Manhattan: Cynthia Fisher attacks New York City’s private hospitals for charging “three to four times Medicare rates for the same care” (“Let everyone see what hospitals actually charge,” op-ed, Dec. 26) but conveniently leaves out that hospitals lose money on every Medicare and Medicaid patient they treat. That’s a recipe for financial disaster, and the reason so many hospitals are on the financial brink.

Fisher also ignores the real drivers of health care costs: rising drug and medical device costs, downstate New York’s awful medical malpractice environment, inflation, high labor costs and national insurance companies that pad their massive profits by delaying and denying care at every turn. In addition, the City Council “hospital accountability” bill Fisher supports places another unnecessary burden on the hospitals that sacrificed for all New Yorkers during the pandemic — and are now battling the convergence of flu, RSV and COVID-19. The bill is duplicative of existing requirements that hold New York City hospitals accountable. For example, they already comply with federal law by posting both their prices and consumer-friendly calculators online to help individuals estimate their costs. And both the city comptroller and state comptroller already have broad mandates to audit what the city spends on health care for its employees.

If Fisher and the bill’s sponsors really want to help New Yorkers, they should join the hospital community in fighting for higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates. And if they really want greater accountability in health care, they should focus on the abusive practices of national for-profit health insurance companies that hinder the ability of our hospitals to deliver care. Kenneth E. Raske, president, Greater New York Hospital Association

Manhattan: People want to work from home and many companies are allowing them to do so. So, building more towers that will remain empty makes little sense. Fill existing offices before we build new towers. Instead, Gov. Hochul, why not improve the trains? Edward Drossman

Brooklyn: The paper says the first weed shop finally opened up (”It’s reefer gladness downtown,” Dec. 30). My small neighborhood, Boerum Hill, has five or six weed shops that have been open for months. Somebody’s not doing the homework. Charlie Pisano

Manhattan: Does Voicer Dan Arthur Pryor really think supposedly skilled fishers should get praise for throwing fish back? Voicer Sarah Alboher’s letter referred to you tricking hungry beings into biting down on a sharp hook. Where’s the skill? You are also deliberately causing their faces to be pierced by the hook. Try that yourself, see if you enjoy it. The fish struggle due to the pain you’ve caused them, and yes, statistically, some of those fish die, so stop lying. In addition, you are suffocating fish when you yank them out of the water for your amusement. Aging actor/sport fisher Henry Winkler bizarrely described how he ecstatically kisses the fish before throwing them back. Fish are sentient, intelligent and sociable. Find a sport that doesn’t harm living beings in any way. Grace Luntz

Uniondale, L.I.: I am happy to see “Pooch Cafe” on the top of the comics page (where it belongs)! “Red & Rover” may be the cutest strip, but “Pooch Cafe” is the funniest. Why is it not in Sunday’s paper, however? I always have to go online to see it on Sundays! Long live Poncho! His comments are hilarious. Judith McShea

Camden, N.J.: Barbara Walters was the daughter of parents of Russian-Jewish descent. She was comically referred to as “Baba Wawa” in all “Saturday Night Live” skits when Gilda Radner mimicked her. But in real life, somebody had to be America’s first and foremost popular female broadcaster. With enhanced journalistic prudence, Walters aroused public curiosity. Wayne E. Williams

Bayside: On Dec. 23, the MTA, along with all his beloved riders, lost a beautiful soul, Paul Galietti. Paul was 78. He had 52 years of service driving the local and express bus. He was the oldest and had the most service driving in Queens. He had a heart of gold, evidenced by the amount of fellow workers and riders that came to his wake. In l978, I moved to Bayside. My son, 8, was in the city with my brother. Unfortunately, he got separated and was confused, not knowing which bus to take home. He was visibly upset. Paul pulled up, saw him, got off the bus, spoke with him and drove him all the way home. The next morning, I went to the bus stop and waited until every bus passed by so I could meet Paul and thank him. We became good friends for 40 years. He was known by all, loved by all and will be missed by all. May he rest in peace. Judy Pinto

Chester, N.J.: I was amused by Voicer Alex Rivera noting that I was quoted on New Year’s Eve in “You said it” (editorial, Dec. 31) recommending people boycott Russian caviar and vodka, and turning into a way to slam President Biden. For context, I mentioned products that people associate with Russia. I have never bought caviar, but have substituted Tito’s vodka for Stoli. I also won’t buy gas from Russian oil company Lukoil — and note that gas is now about where it was during the reign of the orangutan. David J. Melvin

Bronx: Why does everyone have their drawers in a twist over George Santos blatantly lying about his background? It is the norm for his leader and so many others in the Republican Party. Have we forgotten that Donald Trump lied that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and he had the proof? He never provided that proof and the media did not demand that he provide it. And of course, the biggest lie of all: that the 2020 election was stolen. And in Arizona, the Republican candidate for governor went to court, where her false claim of a stolen election was slapped down. It is most egregious for Santos to lie about his relatives being in the Holocaust and 9/11. But that’s the norm for members of his party. None has been sanctioned for those lies, so why would Santos not think it is acceptable to lie? Pauline Graham Binder

Manalapan, N.J.: If you want a good laugh, tune in to Mark Simone. I was looking for news and happened upon a crackpot newscaster who was lauding George Santos — Simone thinks this is great. Santos lied and faked just about his whole life but most politicians do that anyway. Mark loves George and feels that he should be admired. Let’s see about this: Santos is being sought for fraud in Brazil; he lied about his mother’s death; lied about his education and the list goes on and on. Hmm — maybe we should look into Mark’s résumé. Gary Chasen

Mansfield, Conn.: Conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. said during the 1960s that a person who presented a threat to the existence of the nation should be jailed. Many, such as liberals, and including me, said this would not do in a democracy. Now, with Donald Trump, I think Bill had a point. Charles R. Vermilyea Jr.

Brooklyn: Voicer Ebere Osu gaslights me and characterizes my description of the situation in the Mideast as “unfortunate.” But who is to blame for this lack of good fortune and faith? I would suggest that might be Israel, and that the people who usurped the land of the Palestinians should consider following the directives of the great Moses, whose 8th Commandment, my personal favorite, was, “Thou shalt not steal.” As you go through life, you may discover that when people steal someone else’s land, the victims of the theft have a tendency to get very angry. In the aftermath, bullies love to say that anger is hate. Hence, the only difference between Ukrainians and Palestinians is that the former has much better weaponry as a means to stop the theft. Dear Ebere, try to follow the directives of Moses. This is a moral question, so it must be framed in the context of a moral attitude. Nick Smith

Voice of the People

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