AAH urges nonmembers: 'It's time to stand up for homecare'

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Twenty-six prominent members of AAHomecare issued a call-to-arms letter last week, encouraging providers to "enhance the industry's credibility and clout" by joining the association. The signers of the letter reflect the full range of members within the association in terms of size, types of services and equipment, and broad geographic distribution. "Several members on the AAHomecare board of directors came up with this idea and message and pushed this effort forward," said Tyler J. Wilson, AAHomecare president. "While a larger list could have been gathered, we limited the signatories to organizations on our board in order to try to reflect companies in the industry that have demonstrated a very high level of support in terms of association membership, involvement, and investment of their time advocating for the homecare community." The letter reads: Dear Colleague: It's time to stand up for homecare. The continuing assaults on homecare by Congress, the Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have reached a point where the homecare community absolutely must fight back with a unified voice. With a new Congress, it is a perfect opportunity for our entire industry to become fully engaged and to sharpen our advocacy. We have seen progress toward collaboration across the homecare sectors. The industry can be proud of a growing number of true champions in the House and Senate who understand the value of homecare and what is at stake when the nation's homecare infrastructure is weakened. But we still have a long way to go. Unless we unite and speak in a loud voice for better homecare policy in Washington, we're in danger of seeing further erosion in the benefits and a severe access problem for patients. So we are asking you to take one simple step toward strengthening homecare for America: Enhance the industry's credibility and clout by joining the American Association for Homecare. By joining AAHomecare, you support and reinforce the leading voice for homecare. The Association represents you on Capitol Hill and before CMS and other federal agencies. AAHomecare is your lobbyist and your chief advocate. The Association commissions important research that shapes the critical reimbursement policies coming out of Washington. It is a member-driven organization so your active participation and contributions to AAHomecare's political efforts promote greater credibility and muscle for the industry. It is widely understood that homecare is the most cost-effective and preferred setting for healthcare in the United States. In a perfect world, that would translate into sound policy for homecare. But to be heard in Washington, our industry must invest in AAHomecare and support our political efforts. We urge you to join AAHomecare and get involved in the organization that is your voice in Washington. For details, call Cheryl Bass-Briscoe at AAHomecare at 703-535-1882, or email AAHomecare President Tyler Wilson at tylerwilson@aahomecare.org. Sincerely, Access Diabetic Supply, Pompano Beach, FLa Advanced Home Care, High Point, N.C Air Products Healthcare, Conshohocken, Pa. AirSep Corporation, Buffalo, N.Y. American HomePatient, Brentwood, Tenn. Apria Healthcare Group, Lake Forest, Calif. Associated Healthcare Systems, Buffalo, N.Y. DeFeliceCare, Inc., Wheeling, W.V. Homecare Concepts Inc., Farmingdale, N.Y. Hoveround Corporation, Sarasota, Fla. Inogen, Goleta, Calif. Invacare Corporation, Elyria, Ohio Landauer Metropolitan, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Lincare Holdings Inc., Clearwater, Fla. The MED Group, Lubbock, Texas New England Medical Equipment Dealers Assn. Pacific Pulmonary Services, Novato, Calif. Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc, Danbury, Conn. Premier Home Care, Inc., Louisville, Ky. Pride Mobility Products, Exeter, Pa. ResMed, Poway, Calif. Respironics, Inc., Murrysville, Pa. Seeley Medical, Andover, Ohio Sunrise Medical Inc., Carlsbad, Calif. VGM & Associates, Waterloo, Iowa WestMed Rehab, Inc., Rapid City, S.D.