The governor hasn't addressed the high cost of home care

Gov. Ed Rendell's In Rebuttal column ("Home Health Care: Pennsylvania in the Lead," June 25) begs a response.

No one argues that someone who doesn't need to be in a nursing home should be in one. But sometimes, due to health or cognitive impairment, nursing home services become necessary -- especially for the so-called old-old age cohort (85 or over) which, as the governor himself notes, constitutes an especially high percentage of Pennsylvania's population.

It isn't a matter of "choosing" to fund either home and community-based services or nursing homes. The need for both will grow as the coming wave of baby boomers hits the system.

Yet nowhere in the governor's plan to "rebalance" the system does he address funding -- other than the money home and community-based services will, allegedly, "save" the state's Medicaid budget. (It won't, but that's a debate for another day.)

The fact is that Medicaid doesn't cover assisted living or provide enough home-based health care. The average cost for an assisted-living facility was $35,616 a year in 2006, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

The average cost for a home health aide is $19 an hour. That's fine for those with means, who already have access to a wider variety of assisted living and home health. But what about those with limited means?

The governor wants to save taxpayer money, and that's laudable. But if the services Pennsylvania's families want are not accessible or affordable, they really haven't been given a "choice."

RON BARTH
President and CEO
PANPHA
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

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Philly's hub flops

Re: "Forgive Us, US Airways, for Our Skepticism" June 17. As a Gold Preferred Member of US Airways, I fully concur with travel editor David Bear's article. I still have the US Airways Visa card, but it is getting more and more difficult to justify its use for US Airways.

My biggest complaint is the Philadelphia hub. The airport and US Airways simply can't handle the volume. This inadequacy has implications all over the US Airways system. Plane after plane may "leave the gate on time" but the Philadelphia airport can't handle the takeoff volume. In essence, the majority of flights are then late arriving at their destination.

There are long walks to the gates, inadequate seating and the facility is, on the whole, filthy. To get from the international arrivals to the domestic departures is a stress test in and of itself.

There is little doubt in my mind that management was shortsighted in designating Philadelphia as a major hub. I would ask for all their resignations for such poor judgment. Let me be CEO for a day.

WILLIAM R. POLLER
Indiana Twp.

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The PG helped

This letter is to express my deep appreciation for the help that your consumer columnist, Larry Walsh, gave me to resolve a problem my father was having with a local water company.

I notified Larry of the problem on June 25 and the problem was resolved by June 28. I was amazed at the concern and compassion that Larry Walsh expressed toward me and my 87-year-old blind father.

I know that there would not have been as favorable an outcome had it not been for Larry's involvement.

GLORIA DAUBE
North Huntingdon

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Road relief

Route 28 south is backed past Creighton. The Hulton Bridge is backed to Plum. Route 910 is backed up in both directions at Harmarville. Freeport Road is backed to Powers Run Road. Allegheny River Boulevard is backed to Oakmont.

This is what motorists are dealing with every morning. We did such a nice job accommodating visitors during the U.S. Open in Oakmont, why can't PennDOT do a little of the same for the taxpayers who use these roads every day?

With all the orange barrels in the area, "yunz" would think we'd have the greatest roads in the world. No one wants to put any construction workers in harm's way, but surely PennDOT could come up with a plan to accommodate drivers during the morning rush hour.

Pittsburgh may be the most livable city, but it is certainly not the most drivable city.

PATRICIA CHULACK
Lower Burrell

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The parent's job

I applaud Rev. James Hogan's passion to try and change the system that leaves children home alone while their parents work, and I sympathize with the parents who are left with no other options for their children. But the reverend's June 27 oped piece ("Five Kids Dead") was irrelevant to the case at hand.

In each of his examples, the adult who was supposed to be caring for the children was doing something that was a) productive and b) somewhat out of their control.

If the boss says, "Be here, or be fired," that is out of the parent's control. If a sitter quits, it is out of the parent's control. If day care rates go through the roof, it is out of the parent's control.

In every report I've seen, the mothers of the five children killed in the Larimer fire on June 12 were not out being productive. Instead of spending their money on a sitter (or saving the money by staying home together), they allegedly chose to give their money to a bartender. This behavior was neither productive, nor out of their control.

I find it hard to stomach when people cry "foul" at a system they claim does not provide them with the means to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or care for children, but suddenly find enough money to throw away at a bar.

BRANDON FALKNER
Marshall

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Fire the chief

If Mayor Ravenstahl is not permitted to change the promotions of those police officers who are clearly not demonstrating appropriate behaviors and Chief Nate Harper elected to omit pertinent information, to me the logical recourse is to fire Nate Harper.

B. RICCI
Squirrel Hill

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Let the slots roll

I would like to voice my complete displeasure with the Steelers and Pirates for filing appeals against the new North Shore casino.

Let's address the Pirates first. This ownership group has not fielded a winning team in 14 years and at no point has shown any real commitment to do so. We were assured prior to the gift of PNC Park that, if we gave them a new stadium, they would give us a winner. Well, Mr. Nutting and Mr. McClatchy, you got your new ballpark, and still we see no real investment on your part to provide a winning team. You pocket millions, made possible in part by a taxpayer-funded stadium, yet stand in the way of these same taxpayers by delaying tax relief from slots revenues. But, hey, let's have another bobblehead night; they are fun.

As for the Steelers and the Rooneys, you also received a gift in Heinz Field and are enjoying all the benefits of a state-of-the-art facility which was paid for partly with tax dollars. Now you dare to delay the tax relief that is promised the people of this state via slots revenue so you can protect your little empire that is used by the Steelers less than a dozen times per year. Also taking into account the creation of jobs and the tourism revenue created by the casino, you are standing in the way of a better Pittsburgh.

Gentlemen, you got yours. Now kindly get over yourselves, get out of the way and let us have ours.

BRIAN E. JOYCE
Whitehall

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LIHEAP helps needy consumers

Re: "Audit Finds Fraud in Low-Income Energy Grant Program," June 27.

I read with concern the recent report by state Auditor General Jack Wagner on the misappropriation of grants through the state-administered Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. As an independent non-profit organization involved with helping low- and fixed-income families pay their utility bills, we at Dollar Energy Fund take care in screening applicants to ensure donated funds are provided to those who truly need them. Unfortunately, there will always be individuals who take advantage of programs that are built to assist vulnerable families.

Dollar Energy Fund's volunteers, staff and donors are well aware of the growing need for utility assistance. Our Hardship Program receives thousands of applications for utility assistance each year. Our focus over more than two decades of service has been providing families with the help they need to make ends meet as they face a temporary hardship. LIHEAP and Dollar Energy Fund help to provide an essential safety net for these families.

While state officials like Mr. Wagner should rightfully investigate the appropriate use of taxpayer funds, we are concerned that news of this sort will result in all low- and fixed-income recipients of energy assistance funds being characterized as misrepresenting their needs. This could not be further from the truth. The number of individuals needing these funds is growing and the dollars available are declining.

It is our hope that the result of Mr. Wagner's report is a better-managed LIHEAP program. Any other outcome would be a terrible loss for our communities.

CINDY DATIG
Executive Director
$1 Energy Fund
South Side

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First Published: July 4, 2007, 12:15 a.m.