RN trend bodes ill for health consumer

After many years of nursing shortages, it’s very disappointing that our health care community is now unable to absorb all of the new graduate regsistered nurses anxious for jobs ("New nurses wait for jobs," Star-Advertiser, April 28).

While several valid reasons for the current situation are given, an important factor is not mentioned. Many hospitals and clinics have laid off, phased out or restructured their staffing patterns to convert RN positions to unlicensed staff to save money. In my opinion, this is an unwise decision that will result in higher costs and poorer quality of care.

In any case, health consumers need to be aware of this trend and its multiple potential effects.

Susan Kelly
Alewa Heights

Unemployment tax hits small business

Much to my surprise, my unemployment taxes went up markedly for 2013. As I am self-employed and the only employee (and will probably never lay myself off), I called the tax office.

The Legislature allowed the Hawaii Department of Taxation to move from the "F" scale to the "G" scale this year. It sounds so innocent, like the tinkling of piano keys, but it is not innocent. It is yet another burdensome form of taxation, which small business owners again have no option but to pay.

A tax office representative acknowledged unemployment funds were low, hence the higher rate, and that there is a significant amount of unemployment fraud, but said the office simply doesn’t have the manpower to investigate each potential case. It seems to me this is penny wise and pound foolish.

Deborah Agles
Downtown Honolulu

Special-needs prom inspires with dignity

The front-page article in Monday’s Star-Advertiser featuring the special-needs prom was indeed both captivating and engaging because these students are sometimes forgotten within the school environment ("Sash and crown, corsage and memories," Star-Advertiser, April 29).

These students are a reminder that they are a part of our community and should be treated with the respect and dignity as any citizen should.

I would like to commend and recognize both teachers, Todd Cambonga of Mililani High School and Kahea Ilae of Castle High School, for organizing this event, which should become an occasion every school year so that these students are giving the opportunity to enjoy themselves in their own element.

Kudos to state Rep. Lauren Cheape for taking the time from her busy legislative schedule to partake in this special occasion. I would have liked to see more of our lawmakers attending this type of social function instead of their political fundraisers.

Randall Ng
Kapahulu

Kahuku housing changes unwelcome

After the luau and blessing of Kahuku Elderly Hauoli Hale, did the mayor and City Council members walk into our back areas and see the desecration of our aina? Our beautiful trees, hedges, plumeria trees, hibiscus, crotens, passion fruit, banana trees — all destroyed. We once had lawns; now weeds and gravel.

We have flower boxes in front of 64 units. We call them caskets; many will never be used. Our back sinks, washers and dryers — gone. We are expected to use three washers for 64 units? This was all done by Vitus Development and EAH Housing, our new property management, which was responsible for a remodeling job that left many undesirable factors and pain and suffering to the residents.

We are unhappy, and the response we get is, "If you don’t like it, leave."

Joan Gouveia
Kahuku

Ewa affordable rentals bring hope

It was most gratifying to see how important affordable rentals are to get people off the streets and to live a more dignified and healthy life, as seen in the case of Velma Pantohan and her 19-year-old son, Moa‘e Ku, in affordable rentals in Ewa Beach ("Affordable living enters new phase in Ewa Beach," Star-Advertiser, April 27).

They were living on the beach for years. Kudos to the persistent perseverance of EAH Housing, city, state and federal agencies for making this a reality. We applaud this kind of positive efforts by government in partnership with nonprofits to address the needs of our low-income residents.

We are hopeful more such affordable rentals are made more quickly available to the many homeless everywhere. Chinatown and Waikiki come to mind.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Chinatown

Change in Medicaid process bad for care

I support Dr. Stephen Kemble’s view, "State should end Medicaid managed-care model" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 21). Access to care has been obstructed dramatically since the state outsourced Medicaid to private, for-profit insurance companies in 2009.

Example: State-run Medicaid contracted with TheCab to transport qualified patients to their doctors and medical facilities. Medicaid monthly faxed a list of approved patients, their doctors, medical facilities and addresses to TheCab.

United Health Care (UHC), a current private for-profit insurance provider, requires patients to schedule appointments at least two days in advance by calling Arizona, assigning them to any of numerous small transportation providers they contract with in Hawaii. These providers are unreliable and ill-equipped to provide appropriate transportation in many instances.

I had to contact a UHC vice president when my 91-year-old mother residing in a nursing home was denied transportation to a medical specialist because, under UHC policy, the facility geriatrician should handle all care.

Emerence West
Honolulu