Surgery Rate Late in Life Surprises Researchers

The New York Times
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018

October 6, 2011

Dear Editor:

Yesterday, you reported that surgery rates at the end of life were high for Medicare recipients. This is timely with the GOP push for the repeal of the new health-reforms. As a Public Health student, I believe we should do our outmost as a nation to offer our citizens access to health care. Many people have responded negatively to these health reforms, referencing the potential financial costs to the public to support these challenges. They see examples of overspending, like these surgeries, as fuel for their fight against any health-care reform. What people don’t realize is that all systems are subject to abuse through spending, but that does not make them inherently bad. This spending for Medicare does, by no means, invalidate the effectiveness the program for taking care of our nation’s elderly. Similar concerns should not stop these reforms from being implemented, reforms to protect the health of countless Americans who need it.

Sincerely,

Brooke Weisenberger

2311 Prospect Street

Berkeley, CA 94704

Brooke.weisenberger@berkeley.edu

(760) 672-1698