Attorney Tom Antone calls it quits after 17 years

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tom Antone, a prominent healthcare attorney and a fixture on the home medical equipment scene since 1985, will retire this month to spend more time with his elderly parents. "I've got clients from Paris to Guam, which means that I follow the sun," said Antone, 54. "I get up early in the morning dealing the eastern part of the thing and I'm in the office until late at night dealing with the western group of my clients. Somewhere in that 12-14 hour day, I've got to find time to take care of my parents. It's wearing me out." A regular speaker at Medtrade and other industry events, Antone said he planned in mid May. As time permits, he may continue to speak at industry events and write for industry publications. "First thing I am going to do is take two weeks off and sleep," he said. Among his professionals accomplishments, Antone served as president of NAMES (now AAHomecare) from 1985 to 1990, where he helped draft and pass the Six Point Plan that revamped reimbursement for DME into the fee schedule format still used. From 1970 to 1983, he held several executive-level positions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including Assistant Secretary for Health Legislation and Executive Secretary for Health. HME