Expiration of act that aids veterans is a real travesty

Expiration of act that aidsveterans is a real travesty
EDITOR:
On Nov. 30, 1999, President Clinton signed into law the "Veterans Millennium Healthcare and Benefits Act," Public Law 106-117. The Act amended the VA's statutory authority for providing nursing home care to eligible veterans. Some of the key provisions of the act affecting geriatrics and extended care are:
1. The VA is now required to operate and maintain extended care programs that include geriatric evaluations, VA and community-based nursing home care, domiciliary care, adult day health care, and respite care. In the past these extended care services were discretionary and based on the availability of resources. This act now requires they be provided.
2. The act also requires the VA to provide, thorough the year 2003, needed nursing home care to veterans who are 70 percent service-connected or in need of nursing home care for a service-connected condition.
3. The VA must also provide alternatives to institutionalized care for veterans who are enrolled for VA care.
4. Under this act, veterans who have no compensable service-connected disability, and whose income is above the pension level will be required to make a copayment for VA nursing care services of more than 21 days in a year. There are provisions in the Act to ensure that a spouse residing in the community would not be impoverished by this copayment and that the veterans will retain a monthly personal allowance.
5. The act requires the establishment of a revolving fund in the Treasury in which to deposit copayments. The funds will be used only to expand VA extended care services.
6. VA may also provide VA nursing-home care to other veterans. Veterans who have a service-connected disability and are given first priority for nursing care without an income assessment include:
*Veterans with a compensable, service-connected disability.
*Veterans who were exposed to herbicides.
* Veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation.
*Veterans with environmental exposure.
*Veterans who are formerly prisoners of war.
*Veterans of Mexican Border War, World War I.
*Veterans who are eligible for Medicaid.
The above from a nation that cared. Now in 2003, the act expires and will be replaced with the closing of VA facilities (Brecksville) and the end of nursing home care for our nation's defenders.
Shame on us all.
ROBERT H. BROTHERS
Niles
XThe writer is a Korean War veteran.
Three easy steps for dealingwith pesky telemarketers
EDITOR:
This is in reference to an Oct. 6 letter to the editor, "Constitution backs my right not to be bothered by phone."
I admit I am bothered by telemarketers at all hours, but I don't have the contempt for them the letter writer does. I have some suggestions! One: When eating dinner, TURN YOUR PHONE OFF. Easy solution for your BIG problem. Two: The telemarketers are not, as you say, ENTERING YOUR HOME. It's just a phone call! Three: Since you sound rude anyway, just HANG UP when they call.
You called the telemarketers stupid. Some telemarketers were interviewed on TV when all this DO NOT CALL started. They were people with children, mothers raising children on their own. They didn't look or sound stupid to me. As for the millions of people who, as you put it, couldn't be bothered to register in the first place -- maybe the millions of people just don't want to see anybody -- no matter what they do -- lose their jobs.
PATTY TOWNSEND
Girard