Letters: Stop cuts to surgical reimbursements

Stop cuts to surgical reimbursements

In less than a month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) will implement a nearly 4.5% cut to Medicare if Congress fails to act. Combined with a 4% Medicare cut stemming from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act, this means that surgical care faces a nearly 8.5% cut in the new year.

The bipartisan H.R. 8800, the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022, is a step in the right direction towards stopping CMS’s destabilizing cuts. Congress must now work urgently to pass this legislation to stop these harmful cuts outright and support our health care system. As a surgeon, I know that failure to do so would put our seniors in serious risk.

Right now, after years of destabilizing disinvestment, surgical care teams and the seniors they serve don’t need further cuts to Medicare.

— Dr. Jeffrianne S. Young, Des Moines

Hospital report was alarming

Anyone hospitalized or had a loved one hospitalized in an Iowa hospital in the last few years would not have been surprised with the detailed Iowa Capital Dispatch story documenting that many of our Iowa hospitals had been cited by the state for substandard patient care or cleanliness of critical areas.

The reasons are varied and some try to blame factors outside their control such as skyrocketing operating expenses and staff shortages. But my takeaway from the story is that the slick local television commercials can't cover up serious deficiencies that should be the concern of us all and the public should not be distracted by their feel-good messages.

— Lloyd Kaufman, Des Moines

Reynolds is not Ray

I recently watched the first episode of the documentary “Governors of Iowa” on Iowa PBS, which profiled former Iowa Gov. Bob Ray. A lifelong Republican, Ray served as governor from 1958 to 1972, hence gaining the label “Governor for Life.”

He was immensely popular, winning five full terms before retiring in 1982. What made Ray so endearing to Iowans? He was extremely fair-minded in his approach to governing, because he was a true public servant. In other words, he took the role of public service serious, always putting the needs of the people above politics. He was also a committed humanitarian, proven by his facilitating the resettlement of thousands of Southeast Asian war refugees into Iowa. In doing so, he also worked with the Jimmy Carter administration for their assistance, despite immense blow-back from some within his own party.

In light of Iowa’s current governor, I thought of that famous moment in the 1988 vice-presidential debate between Lloyd Bentson and Dan Quayle, in which Quayle compared himself to John Kennedy. Bentson replied with his legendary response. "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.”

I voted for Bob Ray several times, in spite of my Democratic leanings. I even got to shake his hand once. I have no qualms in proclaiming, “Kim Reynolds, you’re no Bob Ray.”

— Tim Wagner, Decorah

Tell our leaders what you’re thinking

Feeling down, upset, frustrated, ready to call it a day? There’s at least one solution. Write a letter to your local or national politician with something you always wanted to say, or more if needed. Maybe something nice or just sandblast an issue.

Letters to the editor are nice, but competition for space is limited. Write directly to the source and use your carpentry skills to hit the nail on the head. And don’t give up if there is no response. Our governor is a non-responder for one example. It’s usually a one-way trip for your efforts.

Almost every politician has a website making it convenient to send a message. No doubt there is a person other than the recipient sorting the mail. That’s OK! Your message will have an impact and that’s what you want.

Federal officials only like mail from their constituents and they have facilities to leave messages. They don’t want outsiders leaving opinions. If you are a non-resident, it's not a problem. Take their Washington address and do a personal letter. Your opinion still counts since it probably relates to other letters they are receiving.

Everyone has an opinion or two. Time to share it and I’ll betcha it’ll make you feel better and quite proud.

— John Carver, Decorah

Democrats need only some nominating tweaks

Yeah, Democrats struggle in Iowa, but that's all the more reason to keep Iowa in the mix, to see what works here and how they can gear their message toward other states like Iowa. Holding early primaries in states where you're strong does nothing for you in states where you're weak. The Democratic National Committee should consider the following:

Nevada, New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina are good choices for holding early primaries. They represent diverse parts of the country, and they're small enough that an unfunded campaign can gain some traction.

There's no reason why Iowa should go first every time. Better would be to rotate the first-up position between these four states. That would give each section of the country its chance to showcase their concerns and have a major impact on the initial stages of an election.

Do away with the caucus and use ballots as you would in any normal election. The caucus is fun, but it allows no chance for working people or people with family obligations to participate.

— Cecil Cook, West Des Moines

Couple less work with less consumption, please

Many Americans have decided there is more to life than work. I share that sentiment, and conclude people are smart, to have interests, other than work.

However, that desire to work less should be coupled with a desire to acquire less stuff. What we have today, when people have been given money in exchange for not working, leads to inflation and supply shortages.

— Erich Riesenberg, Des Moines

We rail workers deserve some sick leave

I am a railroad signal worker for the Canadian National Railroad and I am a proud union member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. I am one of the over 6,000 men and women who build, maintain and inspect the major Class I freight railroads’ signal systems that ensure the safe movement of trains and protect the public at highway-rail grade crossings.

The work of our craft is critical to the United States’ supply chain.

We are currently involved in negotiations with Canadian National Railroad As a rail worker, I am covered under a National Vacation Agreement put into effect in 1941. Under this agreement, we get one week of vacation after one year, two weeks after two years, three weeks after eight years, four weeks after 18 years, and five weeks after 25 years.

We do not have any paid sick days; we are required to use one of the few vacation days we have, which are meant for leisure, to address health, family, or personal issues that inevitably arise in our lives. We have been making a reasonable request for the Canadian National Railroad to recognize our essential work and provide a small amount of paid sick leave for us to take care of ourselves or our families during times of sickness or distress.

It has been four decades without an improvement, and the railroads need to come into the 21st century.

— Tom Kaufman, Traer

Choose leaders wisely

It’s Thanksgiving weekend. Former President Barack Obama is volunteering in a soup kitchen. Former President Donald Trump is hosting two confessed antisemites with Nazi sentiments.

Americans have to decide who we align ourselves with. One is self-destruction. Helping others is a path to redemption

— Julie Stewart, Waukee

No words needed

I was recently a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for an outpatient procedure. Not once in the literature I received or in conversation with several Mayo workers did I hear the words “masks are required.” There was no request made.

When I got to the sliding door into Mayo territory, the presumption of mask wearing was clear. No argument necessary when an expectation is so obvious and refreshing.

— Mary Swenson, Britt

Pelosi’s petulance is what will endure

The headline in the Nov. 24 Register read, "Pelosi leaving a lasting imprint."

My lasting impression of Nancy Pelosi will be when she slowly ripped up her copy of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address while it was being given. Her lack of respect will live forever.

— Ober J. Anderson, Ankeny

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Stop cuts to surgical reimbursements