HEALTHCARE

MEDICARE SLOW IN PAYMENTS TO DOCTORS

I guess I need to add my 2 cents to the "greedy doctors" letters to the editor.

Exactly 13 months after my mother died I received a notification from Medicare that they were paying a doctor bill for my mother. I was outraged that a doctor had billed Medicare for her care when she was dead.

I called Medicare and they researched my complaint. They said they were just getting around to paying a doctor bill that had been submitted 14 months earlier.

I hear from doctor friends who work at a pediatric clinic that Medicaid is just as bad with payment to doctors.

Everyone should be contacting their legislators to insist on meaningful bills to relieve doctors of the outrageous "pain and suffering" awards we are seeing.

Don't wait too long. You may need a specialist and they won't be in Hawai'i any longer. But maybe you don't mind flying to the Mainland for medical care.

M.D.S WORK HARD, HAVE MORE TRAINING, DEBT

As a physician in Hawai'i, I take offense to the characterization that physicians are out for "more money" and that is the only reason we are leaving Hawai'i.

After 15 years of both school and residency training and with a student loan burden of more than $200,000, I expect to make a living that will enable me to pay back my more than $4,000 a month in student loans.

Maybe some doctors earn more than 90 percent of others living here, but we also have more training and debt than more than 90 percent of the general population.

We also expose ourselves to greater risk and financial ruin for any mistake.

We work more hours than the average person, and deserve every penny we earn for providing quality care, sometimes to uninsured individuals who invariably can't pay for it.

We don't turn them away as would any other repair man. When medical school is free and student loans don't exist then I would possibly consider a drop in pay.

HERE'S REAL QUESTION IN TORT REFORM DEBATE

Richard Miller (Island Voices, March 10) asks, "Are HMSA's executives really worth so much more than physicians?"

HMSA's executives have saved you thousands of dollars over the years with caps on doctors' charges. Miller and the lawyers in the Legislature balk at even one modest cap on lawyers' charges.

The real question in tort reform is: Are lawyers in their Kahala mansions really worth more than doctors who want to practice medicine in obstetrics or rural areas?

Miller says that tort reform will not bring a benefit to doctors. Why, then, do so many other states have tort reform and why do Hawai'i doctors continue to pursue it?

Miller says doctors will only be helped by "improving insurance reimbursements." I keep hearing this phrase at the Legislature — "increase reimbursements." My friends, this is a euphemism for higher medical insurance premiums.

So do you want higher medical insurance premiums so lawyers can continue to press often frivolous lawsuits as blackmail against doctors and their insurers, with the stick being possible jury awards of millions for emotionally loaded pain and suffering?

Even with tort reform the damaged person will be compensated for all actual damages, including costs of rehabilitation, job loss, etc. plus a possible $250,000 for non-economic damages plus possible punitive damages.

The proposal also caps the percentage of the settlement that can be claimed by the lawyer.

RAIL

JUST EXACTLY WHO WILL RIDE TRANSIT SYSTEM?

There is no question that traffic gridlock is a major concern today as it will be in the future.

The plans for mass transit are all well and good, but I have yet to hear who will ride the proposed transit system.

The suggested routes are from the west to east, and those who live on the west side and commute to work will not sacrifice their cars because of the flexibility cars provide.

The city has gone to the communities to talk about mass transit, but has it avoided asking who will ride transit because it does not want to hear the answer?

SALT LAKE DESPERATELY NEEDS MASS TRANSIT

I would like to thank Councilmember Romy Cachola for speaking out for Salt Lake in reference to the rail transit route.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann favors skipping Salt Lake in favor of a route that runs by Honolulu International Airport along the H-1 viaduct.

By doing this, Mayor Hannemann is ignoring the needs of the Salt Lake community.

We are in desperate need of mass transit in Salt Lake. I have taken the bus from Salt Lake to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa for several years. It takes approximately 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours for me to get to school.

We need an effective transportation system to ease traffic. Thank you, Romy Cachola, for representing Salt Lake residents.

SALT LAKE WILL FIND COMMUTE FASTER, NOISY

Excuse me! What's that? Did I miss a vote? The Advertiser reported that Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, "It comes down to choices." What choices? Certainly not the people's choices! More like "we know it's good for you."

In my younger days, I took the Chicago "elevated" every day. On turns, it sounded like a thousand animals being tortured in a slaughterhouse. It's impossible to keep the steel rails and wheels aligned properly with the constant daily pounding.

So, "good sleeping" to the people on Salt Lake, but you will be so happy to get to work faster.

ABERCROMBIE LETTER

U.S. HAS SUNK TO LOW POINT IN TORTURE POLICY

Bravo, Neil. The silence of the Catholic Church or any religious institution on the lack of value of human life that torture represents is indeed perplexing ("Abercrombie wants to know if torture is a 'mortal sin,'" www.honoluluadvertiser.com, March 12).

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, with their policies of torture, represent the low point that this nation has sunk to in regard to human decency and human rights.

TIGER ESCAPE

HONOLULU ZOO SAFE FOR BOTH WORKERS, VISITORS

This is in response to John Post's March 4 letter regarding the design of safety systems that will minimize/eliminate human error to prevent a repeat of the recent tiger episode at the Honolulu Zoo.

It's important to point out that the Honolulu Zoo is safe for workers and visitors alike.

The zoo has double doors and double latches on all access gates of potentially dangerous animals. As a result of our investigation of the tiger incident, even more stringent measures are being taken to minimize human error with the installation of automatic door closers and self-latching systems when the doors close.

Mr. Post relates that airplanes are designed to minimize the possibility of human error and we are thankful for that. However, pilot error is still cited as a cause in some crashes.

Our animal keepers are continually reminded to ensure that their animals are securely confined. A serious mistake was made; there is no doubt about that. However, humans must be involved with the animals, and humans are not infallible.

We will continue to review our policy and procedures to make the Honolulu Zoo safer than it already is.

2ND AMENDMENT

CONSTITUTION PROTECTS RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE

David Chappell's March 5 letter stating that he is tired of the U.S. Constitution being abused is laughable.

The Constitution is a limit on the powers of government, not the governed. The Second Amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights, in which all 10 amendments protect the rights of individuals, not individuals belonging to a group.

Should the right to free speech only apply to a person in a group, a state-sponsored group?

Should the freedom of religion only apply to certain religions? Should the protection against illegal search and seizure only apply to a person in a group?

I caution those who chastise the right to keep and bear arms; someday those limits may apply to you or your rights.

The real abuse of the Constitution comes when people incrementally take rights from people who have different viewpoints. That is the kind of abuse law-abiding gun owners are tired of.

Mr. Chappell does not have to own firearms nor does he have to practice religion nor speak freely; however, it is the Constitution that protects those rights.

Some people choose to ensure their right to life and liberty by protecting themselves and their families from criminals who don't care what the laws of the land are.

PRINCIPLE

FALLON, SHINSEKI BOTH FOLLOWED OATH OF OFFICE

Stand tall, Adm. William Fallon, stand tall. You and Gen. Eric Shinseki followed your oath of office to preserve and protect — and served the American people well.

Future presidents of the United States of America, take heed. It is the Constitution of the United States of America that is your superior and to which you pledge allegiance.

Park your ego at the door to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

MOTORISTS

USE TURN SIGNALS MORE, LET IT BECOME A HABIT

A big mahalo to Robert A. Wolf (Letters, March 11) for his insightful letter regarding drivers not using turn signals.

Just like putting on a seat belt when you enter a car, if drivers used their turn signals more often it would become habit.