Non-urgent ambulance transport cost is insane

A Family member recently incurred acute back pain, necessitating a non-urgent transport to the local hospital. She received an intravenous line and pain medication to get transferred from the floor to the stretcher. Her ED visit was covered by insurance.

Imagine our shock when the AMR ambulance bill came, totaling almost $3,000! Not covered by insurance. This is insane. As a retired nurse, I am aware that most of this money did not go to the ambulance staff, as first responders are notoriously underpaid. I have consistently voted for taxes to insure quality emergency services.

I urge those that determine our ambulance provider services to evaluate the cost to people seeking this service.

— Colleen Keller, Boulder

Governor Polis’ housing plan lacks needed funds

You’ll find many critics of Gov. Jared Polis’s proposal to address the long-ignored affordable housing crisis impacting our state.

While he should be given credit for his attempt to tackle the crisis, his own conflicted relationship with where government begins and ends shines clear as day throughout his “More Housing Now” plan.

The issue is not the proposed changes to land use regulations. It’s not the end of single-family-only zoning. It’s not the promotion of increased density across our metropolitan areas. It’s not even the elimination of the number of unrelated people who can live together in state law.

It’s the utter lack of investment, as in dollars, for the policy he seeks to fix. It’s unrealistic to assume that city councils and home builders will pivot to approving or presenting more affordable options without incentives.

Housing is a business, and unless the state government provides a funded public option, we play by the rules of others, and all suffer for it.

The governor has an honest plan that lies through omission, and that omission is the lack of any funding to build new affordable housing, safeguard current successful programs, or renovate older projects. Simply put, we need a new draft, Governor.

— Patrick Dillon, Longmont

Support for Alzheimer’s issues is appreciated

Roughly 76,000 Coloradans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to rise by 21% in the next few years. As a Coloradan whose parents were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I know firsthand how devastating the disease can be. I look to our members of Congress to support important legislation that will make a difference for families like mine.

Congress is considering reauthorizing two laws that have helped our nation make progress in research, care and awareness about Alzheimer’s disease — the National Alzheimer’s Plan Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act. These important laws have helped researchers and providers understand the disease and the needs of the families struggling with it.

Additionally, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act would streamline the ever-changing healthcare maze that Alzheimer’s families must navigate to get care for their loved ones. Coordinating the delivery of Alzheimer’s care can reduce costs while providing improved quality of care.

Thank you to Senator Michael Bennet for his quick work in cosponsoring these bills and joining the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease.

My family appreciates the Senator’s ongoing support for dementia issues. Senator Bennet has been a champion for those impacted by Alzheimer’s/dementia, and I urge other Colorado representatives to follow his lead.

— Tim Jordan, Denver