Nursing homes  Regarding "Nursing home blues" (Page B6, Friday),
the editorial about the recently released AARP state report card
on Texas' nursing home quality correctly points to the nexus
between the ability of skilled nursing providers to retain
qualified staff and the state's low Medicaid rate - ranked 49th
in the nation.  In a competitive jobs market, nursing home
providers vie for qualified nurses but are unable to compete
with higher wages offered in other healthcare settings, most
notably hospitals.  More than two thirds of the elderly
receiving skilled nursing care in Texas facilities are Medicaid
beneficiaries.  We urge state lawmakers to give serious
consideration to Texas' woefully low Medicaid rate in the effort
to increase quality and enhance the delivery of care to our
state's frail elderly.  Derek Prince, The Woodlands   Positive
label  Regarding "High court tosses abortion clinic zone" (Page
A3, Friday), I was pleased to see the caption for the picture of
women with signs outside the Supreme