Letters to the Editor Jan. 22, 2010

Published: January 22, 2010

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Merry Christmas from the health care industry

EDITOR: Christmas is upon us, and with it action on healthcare in the U. S. Senate. The following personal story involving two agencies in our community illustrates some of the issues involved and - I believe - underscores the need for reform.

In April, my wife and I were renewing an adoption home study. Our agency requires physicals, so we went to the Guthrie Clinic and were examined by a courteous and skilled doctor. Claims were automatically submitted to our insurer, First Priority Life (part of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Northeastern Pennsylvania).

Our policy covers one physical per year, but to our disbelief First Priority refused payment specifically because it was for adoption! We appealed and were denied again. Never mind the fact that since adopting our son we have not claimed one cent in pre-natal, delivery, or neo-natal care (usually totaling in excess of $10,000). Never mind the fact that we could walk back in to the clinic tomorrow, request physicals, and they would be covered. They simply wouldn't pay. I think I know what their First Priority is!

The Guthrie Clinic administration has been no better, perhaps worse. After being absolutely inflexible about coding procedures so that they might be covered, they took advantage of us, charging us more than four times as much as they would accept from our insurance for the very same services! We were each charged $14 for venipuncture and $93 for a blood pathology test. Last year, they accepted $3 and $19.17, respectively.

It scares me to think that we're among the lucky ones who have insurance. At issue are several hundred dollars for physicals, not tens of thousands for treatment of a life-threatening disease.

These examples of Scrooge-like exclusion and exploitation are certainly insulting and unjust, though currently legal. The Senate health care bill, while a big step forward, fails to address two key points. First, without a public option, citizens have no alternative to iniquitous insurers, who are still granted an exemption from federal anti-trust law. Second, without a requirement that clinics post their rates (like mechanics do), we are at the mercy of profiteering providers. More work is needed to ensure that health care is a right, not just a means for financial manipulation.

Kris Schwenke

Sayre, PA

Editor's Note: Given the opportunity to respond, a spokeswoman for Guthrie Health Care said they did not feel it was appropriate to respond.

Editorial on clean air is wrong

EDITOR: The second sentence stating that "the vast preponderance of scientific evidence points to a human contribution to global warming" is not true. There is no scientific data that shows anything but a very minor effect of CO2 on global warming. The facts are as following: (1) We have been coming out of the Little Ice Age for the last 300-plus years; (2) The CO2 content of the atmosphere has been increasing for about 60-plus years due to increasing industrial activity; (3) Greenhouse gases (GHG) have been shown to maintain the earth at a temperature, 30C higher than without them.

With those facts the IPCC has concluded that CO2, a GHG, must be causing global warming. Consider this: (1) The warming that has occurred has been shown to correlate well with solar activity; (2) Water vapor is present in up to 4 percent of the atmospheric gases, CO2 is about 0.038 percent and only a small fraction of that is human related; (3) The timing is bad, warming has been going on long before the advent of high CO2 emissions; (4) In the past 60 years there have been two time periods when the global temperature has decreased in spite of an increasing CO2.

Finally, CO2 is not a pollutant. In fact it has been shown to increase the rate of growth of vegetation which is important for a starving world. Please get your facts straight.

James Mullendore

Towanda

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I know the hard core will never get it. Their ranks are growing, but that will not silence me from speaking the truth, as I see it.
Silence is the real enemy of freedom. So, I speak out.
My vision is fine. Maybe some of those on the other side need to get their hearts tested, perhaps the problem being, they don't have any.
I have thick skin, and a high IQ. So, no shutting up is not my choice.

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SueA, 01/27/10 10:22

Sue; Nicely done. But definitions are a dictionary's explanation of facts; in reality, a distillation of rhetoric down to the basics. You're trying to reason, or argue, with those who are confused by facts, by logic, or truth or history or common sense. You can't win this debate because the other side won't play by the rules or doesn't understand the rules or doesn't care about the rules. They believe what they believe, and no weight of truth, reality, history, or common sense will sway them. For your own sanity, please give it up. Maybe you are a blind ideologue. Time to get your vision tested?

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Myopic, 01/26/10 6:29

Those on both sides of the debate can easily fit these labels.
I post them, so perhaps in the future they can be use in context.
I am a social liberal, and a fiscal moderate. I fell strongly about certain issues. Much of my passion for the health care issue comes from years of working as a nurse, and watching the growing body of uninsured. It solidified my core belief that affordable health care, is a basic human right. Enough said.
I will continue to work for this cause. Please see below, it might help you understand that, maybe this isn't such an insult.
Definitions:
ideal: a standard of perfection or excellence.
ideology: 1 : visionary theorizing
2 a : a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture b : a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture c : the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program
idealogist:a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
ideologue:an advocate of some ideology

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SueA, 01/26/10 2:56

TomPaine, For the first two years of his presidency, Reagan blamed everything on Carter. Obama's biggest failing is that he's said that now that he's president that the problems are his. In fact, if he serves two very successful terms he could probably never undo the massive damage done by George Bush. I hear people calling for an end to 'Bush bashing'. We should never stop Bush bashing lest we forget the massive evil of his administration and its aftermath - both in damage to our enonomy and to our country's standing in the eyes of the world. Truly, America's saddest period. If Barak Obama is unsuited to be president, what in heaven's name was George Bush?

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wake up call??, 01/26/10 1:11

Sue- It is amazing that you can distort facts to suit your ideology and still portray yourself as a fair person. You know, or should know, that the GOP has proposed other options for healthcare. They simply do not meet your ideological standards so you summarily dismiss them and hold others in disdain for esposing them. Such conduct is a form intellectual hypocrisy.

The fact is that the Mass. state health plan is not working. It has caused delays in service and higher cost's. That is one reason why the voters of Mass. rejected Coakley despite appearances by the Annointed One. They know what a mess it is. They know that this bill is so bad that Senators and special interest groups had to be bought off to get it passed. Ah yes, a shining moment of ethical integrity for the Democratic Party.

The only one acting like a petulant 2 year old is you. You and the President should get over your rampant GOP bashing. It is getting old and is not factual. People are starting to see it for what it is, an attempt to shift the blame for poor performance by man ill suited for the office of President. There were 62 million people who did not vote for him and I suspect that number is growing.

Bill Clinton got the message and became more of a centrist. We will see if Obama is smart enough to do the same. If not we will see a repeat of 1994 when the Dem's went down in flames.

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ThomasPaine, 01/26/10 11:51

watchdog, What a joke! Tort reform and elimination of anti-trust exemptions are minor issues in this debate, and if they were so important, why didn't the GOP tackle them during Bush's eight years? The Republican's ONLY agenda is to see Obama fail, and the quickest route to that end is to scuttle health care reform, as that's his signature issue. The GOP's idea of 'helping' the Dems is to hand them some weight while they're drowning. The GOP has stated that this is Obama's 'Waterloo'. They want him to fail, and thet're blindly willing to see the economy fail as a result, and then the country. The GOP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry. That's their agenda.

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laughable and sad, 01/26/10 11:26

Watchdog, The republicans had the opportunity to pass a healthcare reform bill during the many years they held control. They didn't but now, all of a sudden they are crying foul, they feel left out. Well boo-hoo! YOU obviously enjoy a good health plan, unlike so many millions of others.

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Dan West, 01/26/10 10:25

Sue, I am convinced you are a blind ideolog. You claim the GOP is the party of NO but we are the party of KNOW. Look, any healthcare reform that does not include tort reform and access to "across state lines" insurance is a disaster. The GOP has been trying to help out but the democrats have closed the doors and not allowed them any input. You should open your mind and get the facts.

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watchdog, 01/26/10 9:40

SueA.; The Supreme Court just dealt a severe blow to the average American citizen. Health care insurance companies own outright a number of our legislators, and would never allow them to vote in the public's best interests. You are correct that the G.O.P. has done nothing but obstruct, but that is not the will of their constituents, it is the mandate from the insurance companies. This is only going to get worse unless legislators pass a bill nullifying the court decision. It has bi-partisan support, as John McCain was an original supporter of campaign finance reform. As long as corporations can buy legislators, the country can't move forward. Reconciliation would resolve this issue, and they could add back in the public option. Don't think for a second that the Republicans would not use every tool in their power if the tables were reversed. Democrats, especially Obama, are wimps of the first order. You've got the power - ram this through!

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fed way up!, 01/26/10 8:57

SueA. Everything you talk about in your climate change post is local, and I agree with you. But there's no evidence that man has contributed to global climate change or can influence it through his actions. Yes, clean up your act, locally and globally. But don't expect it to make the earth cooler or warmer. The sun and the earth are the only factors in play there. You are right, we could argue forever. Over time, more evidence will prove one side or the other. In the meantime we should all clean up our personal act.

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Opie, 01/26/10 8:26

Sue, you are sounding like a cry baby. no hope of bipartisan? when did the DEM ever attemp to even let the Gop in on a health care plan? now maybe they will stop trying to ram something down everyone's throat and try to work together to get some real reform!

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mary, 01/25/10 7:45

hey , everyone knows we need reform,but so far the dem party has had the attitude of -well we have the votes so we can just ram through what we want- never mind the fact that most people dont want some huge over blown who knows how we can possibly keep spending more more more plan.well now the dems have just had a reality check.slow down, scale back, and hey how about letting both parties work together! these deals behind closed doors and special deals to buy a vote have got to end ! there are things that can be done now in steps that a true biparisan majority can agree on to change health care for the better

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jolie, 01/25/10 5:28

I am not looking for perfection in health care reform. I am just looking for an admission by both parties that we are in a health care crisis, and we must act. The Democratic party seemed to have the idea, and now one election, in Massachusetts, and they are ready to turn tail and run. The G.O.P. has done nothing but obstruct. Not one credible idea. Just the party of NO. The party of big business, and profits first, so I don't currently have much respect for them. When all they can do is shout NO,NO,NO, like two year olds, then they need a time out. Bush and the G.O.P. used reconciliation many times, and pushed through very unpopular legislation. I say, the Dems need to do the same.
All hope of a bipartisan resolution is gone. Now is the time to act, and stop begging for them to join in. A majority, a simple majority, is all that is needed. Stop the foot dragging and act.
The bill proposed is very similar to the health care that the citizens of Mass. have, and their new Senator has. He now will be provided with the government provided health care, a plan about as gold plated as they come. Yet, he has vowed to keep the average American in debt and sick. What a guy!!!!!!!!

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SueA, 01/25/10 8:38

Climate change is real. We can argue about the causes forever, but it is real. Man has contributed greatly to it. Again, we can argue about the manner in which man has accelerated climate change. However, it would be more proactive, and better for everyone, if we all just cleaned up. The earth is our home. When I drive down the highway, or walk on the sidewalk, and obseve all the debris,just tossed by people, it makes me wonder how they live. I wouldn't finish eating, and toss my dishes on my floor, or out my window for someone else to deal with. Yet, everyday, we see millions tossing items from car windows, or on the ground while walking, and cigarettes. Why are there so many cigarette butts tossed on the sidewalk? It reflects badly on smokers. And fast food buyers, can't you take your trash home, and dispose of it properly. Do I have to see your wrappers along my street? Were you all raised in a landfill?
We need to clean up our act,whatever,our personal views. We live here, and it is the only world we have, every person, every town, every state, every nation, has an obligation to do their part to clean up our act.

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SueA, 01/25/10 8:30

There is incompetence to be found everywhere. The pulling on the cath should have alerted the nursing home staff to a problem, which they should have reported tot he Dr. The primary doctor should have been overseeing his care, including appropriate monitoring of his urine and foley. The urologist should have provided the primary with a complete report, which recommended these tests. Many physicians order too many tests, they call it defensive medicine. In truth, it provides more money for the labs and clinics, which the doctor helps to support with business.
The doctor gets paid for his office visits, where he is able to bill for the extra time it took to order these tests, and then the labs get paid for the tests, and the patient has to see the doctor again for a report, which means another visit, another payment. It is all about money. Don't ever delude yourself, it will always be about the money. The patient, the consumer, is secondary to the quest for profits. I am so sorry that your father had to suffer. It would be totally unnecessary if people would do their jobs in a compassionate, caring, and responsible manner. Which we see less and less of.

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caregiver, 01/25/10 8:19

I am glad to hear your complain Kris Schwenke. I would like to add a couple points if you don't mind. I have a father who is in a nursing home. He is on Medicare and Medicaid because he has been there quite a while. He has a foley catheter because he can't urinate on his own thanks to radiation from prostate cancer. He has a urologist. Now while most everyone knows that he will often get bladder infections from having this catheter, and also for all the years that he had to self cath before he this, his urologist never saw it necessary to write orders to have biweekly urine tests. Finally on a weekend just recently he developed such a bad bladder infection that he was pulling on his foley and managed to yank it so he blocked his urine from coming out totally. He was taken to the ER by Ambulance on a weekend and they pulled 2000cc (2qts) of fluid from his bladder. Now Medicare and Medicaid will be billed for this, when in my opinion it is really just incompetence on his urologist's part. When it comes to health care, just as it is in a restaurant when the food is lousy you don't pay. Why is it that doctor still gets paid, or a dentist for that matter? My own oncologist doesn't even run a lab before ordering me a medicine for a bladder infection because normal people can tell without the test. Although, it is usually nice to have a culture a urologist should know that if a man is walking around with a foley it is a pretty good bet he will be getting many infections. Just imagine riding in an ambulance with 2 quarts of fluid in your bladder and tell me how that would feel?

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Angry at the doctors, 01/24/10 11:42

Robert; I'm not sure what the 'Los Angeles' comment was for. Recent studies show that L.A. has cleaned up its act downtown significantly, but the surrounding less populated areas continue to show decreasing air quality. Analysis of content shows it is coming from Southeast Asia - from their coal burning plants. The declaration that CO2 is a "dangerous" gas was a political decision, in order to bring release levels under government control. It was not supported by scientific consensus. If scientific evidence proved that greenhouse gasses truly were harmful to our atmosphere, we should start by eliminating the world's cattle herds. They are the single largest contributor of greenhouse gasses. How about a cap and trade tax slapped on beef products, like our burgers and our milk and cheese? Then, open season, year-round on deer - no license required, no bag limits, a bounty on does! They're ruminants too, filthy methane producers! They're putting out more harmful gas than all the world's transportation systems combined, and don't forget the camels, sheep, and buffalo. I don't mean to be silly, but creatures on the earth, no matter what they do, don't impact the future temperature. They DO impact our local water.

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Chuck, lean ground, 01/23/10 7:09

The number of credible scientists who believe man is causing global warming is shrinking daily. It would shrink faster if people didn't have such a hard time admitting they were wrong. The Harvard professor who wound up Al Gore and set him loose on us came to realize, before he died, that man has a negligible impact on the environment. Yes, the earth is getting warmer now. Yes, at some point in the future this county will be under miles of ice. We can't stop or influence either event. We think in centuries, the earth thinks a million years is an eye-blink. But SueA. has a point. We can impact our environment locally. Coal burning plants to our south poison our water and our land with their acid rain. Yet the coal lobbies are powerful, as are those of the insurance and pharmacology industries. Our Supreme Court just increased their power immensely. So, yes - reduce, reuse, recycle. But while you're doing that, vote people into office who will fight the corporate greed and power that now has the country paralyzed. Stripping the health insurance industry of the right to make a profit would be a small but significant first step. How's that for tying both these threads into one package?

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octo-man, 01/22/10 8:09

Setaf, Fly over Los Angles sometime and then tell us there is not a problem.

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Robert, 01/22/10 7:30

SueA, I'm not sure what Mr. Mullendore's credentials are, but if you really want to get past it, you will find many scientists on the other side of the equation. You are just as blind and close minded as what you accuse others of being. If those scientists you are referring to were more open to allowing their research to be studied by others etc. etc. and if those emails hadn't been leaked, I might give you a "bit" of credit. However, in light of those events and the obvious and open "putdown" of any scientists who disagreed with them leads me to be highly suspicious.
As far as health reform, I am frankly apprehensive of all those who scramble to have it "now" regardless of what it is. If it's called "reform" you will buy it sight unseen and no questions asked. Maybe not apprehensive, probably scared is more the term. You people scare me. You won't trust "republicans", but will completely turn yourselves over to the other side and believe ANYTHING they tell you. Remember it's all Bush's fault. That's turning into a pitiful excuse.

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Setaf, 01/22/10 3:19

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