WASHINGTON--Now that the Democrats have taken control of both the House and Senate after 12 years of Republican rule, it remains to be seen how the shift in power will affect the home medical equipment industry.

The mid-term election gave Democrats 51 seats in the 100-seat Senate and 230 in the 435-seat House.

"It's too early to predict exactly how the 110th Congress will deal with home care issues, but the shift in power does open new doors and new possibilities, and we're looking for a more positive environment," said Michael Reinemer, vice president for communications and policy for the American Association for Homecare.

"The industry has always been careful to cultivate relationships on both sides of the aisle," added Tyler Wilson, the association's newly appointed president. "You have to do that in Washington over the long term because the pendulum swings back and forth." Currently, he said, it may be important to direct more education toward Democrats since they now represent the party in power.

While a number of home care champions were defeated during this election, there were also a number of victories. Democratic Rep. Mike Ross, who owns an HME in Prescott, Ark., easily won re-election, as did Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., a quadriplegic.

According to Wilson, three new House members with ties to home care were elected Tuesday:
--John Yarmuth, a Democrat in the 3rd District of Kentucky, worked in public relations and marketing for Caretenders Healthcorp, a home health care company, in the late 1980s;
--Nick Lampson, a Democrat from the 22nd District of Texas who took the seat vacated by Republican Tom Delay, owns a home health care business; and
--David Davis, a Republican from the 1st District of Tennessee, holds a degree in respiratory therapy and has owned two health care businesses.

One huge loss for the industry is Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., according to Seth Johnson, vice president, government affairs, for Exeter, Pa.-based Pride Mobility Products. "He was truly a champion for the industry and people with disabilities," Johnson said. "He has introduced many bills and offered countless amendments before the Senate Finance Committee on the industry's behalf."

Johnson noted that other industry champions that were not re-elected include Reps. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.; Don Sherwood, R-Pa.; and Melissa Hart, R-Pa.

However, Johnson added, "I think a shift in power from time to time is a good thing. The shake up in the balance of power in Congress should provide some real checks and balances between the administration and Congress."

And with the change in parties also comes a change in committee chairs. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., is expected to become chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Wilson said the association has already had some "very positive conversations" with Rangel, who is "going to be in driver's seat for a lot of issues that confront home care and home health."The committee is currently overseen by California Republican Bill Thomas, a longtime industry foe who many blame for the Medicare Modernization Act's DME competitive bidding requirement and the Deficit Reduction Act's oxygen rental cap.

Pete Stark, D-Calif., will chair the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and John Dingell, D-Mich., is expected to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Both committees hold some jurisdiction over the government's health programs.

In the Senate, Max Baucus, D-Montana, will become the new chairman of the powerful Finance Committee--which oversees Medicare and Medicaid for that chamber--a position Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has held on and off for more than a decade.

Although there is a degree of uncertainty with the new leadership in Congress, Wilson said, "I think we can forge some positive relationships, and I'm very optimistic that we're going to start off on the right foot."

As the lame duck session begins this week, AAHomecare will follow the appropriations bills closely, Reinemer said. "For the remainder of the 109th Congress, our key objective is to make sure that there are no assaults on home care."