Assessing Real Cost of Covering Transportation

Regarding “So Near and Yet So Far” (July 3): Having medical insurance pay for transportation costs, as suggested in the article, is totally consistent with the historical assumption by health-care institutions of the “hotel” costs of care--such as room service for food and laundry--and of a welfare state in which the greater numbers of aging and handicapped are supported by the shrinking numbers of younger and healthier working people. There is nothing wrong with this as long as it is realized that if costs are to be maintained, the portion of the health-care dollar going to transportation most likely will come from a reduction in diagnostics and therapeutics, or costs will need to escalate.

--SYLVAIN FRIBOURG

West Hills

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