The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and include name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one published letter every 30 days. Send letters to P.O. Box 670, Athens AL 35613 or email to adam@athensnews-courier.com.

Need help from Congress

Dear Editor:

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 15 million Alzheimer’s caregivers. As an Alzheimer’s advocate, it is my honor to represent them to our elected officials.

I was honored to participate with 1,200 others from across the country in the 28th annual Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., where we appealed to Congress for action on Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to the human toll, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive condition in the nation, costing $236 billion a year. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. These costs will continue to increase as baby bombers age, soaring to more than $1 trillion in 2050.

Alzheimer’s is not only devastating but fatal. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only cause of death among the top 10 without a way to prevent, stop or even slow its progression.

Thank you to Rep. Mo Brooks for meeting with our delegation to discuss the Alzheimer’s crisis.  I hope we can count on your continued support.

It is only through adequate funding and a strong implementation of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease that we will meet its goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.  

Sincerely,

Brandi Medina, M.S.

Director of Programs & Education

Alzheimer’s Association- Mid South Chapter

Huntsville, AL 35801

Medicaid cuts will hurt

Dear Editor:

The Legislature was warned. It was warned that underfunding Medicaid would result in the loss of both access to care and jobs. The first casualty of the General Fund budget has already occurred, and it took less than a week.

Dale County is an underserved community with only one pediatrician who also shares time as an urgent care physician. As a result, Dale Medical Center worked with Dothan Pediatrics to open a satellite office in Ozark so the area could have access to full time pediatric coverage. Plans were set in motion; Dothan Pediatrics opened Ozark Pediatrics in a temporary office in the hospital surgery center, bought land for a new, permanent office, and was ready to break ground next week. They committed to investing and providing care in a rural area in which the recruitment of primary care physicians is difficult. Their commitment would bring construction jobs, health care jobs, and most importantly better access to care for children.

But then the legislature overrode the veto of the General Fund, and Medicaid outlined the potential cuts needed as a result of this budget, including significant cuts to primary care doctors. Dothan Pediatrics estimated that the cuts could mean $2 million less each year in revenue. Facing that daunting figure, the practice came to the difficult realization that it could no longer move forward with the construction of a new office. Even worse, if there is no change in the budget, Dothan Pediatrics physicians are concerned they will not be able to maintain any presence in Ozark or possibly other satellite offices across the Wiregrass area.

This means the majority of people in Dale County, the privately insured and those on Medicaid, will now have to drive to Dothan for basic, routine, preventative care like check-ups and immunizations. Access to care in Dale County will be in jeopardy, a trend that is likely to continue across the state. This is just the first of many examples to come of how this budget hurts health care and jobs.

We warned the Legislature, but I guess they didn’t hear us. Now the Legislature just has to remember, if you are going to take credit for the budget you passed, you also have to be willing to take responsibility for what comes as a result.

Sincerely,

Vernon L. Johnson, CEO

Dale Medical Center

Ozark