ALEXANDRIA, Va.--The American Association for Homecare has named Walter Gorski its new vice president of government affairs.

Gorski has served as director of legislative and regulatory affairs for the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association since 2001. He assumes his new duties Nov. 27.

"Walt brings a wealth of experience to the American Association for Homecare," said AAHomecare President and CEO Tyler Wilson, who worked with Gorski at AOPA. "He has strong contacts at CMS and on both sides of the aisle in Congress as well as earlier Hill experience on a committee of jurisdiction for Medicare."

At AOPA, Gorski's responsibilities included lobbying Congress and CMS, political action committee activities, state association and grassroots coordination and coalition building. Before joining AOPA, he was manager of government relations for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

In addition to working on health care issues at Black, Kelly, Scruggs & Healey and at Price Waterhouse, Gorski served on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health.

"At a time of historic change on Capitol Hill, I am excited about helping AAHomecare strengthen its government affairs operation and build upon its bipartisan approach to advocacy," said Gorski. "AAHomecare members are at the forefront of providing indispensable products and services to a vulnerable patient population, and I look forward to conveying that message to policymakers."