There are no words adequate to thank Sen. Susan Collins for her courageous fight for our most frail, infirm, disabled and dying Americans. Thanks to her efforts to make the case that there should be no further cuts to Medicare home health or hospice benefits through a letter signed by more than three-fourths of the Senate, Congress just passed legislation that helps physicians, but does not do so at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens.

Sen. Collins successfully made the case that cutting home health and hospice services would run counter to initiatives to provide skilled nursing services in the most desirable and cost-effective setting – the patient’s home.

Vicki Purgavie,

executive director,

Home Care Alliance of Maine

Augusta