Editor:

Medicare’s anniversary is July 30, and registered nurses and patients are celebrating this great program that brings health care to senior citizens. It’s time to expand and improve the program so that everyone in America gets the care we need.

While our nation’s health care system has incredibly capable nurses and other health professionals, we don’t get the results we should. Far too many people go without health care when they need it and patients’ critical needs often take a back seat to corporations’ efforts to profit.

As a registered nurse, I know all too well that patients face financial barriers to care – even with insurance. My patients should be able to get the get the care they need without going broke. Our patients need a system that puts them first.

By expanding and improving Medicare to cover everyone, people can get the care they need while the nation saves nearly $600 billion per year by slashing overhead and negotiating lower drug costs with providers and pharmaceutical companies.

Lisa Thompson

Denver