Palmer Events Center
Complaining Is Effort Enough
RECEIVED Tue., June 22, 2004
Dear Editor,
A reply to Ms. Kelly ["Postmarks Online," June 17]. First, I do not assume breast-feeding is as easy as I was sarcastically trying to point out ["Postmarks Online," June 11]. In an ideal world where all medical services are free and widely available, offering these services seems logical. Yet, we do not live in this ideal world and some things get cut.
Second, where do you think the money comes from to pay for lactation services? Does the government reimburse the hospital through Medicaid? I doubt it. There is a reason many private hospitals and practices don't accept Medicaid; Medicaid doesn't fully reimburse the ever rising costs of health care. The costs for lactation consultants aren't cheap, even at Seton. The problem is compounded when Seton/Brack is not being reimbursed for their services. If Seton were to lose the maternity ward's "revenue" all other services (ER, OB/GYN, community health centers, etc.) would suffer. No one is getting rich off of these revenues. They are being used for other services that cannot be taught by someone's grandmother or auntie (unless they can run a trauma center).
Third, if you are so concerned with Central Texas mothers losing the knowledge of breast-feeding, why don't you start a support group to help others learn? Pass your knowledge along. La Leche League Intl. is a group that supports these efforts and could help you get it started. Seton and Brack have done plenty of charitable work, why don't you do your part? Or have you fallen into the Austin rut of thinking that complaining and hatching conspiracy theories is effort enough?
A reply to Ms. Kelly ["Postmarks Online," June 17]. First, I do not assume breast-feeding is as easy as I was sarcastically trying to point out ["Postmarks Online," June 11]. In an ideal world where all medical services are free and widely available, offering these services seems logical. Yet, we do not live in this ideal world and some things get cut.
Second, where do you think the money comes from to pay for lactation services? Does the government reimburse the hospital through Medicaid? I doubt it. There is a reason many private hospitals and practices don't accept Medicaid; Medicaid doesn't fully reimburse the ever rising costs of health care. The costs for lactation consultants aren't cheap, even at Seton. The problem is compounded when Seton/Brack is not being reimbursed for their services. If Seton were to lose the maternity ward's "revenue" all other services (ER, OB/GYN, community health centers, etc.) would suffer. No one is getting rich off of these revenues. They are being used for other services that cannot be taught by someone's grandmother or auntie (unless they can run a trauma center).
Third, if you are so concerned with Central Texas mothers losing the knowledge of breast-feeding, why don't you start a support group to help others learn? Pass your knowledge along. La Leche League Intl. is a group that supports these efforts and could help you get it started. Seton and Brack have done plenty of charitable work, why don't you do your part? Or have you fallen into the Austin rut of thinking that complaining and hatching conspiracy theories is effort enough?
Alex Aguirre