment transfer of ownership provision, and needed protection for smaller providers.

When we walked up the Hill this year, we carried with us the best package of information and best list of issues that we have ever had. The message was delivered, and the message was heard. Watch the number of cosponsors for HR 621 and S 1484 grow. And for those who feel that we are "unarmed," look again. For those who were not there, and for those (gasp!) who are not members of AAHomecare, get on board—because things are changing for this industry on Capitol Hill.

Robert S. Fary, RRT, has 20 years of industry experience, including executive sales and operations for both providers and manufacturers. He is currently vice president of strategic alliances at Inogen Inc, Goleta, Calif.