Letters to the Editor
Bill HR 3200 proposes $32 billion in Medicare long-term care reductions
The nation’s largest not-for-profit senior care and services organization, Good Samaritan Society, has expressed alarm at how seniors in long-term care are being marginalized by recent actions taken by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) along with proposed health care reform initiatives in both houses of Congress.
On Oct. 1, 2009, CMS enacted a reduction of Medicare payments to long-term care by over $1 billion increasing to $12 billion within 10 years. This impacts their ability for sufficient resources to maintain quality of care our seniors deserve. This reduction is occurring before any of the proposed health care reform initiatives.
House bill HR 3200 proposes $32 billion in new Medicare long-term care reductions, devastating the profession’s ability to care for our country’s seniors. Final legislation is unknown but additional cuts to Medicare and Medicaid seem likely. This is not health care reform but rather payment reform.
Hospitals, pharmaceutical and insurance companies have negotiated Medicare funding reductions with the White House in part because they have the profit margins to do so, also because they hope to experience new sources of revenue as more Americans are covered. Long-term care providers have extremely small margins and no hope for any new dollars coming in. Their funding sources are shrinking.
Many people in long-term care are among our nation’s poorest. Most have been hard-working, productive people who have contributed a great deal to our society and the “system.”
The actions of the liberal left seem to say, “If you are old, poor and sick, die quickly.”
Congress needs to cut spending; long-term care should not be first choice.
Money from the stimulus package would be better spent on our senior citizens. I would much prefer spending it there than on swine odor study, or airports and railroads to nowhere.
Susan Spees
Selma
- Letters to the Editor
-
-
Saddened by proposal to close Pickwick
Pickwick parent presents options to save school and save money.
-
Legislation on climate change needs to be fair
Letter encourages Congress to regulate greenhouse gases instead of EPA.
-
It’s the little things that add up in life
Reader remembers special dates with wife.
- Promise Center a helpful facility
-
Thanks for supporting Super Skate
Super Skate coordinator thanks the community.
- CORRECTION
-
Minister needed at Wapello County Jail
Letter calls for Gary Smith back at County Jail.
-
Niner on witch hunt against city employees
Former councilmember claims unfair treatment of several employees by city administrator.
-
Time for school board members to pause
Pickwick parent details reasons for keeping school open.
-
Thank you, Jon Elbaum
Bridge View Center board member thanks Jon Elbaum for his years of work.
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
-
Saddened by proposal to close Pickwick
