Diet is known to be an important contribution to our health and wellness by health care practitioners, but Medicare benefits will only cover the services of a registered dietitian if the patient has diabetes, kidney disease or has recently had a kidney transplant [“America’s War Against Heart Disease,” Cover Story, January/February]. Why do we wait until someone is sick to help them to eat healthy? Our Western diet is full of land mines, and you need to do your own research.

NANCY MAGLIO
PELHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

I shared this story with the nurse in charge of our hospital’s cardio rehab program. She said it was the best heart article she had seen in 30 years!

ROENA HOPPER
CONROE, TEXAS

Your article about nursing home patients receiving psychiatric drugs had no mention of crucial players: patient physicians [“Many in Nursing Homes Given ‘Chemical Straitjacket’ Drugs,” In the News]. Nursing homes can’t and don’t prescribe any drugs. That is always done by a patient’s physician. This is not written to excuse nursing homes. Physicians play a huge role in this problem.

JAMES E. SMITH
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

The Fraud Watch piece “Couple Jailed for Fleecing Medicare” [Your Money] says the couple improperly billed Medicare for millions of dollars, including claims for dead people and prison inmates. Why isn’t there a system that allows Medicare to cross-reference claims before payment with a federal database?

KATHRYN KRUMM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Thank you for “The High Cost of Rising Rents” in the December issue of the Bulletin [In the News]. This predicament is happening to me right now. I am female, 67 years old and single. I have lived in my apartment for nearly 22 years and hoped to be here for the rest of my life. Last year, the management changed, and I am now potentially facing a $500-per-month rent increase. It has already happened to my next-door neighbor of 16 years. He isn’t here anymore. Hopefully I can utilize the helpful advice in your article.

E. A. TRUEBLOOD
PLAINFIELD, INDIANA

I always put my Bulletin as the next read as soon as it arrives, and the recent “Modern Problems and Their Solutions” was most helpful [Cover Story, December]. Please consider a repeat article with similar questions.

BRUCE JOHNSON
WEBSTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Excellent article. Under “Authorization Denied,” I would like to add that patients can petition their insurance companies to authorize a denied prescription if a reasonable alternative isn’t available. Also, your doctor or the pharmaceutical company can help you gain access to nonprofit organizations that pay for medication if a patient is low-income or has other extenuating circumstances.

JUDITH DEUTSCH
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

I suggest you add something to the essential documents category [“Where’s That Document?” Your Life]. For retired military, a copy of their discharge form, the DD-214, is critical for getting any benefits, including educational grants, a driver’s license veteran tag and funeral and headstone benefits.

GARY PLAZYK
MARENGO, ILLINOIS

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