Las Vegas Donald White, new chairman of the American Association for Homecare, said competitive bidding tops his list of concerns about the home care industry.

"The competitive bidding projects in Polk County [Fla.] and now in San Antonio are nothing more than a sham to implement the most sweeping inherent reasonableness cuts in the history of our industry," White said during a breakout session at Medtrade West, where he revealed his thoughts on the industry, its obstacles and his plans to help overcome them. "This is big government at its worst, forcing small entrepreneurial businesses to slash pricing with the threat that they will not be allowed to participate unless they bend to the will of this government bureaucracy."

Other issues on White's "to do" list include eliminating the 15 percent cut to home health reimbursement; correct use of inherent reasonableness by the Health Care Financing Administration and the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers; and the full reinstatement of the consumer price index raise for HME providers in 2001.

White said his action plan for accomplishing these goals is simple: "Focus the staff at the American Association for Homecare and energize the membership. -J.P.P.