Now that pools are open, swim
If you haven't noticed, the municipality has done a fine job of upgrading Service and Bartlett pools (with your money), but you don't seem interested in taking advantage of the nice work they've done. I've been to the Service pool for the evening lap swim twice in the past week or so and had the place to myself. The lifeguard says it's been that way ever since the pool reopened.
Now, it's pretty nice to have my own private pool, but if more of you swimmers don't show up on a regular basis the municipality will have every reason to shut the pool down for lack of interest and that would be a shame. So get with it, swimmers, and come jump in. The water's fine.
The Service pool is open for lap swimming Monday-Thursday nights from 6:30 to 7:30. It's also available for open swim on Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9. See you at the pool.
-- Mike Jens
Anchorage
Cardboard City was a success
Family Promise Mat-Su would like to thank all the participants and sponsors of Cardboard City 2009, which was held Friday night at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.
Your support of this event means a lot to the families in the Mat-Su valley who benefit from the Family Promise Mat-Su program, enabling homeless families to find adequate housing and support to regain their self-sufficiency.
Over 95 people participated in the event, despite the rain and cold, raising over $8,500 in a single night. This money is used for guest services including transportation needs, clothing-laundry needs, rental assistance and case management.
Since 2005, Family Promise has provided homeless families with over 6,000 shelter nights and served 60 individuals this year alone. For more information on our organization or to continue to donate, please feel free to check out our website: www.familypromisematsu.org.
-- Sarah Klitzke,
Cardboard City event coordinator,
Wasilla
Take health issues one at a time
Instead of some giant, incomprehensible and overwhelming Health Care Reform bill, why not take one problem at a time and deal with it. Deniability of coverage? Fine, deal with that issue only and then move on. Transferability of insurance? Fine, deal with that issue and move on. Tort reform? Fine, deal with that issue and move on. Etc, etc. Pick any sub-issue of the health care reform debate and deal with that issue only.
Do you see what I mean? If there are problems with health care, or health care coverage in this country, then fix the problems, don't ram some giant government takeover down our throats. All of the current proposals that I have read have overwhelming problems hidden in the details, the least of which is the cost.
I think you'll find the majority of Americans, as well as the majority of Alaskans, will support you if you take the issues on one at a time and deal with them.
-- John Klapproth
Seward
There is no choice with Medicare
Mr. Tuckerman ("When it comes to Medicare, doctors get the short straw," Sept. 27) is obviously a younger man. He needs to know that if a person has Medicare, he or she has no choice but to use it. The doctor can not bill the private insurance instead if the patient wishes; it doesn't work that way! Seniors also can not just pay the bill from their own money; that is illegal. You have to use Medicare but if you are very sick, you need to see some doctor. That doctor, if you are lucky enough to find one, is going to lose money. Doctors and seniors in Alaska are stuck with this. I believe many people don't really understand the whole situation.
These people are your parents, grandparents, older friends, etc. and someday, will include you younger folks too.
-- L.L. Raymond
Homer
Medicare billing leaves no leeway
My heart goes out to the Wadsworth family on the loss of their family member (Local doctors spurned ill woman," Sept. 23).
In the letter, Anchorage doctors were chastised about not taking Medicare patients. Here's why, and I hope you'll write your U.S. representatives.
If a doctor's normal charge is say $100, Medicare "allows" about 40 percent, or $40, and pays 80 percent, or $32. Doctors are only allowed by law to collect the difference -- $8 from either the patient or their insurance. You may not bill the difference between usual charge and Medicare payment -- that's "fraud."
This is also one of the primary reasons why a large number of doctors oppose the public option if financed by the U.S. government and one of the prime reasons they oppose a single payer system. If like Medicare the single payer systematically under-reimburses doctors (and everyone else they pay), they cannot keep their offices open. It costs more money to see a Medicare patient than one can recoup from Medicare payment.
Again my sincere condolences.
-- Steven Tucker
Anchorage