Readers share views on fraud, cancer caregivers and jobs in Kansas
Combating fraud
More attention should be given to all who receive scam calls.
Recently, the Missouri attorney general’s office assisted me in stopping a scam call. Now another scammer calls daily and says, “The Internal Revenue Service is filing a lawsuit against you.”
People can call the Missouri attorney general’s office to make a report. Do not ignore those calls.
We should all work together to get rid of fraud.
Theresa Cotter
Belton
Cancer caregivers
As a caregiver for my husband during his cancer fight, I understand just how many challenges come with this terrible disease. The Missouri General Assembly has an opportunity to make this journey a little easier for patients by improving the quality and delivery of palliative care.
Palliative care is carried out by a team of health-care providers to help those with serious illnesses such as cancer. A diagnosis can bring anxiety and stress, and treatment can lead to chronic pain and nausea. This patient-centered, family-focused care treats those side effects, as well as the disease itself.
Because it has been proved to reduce health-care costs, boost patient satisfaction and improve overall outcomes, palliative care is one of the fastest-growing trends in health care.
I joined other advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Jefferson City recently to ask legislators to take the first step to support this measure. I hope Rep. Donna Pfautsch and Sen. Will Kraus will continue to stand by the cancer patients in our community and help them get the care they need.
Ruth Pirch
Volunteer
American Cancer
Society Cancer
Action Network
Oak Grove
Jobs in Kansas
Recently, Kansas Republican State Sen. Jim Denning revealed that 85 percent of the 330,000 businesses that are exempt from paying state income taxes have no employees (4-19, A4, “Revenue outlook could affect bill to revoke Kansas tax exemption”).
Is it any wonder then that Gov. Sam Brownback’s “shot of adrenaline” has turned out to be more like a dose of cyanide when it comes to job creation.
These businesses are lone individuals and mom-and-pop operations. Not exactly a job-creation juggernaut.
However, rather than criticize the governor, I want to help.
I took an economics class or two in college. I’d be glad to sit down with him and go over some of the fundamental principles that foster economic growth. One is that governing bodies that provide excellent schools, good basic services and adequately funded social services for those in need and generally operate in the black attract more large and medium corporations than states that don’t.
Now let’s review .…
Chris Brethwaite
Kansas City
Hospice care
I read the April 24-26 series, “A Good Death,” with interest. As a home-health nurse who has made hospice visits and also has made decisions for aging parents, I have seen many aspects of hospice care.
It is a wonderful service to support families who truly need it.
There is another side to hospice that we all need to consider.
The increasing number of expensive assisted-living facilities in Kansas have contributed to the growth of hospice. When a staff member in assisted living can call in hospice care with little oversight, everybody benefits, even when it is not an appropriate referral.
The facility gets paid by the family for providing doctor, nurse and medications, even after hospice takes over. The hospice business gets paid to do the same thing.
Families love it; the doctor, nurse and aides at the facility love it (they don’t have to do the work). The hospice loves it. If a referral is made, the patient may recover, but hospice sometimes continues.
How much are we as a society willing to pay? Costs are escalating. Is hospice appropriate for everyone who may die? Can we afford that?
Janet Podoll
Lenexa
Cruz’s citizenship
I don’t know how anyone can read the rules for running for president and say that Sen. Ted Cruz is not a U.S. citizen and that he therefore can’t run for president. The Constitution does not say anything about having an American mother.
Look what opponents did to President Barack Obama, and he had an American mother and was born in Hawaii. Cruz was born in Canada.
Richard Powell
Grain Valley
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Readers share views on fraud, cancer caregivers and jobs in Kansas."