Long-Term Health Care

* It would be very shortsighted for the Clinton Administration to trim costs in the health care package by eliminating coverage for long-term care (“Cuts in Health Plan Sought After Big Deficit Prediction,” Feb. 10) when, in fact, long-term care facilities provide quality health care at a cost-effective price.

For instance, subacute care in a traditional hospital setting can run from $900 to $2,200 a day, compared with $250 to $500 a day in a nursing facility.

In addition, long-term care facilities play an active role in short-term rehabilitation for people of all ages with serious injuries or chronic illnesses. And they are the most economical choice when a person needs intensive rehabilitation, 24 hours of nursing supervision or lacks a care-giver at home.

A licensed nursing facility costs an average of $86 a day, which can be less than the cost of one visit from a home health professional. Studies have shown that home care will actually add to--not reduce--overall long-term care costs. The Clinton Administration’s health care reform plan should not attempt to sell home care as the cure for long-term care cost containment, as both modes of care serve entirely different populations.

SHERRI SILVERBERG

Los Angeles Chapter President

California Assn. of Health Facilities

* I continue to find it bewildering that the U.S. can send men to the moon, mount incredible attacks on foreign soil and other expensive, bewildering acts in the name of “national defense.”

But, when it come to health care--protecting U.S. citizens against disease and/or illness--those same decision-makers, who are also extremely well-covered by health benefits, yowl and complain, “We can’t do that!”

As a major power of the world, our taxpayer dollars “defend” countries we have warred with and yet our own citizens can’t be “defended” against illness because “it is too expensive.”

It should be a matter of priorities and frankly I think it is time U.S. citizens quit “defending” nations that are outproducing us, making better wages than we do and have national health coverage!

CARA LOU WICKS

Irvine

* Regarding health care, here’s the Republican definition of a crisis: If it adversely affects those people making more than six figures, it’s a crisis. If it doesn’t, it’s not a crisis.

JOHN SMART

Los Angeles