‘Persistence counts’: Michael Hamilton reflects on 50 years of advocacy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - From the pre-Medicare days to the advent of artificial intelligence, Mike Hamilton has seen a lot of changes in his decades in the HME industry. 

Along the way, he stepped in as president of his family company, Hamilton Oxygen Service, co-founded the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association and still found time to make more than 50 visits to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the industry. 

“I love it,” said Hamilton. “I grew up watching HME change lives and the good it could do, but I also saw harm being done from time to time and I just felt strongly that it was at least partly my responsibility to try to do something about it.” 

Hamilton, recently named the recipient of the 2025 Mal Mixon Legislative Advocate Award, reflected on his career as he readies for retirement in September.  

HME News: What was the impetus behind starting ADMEA? 

Mike Hamilton: The Social Security Administration was trying to solve the problem of the Medicare program without understanding what it was and paying for the development of the HCPCS system. They started changing things that upset a lot of providers, so I was elected to go to Washington, where I spent a lot of time talking to a law firm that submitted 520 pages of written testimony to the Small Business subcommittee the next day about the problems of messing with small businesses. Out of that came success in getting a planned oxygen cut delayed for eight years, and we learned that the country is actually run by 25-year-old college graduates. 

HME: You’ve since made the trip to Washington, D.C., 50 times. What has kept you going back? 

Hamilton: You have to allow me to count the two Zoom meetings we had during COVID. I was willing to go, but Congress wouldn’t let us in. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with a lot of significant politicians over the years, like Bob Dole. He was an outstanding politician, an outstanding senator and a great citizen, and I got to meet with him several times to work on issues along with other congressional leaders over the years. It’s interesting and I always enjoyed it. 

HME: How have you seen HME technology change over the years? 

Hamilton: I was happily involved in the early days of oxygen delivery system innovations. I knew a couple of the oxygen concentrator manufacturers really well, and (through) my involvement with them, I got to watch that technology improve. I was one of the early liquid oxygen adopters and got to see how much good that could do. And now we’re all talking about artificial intelligence and new ways to use it, and that’s exciting. 

HME: Do you think AI has potential for the HME industry? 

Hamilton: I think it has great potential. I think in three to five years, we’ll see some significant changes in the way it’s used. I don’t think it’s going to wipe out jobs. I think it will certainly make people more efficient, but there are still a lot of things that have to be done with your hands in our business. 

HME: What does this honor mean for you? 

Hamilton: Mal was one of the greatest guys that’s ever been involved in the industry, and it isn’t hard for me to have my name associated with him in any way. There’s also a very impressive list of previous winners of that award that I’m very proud to be associated with. Persistence counts.