Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/56191
18 Providers 'I've realized firsthand how important it is to have a voice on Capitol Hill' BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor LAFAYETTE, La. – HME provider Mike Michot has spent the last 16 years as a Louisiana state rep- resentative and senator. Michot, owner of Lafayette, La.-based Per- mier Home Medical, recently told HME News about how he's tak- ing his knowledge of health care, small businesses and government in a new direction as a lobbyist with The Picard Group. HME NEWS: What will your new role entail? Mike Michot: I have a two-year prohibition against lobbying my own body (the state legislature): However, other agencies, federal government and local government are all fair game. Our industry is a prime example of an industry that needs advocates because we WWW.HMENEWS.COM / MARCH 2012 / HME NEWS HME key piece of puzzle, provider-lobbyist says are heavily dependent on govern- ment payers—Medicare and Med- icaid. I've realized firsthand how important it is to have advocates and to have a voice on Capitol Hill. HME: What do you hope to accom- plish in your new role? Michot: Looking at the up and down cycles that providers have been forced to endure because of budget cuts or the economy, I want to try to provide some diversity and some stability in the sources of funding for Mike Michot HME businesses. The providers are there, they serve a need and the demand is going to continue to increase—we just have to provide some stability in the funding. HME: How do you think HME pro- viders can be more effective in working with lawmakers? Michot: HME providers should establish a solid relationship with their lawmakers, at the state level and at the federal level. We have to educate these lawmakers about who we serve (their constituents), how we serve them and how we're reimbursed; and the increasing challenges we continue to face in this heavily regulated environ- ment. We may not speak with the dominant voices of the nursing homes or hospitals, but certainly we are a key component in the healthcare puzzle. HME NORCO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 operate lean or you don't survive," said Pontious, CEO of Boise-based Norco. "We've done that for the last 10 years." Lean doesn't mean stagnant, however. In October 2011, Norco acquired the respiratory and medi- cal supply business of Mednow in Boise; in December 2011 it acquired Valley Medical Shoppe, which has locations in Idaho Falls, Black Foot and Rexburg. In January, Norco also restruc- tured its senior management team, appointing three "zone" vice presi- dents who oversee day-to-day oper- ations in the field, said Pontious. The arrangement will allow more mentoring of those store manag- ers, he said. "As we become larger, it's a chal- lenge to develop people," said Pon- tious. "We want to grow our own people as we grow, and mentoring is probably the key to doing that." Norco has grown about 10% a year—a rate Pontious would like to see continue, he said. All together, the provider has about 40 HME branches in seven states. The pro- vider offers a full line of HME, respiratory and medical supplies, and it has several oxygen filling plants. With the exception of the Boise CBA in Round 2, Norco has so far avoided competitive bidding. One way or another, however, the pro- gram eventually will affect every- one, said Pontious. HME MEDTRADE BOOTH 1347