--Several lawmakers gave attendees strong rallying calls before their lobbying visits to the Hill. "It's important to show that home care saves money," said Rep. Mike Ross, D.-Ark., the only HME owner in Congress. He added that providers should contact their representatives and invite them to visit. "You've got to get that message out," Ross urged his audience.

Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., who introduced H.R.1845, said 45 representatives have signed on as cosponsors of the competitive bidding bill. He added it will take from 75 to 100 to gain attention in Congress.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., described a full plate for Congress with immigration, the war in Iraq, no child left behind and homeland security. But, he said, "you're on the right track being here in Washington. It's a crowded floor time, but maybe we can attach [your legislation] as an amendment or rider ... You've got to keep it up."

Specter said he would write HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt asking CMS to exclude complex rehab from competitive bidding, and offered to set up a meeting for an AAH committee with President Bush's nominee to head CMS, Harold Weems.

--Association delegates completed visits to more than half of all U.S. House and Senate offices to push for the competitive bidding bills and the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, which would repeal the Deficit Reduction Act's 36-month oxygen cap and return equipment ownership to providers. Before the lobbying push, H.R. 621, the House bill, had picked up 83 cosponsors. An identical Senate bill, S. 1484, was introduced shortly before the conference (see HomeCare Monday, June 4).

--The 25-member delegation from North Carolina met with all of that state's legislators. With a number of its members in the Charlotte CBA, the North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers subsidized the Washington visits. Said NCAMES Director Beth Bowen, "Our board felt it was important for us to be here."

"This excellent showing is the result of hard work and leadership by many in the home care community. Our goal is to have home care advocates from all states and every congressional district come to Washington, and we will continue to shoot for that goal," said Tyler J. Wilson, AAHomecare president.

--AAHomecare elected a new slate of officers, including: Alan Landauer, CEO of Landauer Metropolitan, Harrison, N.Y., chairman; Joel Mills, president and CEO of Advanced Home Care, High Point, N.C., vice chair; Wayne Knewasser, vice president of Premier Home Care, Louisville, Ky., secretary; and Georgie Blackburn, compliance director for Blackburn's Physicians Pharmacy, Tarentum, Pa., treasurer.