Kaiser Nursing Plan an Absurd One

Why is Kaiser now trying to shortchange its members (“Kaiser Seeking to Pay Bonuses to Nurses Who Help Cut Costs,” Dec. 22) while still soliciting new membership through TV advertising, newspapers and letters to existing members to help solicit new members?

The idea of cutting nurses’ salaries and giving them bonuses to get patients out of the hospital sooner is too absurd to even consider. If Kaiser intends to cut services, that should be done through administration and incorporated in their guide book, not left to the discretion of nurses. The person who authored such a plan does not belong in the administration section of any health plan; neither does anyone who backs such an issue.

More cost cutting by Kaiser is being done in the Los Angeles oncology department. In the year and a half that I have been treated there, I am now starting with my third oncologist, the first two not being replaced by Kaiser--barely time for the doctor to get to know the patient’s case.

If Kaiser would get back to the care they administered in the past, more than likely their membership would increase, instead of using all this “confidential” care cutting to save financially. Please, Kaiser, give us existing patients a break.

MARY ARNOLD

Alhambra