Good healthcare idea, but questions remain

I was impressed with Bob Rice’s suggestion to incrementally extend Medicare with a cap on medical charges at the prescribed Medicare rates (letter to the editor, “How to do healthcare reform and job creation at the same time,” March 9). But it did not address an important question: Will there be enough key medical personnel available, especially at the lower rates, to accommodate the increased number of covered persons?

I am sure that the program would create additional jobs for persons in relatively lower-paid medical jobs, but will it retain enough doctors and nurses and attract a sufficient number of others to the profession?

Walnut Creek, Calif.