War, Tax Cuts Hurting Medicare

A recent article discussed cuts in Medicare funding that force patients to go to nursing facilities after surgery instead of rehabilitation hospitals. Under the new rules, you must be over 84, extremely obese or have at least two joints replaced before rehabilitation will be covered.

Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation, one of the finest such centers in the state, has had to cut 42 employees since April. This is devastating for those employees and the institute, but no less so for the patients.

These Medicare cuts are directly attributable to the billions of dollars spent funding the war in Iraq and almost $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy. U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, has stated that he was opposed to the Medicare funding change, but with his votes for every tax cut and every new appropriation for the war, as well as support for President Bush's budget, which includes cuts in Medicare funds, did he not understand the consequences of his actions?

This fiscal irresponsibility has negatively affected not just Medicare funding, but all areas of human services, from children to veterans.

BETTIE J. REINA

Milmay

Letter published in Atlantic City Press, June 15, 2005

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/columns/061405LETTERSJUNE14.cfm