RSSLETTERS TO THE EDITOR
05/17/12 Letters to the Editor
Yakima Herald-Republic
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Beware facility charge
To the editor -- Next time you visit a medical professional, watch your back (pocket). Because of a change in insurance, I've just been hit by the "facility charge" gimmick. Since health-care providers are required to provide discounts to insurance and Medicare patients, they are not making enough profit from us consumers. To make up for those discounts, they have added a facility fee to your bill.
Generally, those charges aren't covered by insurance or Medicare. Therefore, more of the financial burden is passed on to the patient! This is evidently legal, but in my opinion, very unethical.
I would urge people to ask if their providers are charging a facility fee, and if so, look for a physician who doesn't. Everyone seems to be betting on the wrong horse when it comes to the cost of medical care. Requiring everyone to have insurance isn't the answer and may only add to medical costs. No one is trying to get to the base factor of why the medical profession has created the nation's most expensive service industries. Once the cause is clarified, we will know where and how to address the issue. I was taught to "follow the money" to find the answers.
JERRY G. KILPATRICK
Yakima
No magic water wand
To the editor -- Re: The May 9 article about the state Ecology director, "A team approach to solving well issue."
First, this "team approach" apparently only includes government and Ecology representatives. No mention of meeting with the tribal or environmental groups.
Second, U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that wells are using water claimed by senior water rights and the Yakama Nation. Plus, it is documented by Ecology that areas using wells for irrigation are experiencing alarming declines in water levels. Still, people such as Sen. Jim Honeyford indicate that they have hopes of Ecology issuing additional permits. Does someone have a magic wand that can produce additional water from an already over-allocated and declining source?
Third, there is no mention of the unlimited water the dairy and cattle industry can withdraw without a permit. A 5,000-cow dairy operation will use 150,000 to 250,000 gallons per day just as drinking water. What kind of hole is this putting in the aquifers that supply our daily domestic and irrigation requirements?
Ecology and powers-that-be better get their heads above water, and make some tough decisions before actions such as those made in the Kittitas Valley are forced upon them.
JERALD A. GEFRE SR.
Moxee
Protect people's rights
To the editor -- The "war on marriage" doesn't exist! Divorce is the biggest enemy against marriage; why aren't they trying to stop that?
The truth is, if your marriage is strong, nothing can harm it. I have been married for 17 years and if a gay couple moved in next door to me, it wouldn't affect me one bit.
Get over it, gay-marriage opponents. You're not the only ones who get to enjoy the freedom to love and marry who you want! This is America. We don't try to take away people's rights, we protect them.
JAMISON CLUFF
Yakima
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