While it is great that our congressional representative, Rob Bresnahan, has honored a local WWII hero and is trying to help revive the Christmas star on the Knob, I think the 25 percent of people in Pike County who will be impacted by the upcoming Medicaid cuts and a greater percentage who will be affected by the resulting ACA changes in the recently approved bill, would have preferred he voted NO on the bill in which these cuts were made. 

In an article in a local paper reporting on a meeting evaluating the impacts of these cuts to Wayne Memorial Hospital, the president and of the hospital and health system stated, “Policies under consideration will cut already insufficient hospital payments, reduce coverage and increase uncompensated care. Hospitals cannot absorb a sudden cut of this magnitude, and some will have no choice but to reduce services or close.” 

Locally, we appreciate the gestures to acknowledge our Veterans and help restore the star, but a much larger group of constituents would be better served by Rep. Bresnahan having his name in the paper more frequently for bringing economic improvements rather than deductions to the area.

Isabel Hodges-Smith
Shohola, PA