Leading industry associations join forces

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - In the biggest sign of industry unity yet, AAHomecare and NAIMES announced April 26 that they will merge into one organization.

“This is a time when we most need to have the industry all on one page,” said Wayne Stanfield, NAIMES president and CEO. “This will create a better, more focused and reenergized trade association.”

The merger, effective May 22, will bring about 140 new members under the AAHomecare umbrella, increasing its membership to about 600 members.

That's a boost for the association, which has struggled with declining membership rolls in recent years.

“There's no question when you add 140 new members who are energetic and passionate that this will bring a new energy to AAH,” said AAHomecare Chairman Joel Marx.

The association has also seen some upheaval in the past few months, with the departures of several high-profile staffers, most recently the March announcement that President/CEO Tyler Wilson would step down when his contract expires in September. Those departures and the merger are not connected, says Marx.

“Every organization needs new blood and new ideas and this is a great opportunity,” he said.

Stanfield, who, along with Wayne Sale, launched NAIMES in 2007 as a grassroots advocacy and support organization for independent providers, will join AAHomecare as vice president of provider relations. His immediate goals in his new role include working with state associations to create a district-level grassroots advocacy program, as well as reaching out to allied professional associations in pharmacy, home infusion and long-term care.

“I think everybody attacked everything from a different direction,” said Stanfield. “If we are able to work with all those groups, I think that will be a very positive step forward.”

AAHomecare last week also announced that it has tapped Kim Brummett as its new senior director of regulatory affairs. Brummett has worked at High Point, N.C.-based Advanced Home Care for 15 years. She is also chairwoman of the Jurisdiction C Advisory Council and sits on several industry committees and boards.