Letters: The middle class knows all about having 'skin in the game'

Regarding the Dec. 12 editorial “Making 'more skin in the game' work," the points are well-taken, as what's left of the middle class already seek grafts for the amount of their “skin in the game.” Those who still have any modicum of health insurance as we once knew it have no say in the changed health cost structure that has transformed the system into an economic enigma.

For example: Many pay hospitalization costs at full “rack rate” for what was not covered by their insurance, but would have been billed at a severe discount; They pay higher outpatient costs for the same physician practices and services now purchased by the hospital and charging higher costs; The cost of drugs has exploded thanks to dealing by Big Pharma for Medicare Part D and the Affordable Care Act; that barn door remains wide open to any market-imposed solutions by payers or even Congress.

Frankly, unless Washington had proved capable to effectively deal with the pharmaceutical, insurance and hospital industries—for the benefit of the public, not their stockholders—the middle class would have been better served if each of the true 8 million lacking health insurance coverage would have just been provided a gold-plated PPO card, rather than creating such angst and turmoil under the ACA, with no real controls over how healthcare has become a commodity traded on Wall Street.

M.E. Singer

Regarding the article “VA finalizes rule that expands scope of nurse practice” and the comments from the American Medical Association, shame on the AMA for such a shortsighted opinion. Advanced-practice registered nurses have proven time and time again that we can provide competent, quality and professional care to all patients and we are honored to be taking care of our veterans.

Why not work with us and see what we do prior to discouraging and discrediting our efforts to open access of care to those who need it.

Louann Bailey, APRN