Medicaid cuts, damage from Signal chat leak
A health insurance claim form. While physicians are less likely than other health care stakeholders to be directly impacted by proposed Medicaid cuts, the care they give will be decimated, a reader writes. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto/jwblinn
Medicaid cuts will hurt LI physicians
Dr. Jerome Cohen, president of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), which represents physicians, misses an important point [“Bracing for Medicaid cuts on LI,” News, March 31]. While physicians are less likely than other health care stakeholders to be directly impacted by proposed Medicaid cuts, the care they give will be decimated.
Physicians rely on downstream services such as pharmacy, long-term care, rehab, imaging, hospitals, emergency services, and more in the care of our patients — all of which depend upon vital Medicaid dollars to fund their operations.
Medicaid cuts will hobble health care infrastructure in New York — and Long Island specifically — resulting in tragic health care outcomes besides the economic hardship to communities relying on these entities for employment and commercial relationships.
These cuts must be strenuously opposed by physicians, our elected officials and the public.
— Dr. Charles Rothberg, Centerport
The writer is a past president of MSSNY.
Collateral damage from Signal chat
For the Trump administration to consider “Signalgate” a minor “oops” because the mission in Yemen was successful is shortsighted, irresponsible, and just plain wrong [“Probe Signal chat fiasco,” Editorial, March 28].
If my children’s babysitter had allowed them to play with matches, I would never let that person watch my kids again, regardless if the house had not burned down.
Fortunately, our military members returned safely. But this is about trust and competence. Will our allies reassess their degree of confidence in this slipshod handling of security and think twice before sharing intelligence?
The sad truth is that we are less safe because of the current disregard for security protocols. All the spinning to minimize this breach will not lessen the danger.
— Lisa Castillo, New Hyde Park
For how long have we abided by the expression, “Loose lips sink ships”? End of story. Anything more is deflection and obfuscation.
— David Ardam, Commack
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