Once again we see shortsighted, selfish and uncharitable policies from politicians who are more interested in their own pocketbooks than in the welfare of the citizens they are empowered to serve.

Recently, in Augusta, LD 1746 regarding the DHHS budget was passed to “save taxpayers money.” In order to save nearly $11 million, lawmakers sacrificed an additional $20 million in matching funds. Thirty-one million dollars is a lot of money to take out of a health-care system that is already stretched to the breaking point.

Typically, no thought from this group of the consequences. Patients who would have gone to a health center for care costing $125 ($18 co-pay) will now have to go to the ER at a hospital costing $600 ($100 co-pay).

So who will absorb the cost? Hospitals?

Sorry, you will pay higher insurance premiums as the hospitals shift the cost to those who can pay.

Either way, taxpayers pay, but the Legislature’s way is that we pay vastly more for emergency care rather than managed care.

Folks say that those people don’t deserve to be on MaineCare anyway. Health professionals are required by law to treat people whether they deserve care or not. Perhaps, as with other businesses, it would be best to ask people if they have insurance, and then leave them to suffer and die if they don’t.

Unfortunately, that is unpopular, but businesslike, practical, and the bottom line, if you take $31 million out of the health-care budget without caring about the consequences.

Richard Fochtmann, Leeds