Recently, more than 3,500 members of the hospice community sent a letter to President Obama asking for his immediate action to stop the Medicare rate cuts enacted by the previous administration. Hospice offers a dignified and compassionate way for a patient to spend precious time at home surrounded by loved ones at the end of life. Last year, more than 1.4 million Americans chose hospice, but access to this high-quality end-of-life care is being threatened by funding cuts set to begin in a matter of weeks. These cuts will actually cost taxpayers more money than what the cuts were intended to save. A study by Duke University found that hospice reduces Medicare costs by more than $2,300 per patient, amounting to more than $2 billion in savings each year. If action is not taken by the Obama administration, hospice programs nationwide will be forced to scale back services or even close their doors permanently. Congress issued a moratorium on these cuts earlier this year, but it expires on Sept. 30. That's why action to permanently eliminate the funding cuts needs to be taken now. In a time when policy makers are looking for models of high-quality and cost-efficient health care, they need to look no further than hospice. But, to ensure that this compassionate and high quality end-of-life care is available for future generations, we need to raise our voices and protest impending cut in services. Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves. Call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111, and urge the Obama administration to stop the hospice funding cuts. David B. Clarke President & CEO Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley Newton Commissioners, residents fight for Cape Hatteras Residents and visitors of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area continue to be denied public access to key portions of the most popular area beaches because of a federal court-ordered consent decree. The court order is the result of three environmental groups filing a damaging and expensive lawsuit against the National Park Service, which manages the recreational area. This lawsuit has had a devastating effect on the local, tourism-based economy. "Our people have always been faithful stewards of the environment," said Warren Judge, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Dare County, where most of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located. "Long before a few environmentalists targeted our area," he said, "the residents and visitors of Hatteras Island worked diligently with the National Park Service to protect wildlife based on scientific principles and sound management practices. The environmentalists are trying to fix something that wasn't broken." Board Vice Chairman Allen Burrus contends, "Our people, who were the first to care about the environment, are now being ruined because of the consent decree. "We need to take proper care of the birds, but we also have to do what is right for people. Children should not see their parents go bankrupt because of some birds that are not even endangered." The campaign to preserve access to America's beaches is sponsored by the Dare County Board of Commissioners in partnership with the Dare County Tourism Board. This public awareness campaign informs people across the nation about the struggle on Cape Hatteras, and the vulnerability of beaches, parks and public lands everywhere to damaging lawsuits by environmental activists. Gary Gross www.PreserveBeachAccess.org Manteo Recently, more than 3,500 members of the hospice community sent a letter to President Obama asking for his immediate action to stop the Medicare rate cuts enacted by the previous administration
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