Letters to the Editor - Oct. 22/29, 2007
Medicare sends uninsured count up -
Stylish scrubs undercut germ control
Medicare sends uninsured count up
Regarding "Uninsured count jumps to 47 million" (Article, Sept. 17): Once again we have the uninsured count that increases. This is definitely caused by intervention by government medicine.
Medicare underpays hospitals, the hospitals bump up the bills of patients to cover their costs, and private insurance rates go up to cover the bumped- up cost. Thus, people cannot afford insurance and become uninsured.
It is amazing how health insurance cost control is the reverse of car insurance. Young people pay a high price in car insurance because they are high risk, and older people pay a low cost. In health insurance, young people pay a high cost in health insurance to cover the price-controlled underpayment of the seniors.
More government intervention? That is already the problem.
--Peter F. Holmes, MD, San Antonio, Texas
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Stylish scrubs undercut germ control
Regarding "Scrubs Go Hollywood: Actress debuts new line" (Article, Sept. 17 ): Scrubs are intended to provide a clothing barrier between office and hospital contaminants and external environments. They should never be worn to and from work, yet it is extremely common to see health care workers in scrubs running errands at places like the grocery store, post office, cleaners, etc.
"Personality-" and "style-" infused women's scrubs that are endorsed by a popular Hollywood actress will only further promote this unsanitary habit.
Remember that the pathogen laden, yet stylish, health care worker in her designer scrubs pawing over the fruits and vegetables is not an actress and neither are the germs she is spreading.
--Stephen Westerhout, MD , Newport Beach, Calif.
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Copyright 2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
