Hometown Oneonta - The Otesgo-Delaware Dispatch: Letters to the editor

CARTOON TO THE EDITOR

Rx Refill Cost $3.10. Complexities
Brought Bill To $2,643.80

To the Editor:
Last September, my COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) flared up.
I had received a temporary prescription for Prednisone, which relieved the symptoms. Unfortunately, my prescription expired on Oct. 10, a Saturday, the start of a three-day weekend.
I phoned my prime care doctor’s number at Bassett Hospital and explained to the nurse on duty that I needed a temporary refill of the Prednisone. She told me there was no one available in Prime Care and that I would have to go to the emergency room.
I called the ER and explained my predicament and was told to come in and someone could help me. On arriving, I told the ER receptionist my need and she referred me to the triage nurse, to whom I also explained that I needed a temporary renewal of my Prednisone prescription.
She said a doctor in the ER could help me and I was sent to an examining room in the ER where I again explained my problem to the ER nurse, who checked my vital signs until a doctor could see me.
I again explained to the ER doctor that all I needed was a temporary renewal of the Prednisone, showing him my empty pill bottle. He insisted that some extra tests were necessary because I was short of breath.
To make a long story short, three hours later I was given a prescription for Prednisone and sent home. But that is not really the end of the story.
When the final bills came to me (courtesy of the Center for Medicare Services) there were 24 charges totaling $2,643.80. While Medicare took a haircut on some of those charges and my Medigap insurance paid the deductibles, I was not out of pocket for any of it, but Medicare and the Medigap insurance companies paid an extraordinary amount of money so that I could get a $3.10 prescription refilled.
My daughter is a healthcare professional at Rhode Island Hospital. I asked her why the system was so inefficient. She said that there are certain protocols that ERs have to follow in order to avoid medical malpractice issues. The trial lawyers are calling the shots on medical procedures.
From what I have read of the two pieces of health care legislation that have passed in Congress, neither has addressed the medical inefficiencies or the legal obstructions that are endemic in our health care system. Congress prefers to demonize the insurance companies rather than reduce the costs of health care.
Your government, and mine, at work

WILLIAM DORNBURGH

Mike Arcuri Moderate,
His Voting Record Shows

To the Editor:
Congressman Mike Arcuri’s opponent continues to try to paint Mike as a partisan left-wing liberal. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Mike is a moderate Democrat who consistently votes his own way, with the best interests of his constituents in mind and without regard for political party or ideology.
This fact is borne out by the National Journal, a nonpartisan, inside-the-beltway news service, which recently ranked Mike as one of the two most moderate legislators in the House of Representatives based on his voting record. From a random survey of 97 votes covering economic, foreign policy and social issues, Mike voted “liberal” 50.2 percent of the time and “conservative” 49.8 percent of the time.
Mike’s voting record proves that he is “in touch” with the majority of voters in the 24th Congressional District and that we should continue to support Mike for our own good.

ED LENTZ New Lisbon Chairman,
County Democratic Committee

In Economic Storm,
Don’t Rock The Boat

To the Editor:
There are none so blind as though who cannot see, or hear, apparently.
In a struggling economy, where 7 million plus have lost their jobs over the last two years, and New York State is borrowing almost $100 million a week (not including federal extensions) to cover the cost of unemployment checks, Governor Paterson has once again proposed in his budget the sale of wine in grocery, convenience and drug stores.
This, after hitting liquor store owners with a floor tax last May. This floor tax was not on existing inventory and cost owners money that could never be recouped.
President Obama stated recently that maintaining and creating jobs in 2010 is his main focus. He asked the private sector and small business community to be innovative, creative and maintain job security.
Governor Paterson’s proposal will put thousands more out of work and create no new jobs. The trickle-down effect on job loss will devastate New York with its already unstable economy.
In December 2009, Governor Paterson’s own law review commission on the state Liquor Authority recommended putting this idea on hold, stating that it required a significant and independent economic review. It also recommended a series of changes for store regulations, but did not recommend the sale of food items.
It also determined the liquor authority is unable to make prevention of underage drinking a state-wide priority, as it has 38 employees to deal with 70,000 licensed venues.
Ninety percent of all violations occur in grocery and convenience stores. They can’t properly control the sale of beer. How will they enforce added wine sales?
This is why state law enforcement is so against this proposal.
No state in 28 years has legalized the sale of wine in grocery because they know it is dangerous to young people, and costly to taxpayers.
In addition, a Cornell economic impact study released in December found that state liquor stores will lose 30 percent of their profits on average. A devastating blow that will close stores and create job loss all across the state. These losses will put even the strongest stores at risk and further push the economic slowdown in NYS.
I ask all reading this: Could you afford to lose 30 percent of your income?
I am once again asking for your help and support by going to LastStoreOnMainStreet.com, send letters, make phone calls, and talk about this topic (No computer, feel free to call me at 432-4144). Please remember, this is not a wine in grocery issue, it is a common sense, bad for NYS taxpayer issue.

SHARON WILSEY
Best Wine & Spirits Oneonta

POEM TO THE EDITOR

Life

You have reached the office of.
Please hang up and dial again
If you know your parties number
Forget it.
If your are having a medical emergency
Dial one for dermatology
If you are dialing from a touch tone phone,
Your call may be monitored.
Please listen to the following options,
If all else fails.
If you want a massage
An operator will help you
All lines are busy at the present time.
Your call is important to us
If your wish to leave a message
Please spit on the phone.
I am sorry, I will not be in the office
This month.
I am traveling with the governor.
Please stay on the line.
You have reached the home of
John; Cindy has moved out.
When you hear the tone,
hang up.
Your call in no longer important to us
Don’t call again.
All our personnel are busy at the present time.
The approximate waiting time is one hour.
I am sorry that number is no longer in service,
The line is busy,
But by pressing one, you can speak with a fool.
To speak with nobody, press two.
By pressing the pound sign, you may speak with yourself.
When you are done, please hang up. Goodbye.

CHARLES HUDSON
Cooperstown

Friday, February 26, 2010