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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, November 6, 2009 10:34 PM CST
LETTER: Ask lawmakers not to cut senior service funds

Hilltop Convalescent Center, Charleston

I am writing to invite everyone to contact their state’s representatives and state’s senators to prevent the loss of more than 50,000 jobs.

Congress has proposed cutting Medicare funds for senior care services in nursing homes by more than $32 billion in the House and $14.6 billion in the Senate, in addition to $12 billion in cuts just imposed by the Administration, effective Oct. 1, 2009.

Such combined cuts are too deep to sustain and risk significant job loss and most importantly, negatively impact quality care for America’s seniors and people with disabilities.

Each year, nearly 16,000 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide quality care for 3.2 million seniors and people with disabilities across the country. SNFs also employ nearly 1.5 million Americans.

The amount of cuts to the long-term care sector, which has been made more vulnerable due to recent cuts by the Administration and states that are struggling to meet their Medicaid budgets, will impact communities nationwide — the residents, dedicated staff, and employees’ families of local nursing homes.

Because 70 percent of nursing home costs are tied to labor, these devastating cuts will undoubtedly affect staffing, and could result in the loss of more than 50,000 jobs nationwide — including caregiver jobs that help ensure optimum outcomes and continued quality of care.

The Medicare cuts to Illinois for one year are $113,692,736 and for 10 years are $2.4 billion.

Nationwide, the Medicare cuts for one year are $2 billion and for 10 years are $44 trillion. These numbers are astonishing!

Please contact your U.S. Representative Timothy Johnson and your U.S. Senators Roland Burris and Richard Durbin, to encourage them to vote no towards the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

Our seniors deserve quality care and to not have their benefits cut.

JANE DITTAMORE

Facility Rehab Director

Hilltop Convalescent Center

Charleston

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father bob wrote on Nov 6, 2009 10:00 AM:

" jane....why should it cost $250 per day to stay in a nursing facility? that's $91,000 per year for one person.

why should i pay tax dollars for people who are actually mobile to drive around the city in their free medicare paid motorized chairs and scooters?

why does every senior who snores need a CPAP?

these are just a few small bones of contention. there are many other travesties by corporate run facilities and suppliers. "

Mama says wrote on Nov 7, 2009 1:33 AM:

" Gel toppers are $600. Manual wheelchairs are $1000 and walgreens have them for $199. Gel toppers on overstock.com are $49 and up. Bedsheets from hospital supply $99 just for a single fitted. Walmart has them with deep pockets for $12.88 fitted, flat, and the pillowxases. People shop around and Medicare should shop from these other vendors and save money on the overtaxed and burdened population. Of couse if a covered item that is why people do that rather than pay the lesser out of own pocket. But they are actually paying it in taxes. "

Texas T wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:14 PM:

" Mama I agree that it would be good if they could shop around but except for the pharmacy, I don't think that Walmart takes Medicare/Medicaid. "

jrhendren wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:12 AM:

" father bob wrote on Nov 6, 2009 10:00 AM:
" jane....why should it cost $250 per day to stay in a nursing facility? that's $91,000 per year for one person.

why should i pay tax dollars for people who are actually mobile to drive around the city in their free medicare paid motorized chairs and scooters?

why does every senior who snores need a CPAP?

these are just a few small bones of contention. there are many other travesties by corporate run facilities and suppliers. "

You ask these questions and yet are for a "public option", in the Health Care plan. Who do you think is going to pay for all of the unneeded care and machines if it was to come about? Us the taxpayers. How is it all going to be paid for? Our raised taxes, that's how. Their definitely needs to be reform, but by us paying for those who can, but won't that I have a problem with. "