Pharmacists needed
Pharmacists are often seen as people who only dispense a medication to get money, but what people don't understand is that pharmacists are saving lives every day by catching mistakes of the patient's trusted physician. Recently, some physicians have been trying to cut out the middle man by obtaining a license to dispense certain medications directly to patients without the assistance of a pharmacist. For most Americans, not taking a trip to the pharmacy and not having to worry about the hassle of dealing with insurance sounds great. All costs get placed on one bill that insurance can cover at the clinic, but what is a potential cost to cutting out the middle man?
Sometimes physicians prescribe an array of maintenance medications that a person might need to take for the rest of their life. Besides maintenance medications, if one were to come down with a bacterial infection, he or she might be prescribed antibiotics. What people don't see is that sometimes these antibiotics can have deadly side effects when taken with their maintenance medications, and oftentimes the physician does not catch the interaction, so this is where pharmacists are invaluable. Behind the scenes, a pharmacist calls the physician to clarify the treatment; potentially saving the patient's life.
Cutting out the pharmacist may not seem like a big deal to patients at first, but without pharmacists, many patients may lose their lives.
BRANDON HUBER
Maumelle
Enrollment ends soon
Over the past few months, uncertainty over the Affordable Care Act raised a number of questions concerning enrollment for health insurance in the state exchanges. How long will enrollment last? How can I receive help with the application? The White House announced two major changes to the enrollment process for 2018 that will affect Arkansans in important ways.
Open enrollment for 2018 extends from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, which means readers still have time to apply for coverage. Last year, signup ran through the end of January. With the enrollment period cut in half, it is important for individuals seeking coverage to apply now.
The federal administration also cut funding for "navigator" assistance. Navigators and Arkansas in-person assisters answer questions about and help people enroll in insurance plans. According to November 2017 reports from the Arkansas Insurance Department, only 22.8 percent of uninsured individuals in Pope County were enrolled through the marketplace. With less access to enrollment assistance, we may see this number decrease further if individuals wait until the last minute to enroll.
Individuals seeking coverage can begin the search for health insurance plans at HealthCare.gov, which provides resources to help find qualified enrollment assisters in local areas. Readers may also qualify for subsidies to offset the cost of premiums. Check to see if you qualify for a subsidy using Kaiser's Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator at www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator.
KIA BYRD
Russellville
Elsa urges: 'Let it go'
Isn't it great that we live in a country where the guy in the Oval Office can't even let his grievances or need to be praised go for Thanksgiving? Someone give that guy a binky and take away his phone, please, before he starts a war or attacks yet another private citizen.
And while you're at it, tell him "happy holidays." It'll drive him nuts.
LML TERRELL
Dayton
Loving homes for all
Len White argued in a letter that those who oppose abortion ought to prove they are truly committed to children by doing more to support "life after birth" and give women "more favorable post-natal options." The fact is most groups who oppose abortion are involved in other efforts to help children and families.
Many of the Christians who pray or hold signs outside abortion clinics also support or volunteer at pregnancy resource centers. These centers offer free assistance to women with unplanned pregnancies. Loving Choices, which operates two pregnancy resource centers in Northwest Arkansas, offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds for women who may be considering abortion. Dozens of other centers operate around the state, offering everything from free maternity clothes and baby diapers to adoption referrals and parenting classes. These resource centers equip and empower women who otherwise might choose to have an abortion.
Some who oppose abortion serve as adoptive or foster parents, and many of those who cannot adopt or foster still support adoption and foster care in other ways--such as by volunteering for or donating money to pro-adoption organizations. A 2013 survey by Barna found practicing Christians were more than twice as likely to adopt a child as the average American. Adoption gives women with unplanned pregnancies viable options besides abortion. People who oppose abortion understand that, and support adoption as a result.
There are other ways people who oppose abortion promote "life after birth" for women and children, but the point should be clear: Pro-life Arkansans do much more than oppose abortion. They want to see every child have a loving home, and they want to give mothers and fathers the resources they need to care for their families.
JERRY COX
Little Rock
Ph.D. versus smarts
In Glitz's Nov. 20 column, he said that socialism is the ownership by the government of the "means of production." Obviously, he doesn't know the difference between capitalism, socialism and communism.
Capitalism is when the government doesn't own the milk or the cow. Socialism is when the government owns the milk but not the cow. Communism is when the government owns the milk and the cow.
Glad to help--but I wish he would stop saying he has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. It is giving the university a bad name.
WAYMOND TEAGUE
Greenbrier
Concert was a success
The Bella Vista Women's Chorus sincerely thanks all of those who participated in, assisted with, attended, and made contributions to our Musical Salute to Veterans Concert held on Nov. 11 at the Bella Vista Community Church. The funds raised will be divided between the Bella Vista Wall of Honor and the National Cemetery in Fayetteville.
We appreciate all of those who helped to make this concert such a huge success.
JILL HALE
Hiwasse
Editorial on 11/27/2017