I would like to clarify a statement by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in a column published in the Monitor on Sept. 21, titled "Cost of health care is simply unsustainable."

First, I would like to say that the Home Care Association of New Hampshire supports the Medicare Transitional Care Act proposed by Shaheen and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. We are confident adding this benefit to the Medicare program will reduce costly hospital readmissions by ensuring that appropriate follow-up care is provided for beneficiaries who are discharged from a hospital.

However, Shaheen's piece states that "there is no system is place to provide them [patients] follow-up care when they are discharged from the hospital." On the contrary, home care agencies across New Hampshire provide such care for thousands of Granite Staters through the Medicare home health benefit, as well as for those covered by Medicaid and private insurance. It is true that some do not meet the Medicare criteria for home health care because they aren't considered "homebound." The Medicare Transitional Care Act proposes to extend the advantages of home care to this segment of our population, saving millions of dollars in avoidable hospitalizations in the process.

Home care remains one of the best buys in today's health care system. The Home Care Association believes this benefit will offer patients the kind of care coordination and support that will help them avoid a return to the hospital and help reduce escalating healthcare costs. As Shaheen states, "this is common-sense reform," and we strongly support this measure.

SUSAN YOUNG

Concord

(The writer is executive director of the Home Care Association of New Hampshire.)