Letters to the Editor

Careful health care expansion

To the Editor:

A recent news article, ("Nursing head to amend health care," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 01/22/04) reported that the state "can take care of three people in their homes for the price of one person living in a nursing home." While we support the expansion of home- and community-based services (HCBS) for appropriate patients, the expansion should not rest on the fallacy of cost savings.

If services are compared "apples to apples," home care is more expensive due to the labor-intensive nature of their services and the economies of scale when consumers are served in a decentralized location, as compared to a centralized location. In addition, HCBS programs typically prompt a "woodwork effect," whereby the long-term care programs overall serve an increased number of residents, thereby increasing overall program costs.

In a study conducted by the Urban Institute, Joshua Weiner, a well-respected researcher, states "there is substantial, rigorous research to suggest that expanding home care is more likely to increase rather than decrease total long-term care costs."

In conclusion, we support providing consumers with the options associated with HCBS settings, but expansion of these efforts must be cost effective, and, most importantly, guarantee quality care. Neither of these bottom-line criteria has been established as fact. In the final analysis, HCBS expansion should complement facility-based care and be done carefully realizing the fiscal implications, and with a view toward establishing a truly integrated continuum of care from HCBS to assisted living to nursing facilities.

Alan Rosenbloom The writer is the president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association.

Disappointing photograph

To the Editor:

I was sorely disappointed with your reporting on this past Saturday's International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella competition in Irvine Auditorium ("Counterparts places in a cappella competition," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 02/02/04). As a member of Counterparts, I was disheartened to see a photograph of the NYU group Mass Transit at the beginning of the article. Having worked hard for months for this competition, and receiving little to no support from the Penn community prior to the event, I had hoped that our success in the competition would merit some attention.

Mass Transit is a phenomenal group, and I congratulate them on their win, but including their picture rather than ours in our own school paper is an insult to myself and the members of the group. As Counterparts continues to the next round at Cornell, we hope that our increased national attention might be more accurately reflected here at home.

Rose Muravchick

SAS '04

Fighting for Roe v. Wade

To the Editor:

I celebrated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Jan. 22. I have been moved to action to ensure that this won't be the last year I celebrate.

I am angered and frustrated by the stealth with which my rights, guaranteed in the Roe decision, have been silently stolen. First it was federal funding restrictions, parental consent laws, waiting periods and violence against clinics, and now it is intimidation, misinformation and the banning of approved medical procedures.

My anger has moved me to action. I am organizing my friends, progressive groups and the greater West Philadelphia community, and we are going to Washington, D.C., on April 25 to join the Young People's All Access Contingent to the National March for Women's Lives. I plan to celebrate the Roe anniversary every year with my daughter and granddaughter, not mourn its loss because we did not stand up to defend it.

Erica Dwahan

Wharton '07

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