AAHomecare President/CEO Tom Ryan (left), 2025 Homecare Champion Rose Schafhauser, and AAHomecare Board of Directors Chairman Josh Marx in Dallas.
Longtime home medical equipment (HME) industry advocate and leader Rose Schafhauser was honored at Medtrade as the 2025 Van Miller Homecare Champion.
In a Feb. 12 press release announcing this year’s winner, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) congratulated Schafhauser, the executive director of the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services & Supplies (MAMES) and the Southwest Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (SWMESA).
“For over four decades, Rose has served the HME community with unwavering dedication, passion and leadership,” said Tom Ryan, president/CEO of AAHomecare, in the news release. “This recognition honors her incredible contributions to the HME industry, as well as her steadfast commitment to priority policy initiatives at both the federal and state levels.”
Ryan described Schafhauser’s lengthy résumé and many contributions to the industry.
“Rose’s service has been defined by tireless advocacy and a collaborative spirit,” Ryan said. “Through her involvement with several boards and committees, including the Jurisdiction A, B, and C Councils, the NSCAC [National Supplier Clearinghouse Advisory Committee], AAHomecare’s executive committee, and as past chair of the State Leaders Council, Rose has been a driving force in advancing our industry. She has built relationships with members of Congress, most notably Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), which have proven instrumental in securing reimbursement relief over the past decade. She prioritizes industry education, advocacy and relationship building, which have been pillars of the organizations she manages. Rose has always shown unwavering commitment and dedication to the industry — all hallmarks of this award.”
The other three finalists for this year’s award are Beth Bowen, executive director of the Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association (ACMESA), Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS), the Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association (NEMEP), and the Association for Tennessee Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment (ATHOMES); Bill Fredericks, president of AllCare Medical Supply; and Bill Guidetti, EVP of sales and operations, Apria Healthcare.
“I am the luckiest person to be able to do what I’m doing,” Schafhauser said as she accepted the award from Ryan during AAHomecare’s annual update, held this year on Feb. 19 at Medtrade in Dallas, Texas.
The Homecare Champion Award is named after Van G. Miller, founder of The VGM Group. Miller was named a Homecare Champion, alongside Alan Landauer, Landauer Metropolitan’s chairman, in 2012.
