ATLANTA — Home care providers reacted with shock at the news that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., had withdrawn his nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services. "While we are not in any worse shape because he withdrew, it is a blow to what could have been," said Tim Pederson, CEO of WestMed Rehab, Rapid City, S.D.
As a Capitol Hill veteran of personal meetings with Daschle, Pederson looked forward to the prospect of working with a fellow South Dakotan on various HME issues. Factor in Daschle's well-publicized meeting last year with Invacare Chief Mal Mixon, and last week's events leave behind an unmistakable aura of lost opportunity. (See HME Advocates Hopeful about Daschle's HHS Leadership, HomeCare Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.)
Although questions about Daschle's unpaid taxes — more than $128,000 — dominated the headlines, Pederson said concerns about past lobbying efforts were also to blame. "What did him in was his perceived cozy relationship with health care providers as a lobbyist," said Pederson, who chairs AAHomecare's Rehab and Assistive Technology Council. "You combine the two and it is a volatile mix."
While acknowledging Daschle's understanding of HME, AAHomecare officials were quick to point out that had he ascended to the HHS post, there were no guarantees of positive developments for the industry. "Sen. Daschle was familiar with many of our issues, and better policy for home medical patients and providers might have emerged from CMS under his leadership at HHS," said Michael Reinemer, vice president of communications and policy. "But even with Daschle as secretary, there was no certainty about how our issues would have fared under the Obama administration and new Congress.
"The fact is," he said, "no matter who winds up at the big desk at HHS, we will have our work cut out for us."
Speculation immediately rippled across Capitol Hill about who might emerge as the next nominee to fill the vacant HHS slot. According to press reports, a slew of Democratic governors are all possible candidates, including Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber and former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean (a physician).
Jeanne Lambrew, who co-authored a book on health care reform with Daschle, is also in the mix. An additional name is Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. "I think she [Stabenow] has a keen sensitivity to our issues," said Pederson. "She was the prime sponsor of the rehab carve-out legislation that was introduced last spring." (See Rehab Carve-Out Gets Boost from Senate Trio, HomeCare Monday, May 5, 2008.)
At AAHomecare, advocates are gearing up for Capitol Hill visits this week, and despite the empty spot at HHS, Reinemer said there is no time to waste. "We are not putting anything on hold while the secretary's job is vacant," he emphasized. "We have deep concerns about the [competitive] bidding program. There are many problems with the oxygen cap. We need to preserve strong policy for rehab and power wheelchairs. Policy-makers and the media need to appreciate our leadership in trying to stop Medicare fraud, and our specific 13-point proposal is very aggressive."
The association expects more than 175 providers and others at its Washington fly-in on Wednesday.
