Handling the truth
Dear editor:
It seems Mary Robinson has it all figured out. Democrats and liberals are evil and dishonest. Republicans and conservatives are honest and good. How sad. To believe one side is always right is ridiculous and naive.
At the end of her latest angry tirade she states, "Just the truth, that's all we want." Oh, really? Is she aware of the thousands of untruths stated or tweeted by DJT? Perhaps she also labels facts and truths that don't agree with her agenda as "fake news." A true Trumpster. Mary, "you can't handle the truth."
Gary Vogt
Hot Springs Village
Westerman's record
Dear editor:
Don Chaney recently responded to a letter that had previously asked for Congressman Bruce Westerman's help with recent violence involving firearms both locally and nationally. Chaney asked "What does Bruce Westerman have to do with this?" A fair question, so I'll put my two cents in, with some facts I find disturbing regarding our 4th Congressional District representative in Washington.
On Feb. 27, 2019, Westerman voted "Nay" to HR 1112, which would have enhanced background checks. The day before, Westerman voted "Nay" to HR 8, a similar bipartisan bill tightening background checks on firearm sales. A "Yes" vote was to, in the bill's own language, prohibit "any individual who is not a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer a firearm to any other individual who is not licensed. ... " The bill synopsis reads "A yes vote would require background checks for every firearm sale." Westerman voted "Nay."
Previously, on March 16, 2017, Westerman voted "Yes" to HR 1181, patriotically entitled "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act." What the bill actually states is a "Yes" vote "Authorizes the sale and possession of firearms and ammunition to any veteran deemed mentally incompetent." In summary, as long as you served in the military, even if you've been deemed mentally ill, you can legally purchase a firearm. As a veteran who has seen combat and what it can and does do to certain people, that frightens me and makes zero sense.
I don't know and won't speculate on Westerman's affiliation with or donations from, the NRA. But these are two examples of how he votes on behalf of Arkansans who pay his salary when legislation pertaining to gun control or regulation come before him. Make your own judgment.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery Sgt. Ron Collins
USMC retired
Hot Springs
Rural hospitals
Dear editor:
Every single American deserves high quality health care no matter where they live. However, one in five Americans who live in rural areas experience challenges in receiving the health care they need as provider-to-patient ratios rise dramatically and more hospitals close. Rural communities are losing their health care workforce as data lags contribute to Medicare hospital payments that don't keep up with increases in wages paid.
The Trump Administration has placed an unprecedented priority on improving health care for Americans living in rural areas. Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Rural Health Strategy that focuses on applying a rural lens to our vision and work so we can strengthen the rural health care system without the need for imposing burdensome government regulations.
Earlier this month, the Trump Administration put this strategy into action, announcing a new rule to improve how Medicare pays hospitals. These changes will increase payment to certain hospitals located in low wage areas, including many rural hospitals so they can improve the wages they pay their hospital employees, maintain their health care labor force and ensure patients have access to high-quality, affordable health care.
We received nearly 8,000 comments on our proposals, and there was widespread recognition and agreement that Medicare payments should be modernized to support low wage areas. The policies in this new rule will, on average, help rural hospitals in Arkansas see a 3.4 percent increase in Medicare payments.
While we've taken many steps to improve health care and access for patients in rural areas, our work isn't done. CMS will continue to apply a rural lens to all of its future policies maintaining its commitment to Americans everywhere.
Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Editorial on 08/19/2019