Association tries new TAHC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - HME providers, the Tennessee Association for Home Care wants you.

The inclusion of two major MSAs—Knoxville and Chattanooga—in Round 2 of competitive bidding is a key reason the association has decided to try and bring more HME providers on board, said Gayla Sasser, executive director.

“It is going to require that like-minded individuals work cooperatively to turn the page, see new opportunities and work through these trials,” said Sasser.

To kick start the effort, the association's board lowered HME membership dues to $500 and appointed a committee to create an HME mission statement.

This is the association's first HME membership drive since members of its HME Advisory Group left the association to form the HME-only Association of Tennessee Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment Services in June 2011. Those members said at the time they wanted to focus on HME issues. TAHC also represents home health, hospice and personal support services and, at that time, HME providers made up about 15% of TAHC's membership.

Sasser was unsure if winning some of those members back would be part of TAHC's plan.

“I don't know if we're going to go there or not,” said Sasser. “Our advisory group members will help us decide where to begin with our recruitment.”

TAHC's HME members will reach out to prospective members in the coming year, she said.

David Scott, one of 30 HME members of TAHC, plans to do just that.

“We're better off if we're working together,” said Scott, president of Jackson-based AlphaMed. “We can prosper together, learn together, and make our businesses live beyond us for decades.”