Political junkies are on a high unlike anything in the past 8 years. There will be a new president, and the news cycle is running a Beatle-esque 8 days a week. Bridges to nowhere are suddenly in the national spotlight along with relentless efforts, from both parties, to capitalize on wild swings in the stock market and massive government bailouts.

While much of it often appears to be a circus, HME Today poll respondents agree that this election matters. With just short of 300 responses logged, only 1.9% believes that "it does not matter who gets elected." In the ongoing poll question that asks, "Which presidential candidate would be best for the HME industry?" John McCain leads Barack Obama (at press time) by 45.1% to 39.7%. To vote, simply go to our homepage, where you can also immediately view updated results.

Who do I think would be the best candidate for the HME industry? It may sound like a cop-out, but I can honestly say I don't know. I will admit that after observing the battles over Medicare reimbursement, and hearing a long list of CMS-related grievances, additional government involvement concerns me. Will more government controls actually lead to a better (or worse) environment for HME? Again, it's difficult to say.

I went to the Web sites for both candidates and actually read their health care position papers. McCain's site features a report just shy of 1,400 words with no mention of home/durable medical equipment. The closest thing comes in a line that endorses state-based experiments that help elderly people receive care "in a home setting."

Clocking in at more than 5,000 words, Obama's missive also does not mention the HME/DME world. The closest thing comes in the form of the following line: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will support providers to put in place care management programs and encourage team care through implementation of medical home type models that will improve coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions.

Whoever succeeds in his White House bid, there will inevitably be new top bureaucrats, and possibly a new CMS Administrator. As Mal Mixon, chairman of Invacare, said earlier this year: "Hopefully, when Weems [CMS Administrator Kerry Weems] gets out of there, we'll have someone we can talk to." Indeed, the fate of competitive bidding could depend on the new man in charge of CMS. New members of Congress could prove even more instrumental in the inevitable battles ahead. Fortunately, the understanding of legislative matters has matured, and the industry is well prepared to act no matter who controls the White House. Whatever you do, hold on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Greg Thompson