This letter is regarding the article titled “Senator visits North Bend nursing home,” which was published in the Snoqualmie Valley Record on Wednesday, May, 17, 2006.

First of all, I would like to thank the Valley Record for covering the senator’s visit to our facility, Mount Si Transitional Health Center. It truly is only with press coverage that the serious needs of Washington’s frail and elderly can be addressed and better understood.

I am writing today, however, to clarify some points that were misquoted in the article:

* I stated that we here at Mount Si Transitional Health Center have admitted two [” patients from places such as Western State Hospital”], not 12 as the story reported. These residents had been selected for admission, as they were dealing with end-of-life needs that resulted in their needing nursing care.

* The story then stated the current Medicaid rate for resident care is $37 per day. This is incorrect. Mr. Lehner stated the rate is approximately $137 per day. Of course, a much better rate than that stated in the article, but still significantly less than the actual cost of care for Medicaid residents.

* The final error was the last paragraph. May 6-12 was National Nurses’ Week and as Sen. Pflug is a registered nurse, we planned her visit for that week. The senator’s goal was to show her overall support of the nursing-home industry and visiting facilities in her district assisted her in better understanding all the challenges nursing facilities face in today’s world.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify these issues.

Jane Stanley, BS/LNHA

Administrator

Mount Si Transitional

Health Center

North Bend

The publisher regrets the errors.