Protest proposed cuts for home health care

Protest proposed cuts for home health care

Hearing about budget cuts in Washington, D.C, is nothing new by now, but learning about potential cuts with little basis in the law and affecting the lives and health of seniors is shocking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently proposed a change to policy that would reduce reimbursement for skilled home health providers in many states, including Virginia.

What seems like a minor reimbursement reduction to Washington is huge in terms of its real-life impact across the country and here in our community. Approximately 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries receive vital home health services for managing chronic disease, preventing costly hospital readmissions and providing rehabilitative therapies.

We must be ready to improve and expand the cost-effective services we offer seniors — not make it impossible for this care to be available. I hope readers will join me in contacting our elected officials in Washington and urging them to intervene with CMS regarding the proposed rule for home health.

CHRISTIE ALBERT
Patient care representative
Advanced Health Services
CHRISTIANSBURG

Thanks, General, for belated gesture

Re: “Grant will help protect Civil War site of Army of Northern Virginia’s battle,” Aug. 22 news story:

I read the headline in Thursday’s paper and thought that perhaps the Civil War was finally over in Virginia. I would have expected this gesture from Robert E. Lee, rather than the leader of the Northern forces.

ED MORGAN
ABINGDON

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