Letters to the editor

Financial pressures may lead to health care crisis

This letter is in response to Karen Woodmansee's article, "The state of medical care can make you sick," concerning her experiences with local doctors since moving to Nevada in 1999. She brought up various points but she seemed most annoyed that she has had to see six different primary care physicians since being here, with three of them moving. Prior to this, when Karen lived in other parts of the country, she would be under one physician's care for many years. I think, Karen, that you are experiencing a phenomena that is not just seen in Nevada but countrywide.

I had a primary practice here for over 25 years before leaving for health reasons. In the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, Carson City also had many physicians with long term practices and long term patients. In the 1990's insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid starting cutting back on all physician payments, but especially primary care physicians (these would include Family Practitioners, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics).

Unbeknownst to the public, most insurance companies have not increased payments to primary care physicians in many years, not even cost of living increases. As the cost of doing business increases each year, it is to the point that many primary care physicians have seen their income decrease yearly for the last 5-10 years. They are being forced to join other medical groups, moonlight at other jobs or move to a new location where they hope they can do better financially. Medical students see this happening so they are avoiding going into primary care. If you think finding a long term primary care doctor is difficult now, you will be truly shocked at what the future may bring.

Medicare and Medicaid pay primary care physicians approximately one-half of the medical bill. With overhead running at least 50 percent in most physician offices, you can see that doctors literally lose money with each Medicare/Medicaid patient that they see. Fortunately, the U.S. Congress just approved this week legislation that avoided a mandatory Medicare payment cut to doctors by 10.6 percent starting July 15 of this year. There is still legislated a 5 percent pay cut Jan. 1, 2010, for the following four years. If these cuts take effect, a high percentage of primary care physicians will close their practices to Medicare patients, retire early or seek work in medical administration instead of patient care. These major cuts would occur as our country faces the largest increase in Medicare enrollment with the "Baby Boomers" becoming eligible for benefits.

I realize that this is not the place to address this extremely complex issue but did want to emphasize that Carson City is on an even plane with other cities of its size. We also previously enjoyed this more personalized health care from physicians with large, long term practices. With changing financial benefits, aging physicians and a lack of others taking their place, this problem will continue to worsen.

WILLIAM O'SHAUGHNESSY

President, Carson-Douglas Medical Society

Responsible owners don't let cats roam free

An open letter to the person who placed a flyer in my mailbox Monday urging folks to watch their cats because someone in the neighborhood is trapping and taking them to the pound.

You were too cowardly to leave your name, yet you gave the exact address of the people you criticize. You further state you had to get your "beloved" cat from the pound at a cost of $10.

I contend if you truly loved your cat, or had the slightest regard for your neighbors, you would not let the animal run wild. I have a cat ... but I am a responsible pet owner and keep my neutered cat indoors " I won't impose my pet on others; I care for my pet and don't want him getting injured, killed by a car, exposed to various illnesses, or trapped and taken to the pound.

There are at least four cats running through the neighborhood you cite; they spray my screen room to mark territory; they use my garden as a litter box (the stench is terrible, and I have to clean up the messes before I can enjoy my own yard), they catch birds and leave remains on my walkways, to say nothing of yowling. One black cat sees my cat in the window and jumps up, clawing and tearing my screens " I've had to replace screening several times.

I resent selfish people like you who feel it is your right to do anything you wish regardless of how other people are affected. I live on the street you cited " and I think the people who are trapping these cats deserve my thanks.

If you can't take care of your pets, you should expect to pay a pound fee. My guess is, though, that you will continue to complain while letting your pet run loose. By the way, maybe you could come by and scoop my cat's litter box; after all, I have been doing this for you for quite a while.

MARY BEAN

Carson City

Upset by sign thefts

To whomever stole two signs from my front yard on Alpine Street. Shame on you! If you want your own signs, contact the candidates and ask for your own. If you disagree with my choices, put up your own signs for the opposition. We can all show our support for the candidate we support. That's the way the system works.

FRIEDA FORD

Carson City

Don't judge people on where they come from

My name is Angie Hale. I am responding to the article written by a man named Johnny Carston. His article was on how he hated people from California.

How can you judge someone from where they come from? Just because you had a few bad encounters with people who come from California does not give you the right to hate everyone that comes from California. You have no right at all. Some of the most intelligent people come from California; apparently you are not one of them.

I am a woman who has spent most of her life in California. Are you going to hate me too? I don't judge you from where you come from, so I think it is only fair that you do the same. But I don't think I am going to get that wish. If you want to hate people from California then maybe Californians should hate everybody else that does not come from California. What do you think about that?

I am only one person who might feel this way, but I doubt it. People who come from California are proud people who stand up for what they believe in without anybody's input or cooperation. Now I am not saying that non-Californians don't have pride or anything like that, I am just saying that my fellow Californians are more proud of what they have and what they have to work for. Now you are going to probably argue that stupid people have come from California, but I can definitely guarantee you that more smart and interesting people came from there than dumb or stupid people. If you can find me some evidence that differs from what I have said, than please show it to me, but I think that you won't find any. GO CALIFORNIA!

ANGIE HALE

Carson City

Tired of fighting the speeding problem

After sending and reading numerous letters regarding the speeding problem in Carson and one of the hardest hit roads being Division Street, I am writing this letter to say, "Not Our Problem Anymore."

We have talked to Kenny Furlong, many deputies that have come to sit on the road, and traffic enforcement sergeants. We have contacted our city supervisor who happens to be Richard Staub.

Now to all of you who still will live on Division Street, watch your children and animals because I won't be here to call the police anymore with the speeding and dangerous driving that we have watched on this street in the last year. I thought it would have gotten better with school being out since moms, dads, and personnel at the school weren't racing to get there. But not much has changed. Just the time.

This road has become a danger to all who live on it and I and my family no longer want to deal with it. Way too much stress!

For you that live here I suggest if and when the school buses pick up their speed call the superintendent. For the JAC bus that is running late, call the transportation manager for the city, and if he refuses to do anything then call the city manager. Get a petition going and take it to your city supervisor.

We are waiting to hear from Richard Staub regarding what we can do about this road. Hopefully we will hear from him soon and he will be able to help the rest of you that live on this freeway (road).

Now for all you speeders looking to make up time, and drunk drivers looking to avoid the police, this seems to be your route. You can always spot them if they are here. To you that have fought this fight with me, if something happens to your home, yourself, or a loved one, get a good lawyer and sue.

RHONDA GLISSON

Carson City

Thanks to all who helped find Daisy

In this day and age when we only seem to hear bad news, I would like to share a "mini-miracle" if you will.

On May 19, my cockatiel Daisy went missing, and from the beginning the outpouring of help and support was overwhelming.

Friends, neighbors and co-workers helped me get flyers together, get an ad in the paper and helped look for Daisy. Not to mention my Mom's prayers.

What really touched me was that people actually took the time to respond to my flyers. A couple on Fifth Street had seen Daisy on Thursday and took the time to call when they saw my flyer on Saturday.

And the man who caught Daisy and noticed the band on her leg. He took the time to go to the pet store and try to get any information he could.

Luckily my friend was working that day and alert enough to realize it was Daisy he was talking about. She called and I went to the man's house and got Daisy back! I am eternally grateful.

What really amazed me was that people I didn't even know would come up and ask if I had found Daisy. Afterwards, people I didn't know would come up and tell me how happy they were I found her. It was like a city-wide search.

I am happy to report that Daisy has made a full readjustment and is doing great!

Thank you, people of Carson City for helping bring Daisy home safely and restoring my faith in humanity!

ALLISON BRUMAGE

Carson City

Comments on Sunday columns

Commenting on your Sunday columns: Kirk Caraway suggests we stop saber rattling with Iran to lower oil prices. Mr. Caraway has blundered into a partial truth. Oil pricing includes a terror " or uncertainty " premium. Iran is building atom bombs, threatening to wipe Israel off the map, and threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Every new threat shakes up the oil market. They're promising this stuff because they're messianic religious fanatics. The U.S. is what's stopping them.

The day we authorize drilling for domestic oil and eliminate mandated individual oxygenated gasoline blends for each U.S. market sector, the uncertainty premium will disappear. Let's also stop the womanly hysteria about new nuclear plants and new refineries. Call the price drop McCain psychology in action.

Regarding Senator Obama's patriotism, I'm not as sanguine as Guy Farmer.

Ann Coulter actually read Obama's autobiography, written when he was Harvard Law Review president, "Dreams from my Father" and spotted this on page 85, where he speaks about living under "white man's rules": "Should you refuse this defeat and lash out at your captors, they would have a name for that, too, a name that could cage you just as good. Paranoid. Militant. Violent. Nigger. " That's how he saw America in 1995.

Senator Obama indulged his intimate spiritual advisor for 20 years as he damned America, alleging that we had brought 9/11 on ourselves. I'm afraid Obama's views haven't moderated since he wrote his life's story.

Sorry, Mr. Farmer, that's not patriotism by any definition.

LYNN MUZZY

Minden