I would like to answer the letter by Dr. David Zerhing. First of all the fees charged by doctors are set by the American Medical Assoc. and the Drs. themselves. Maybe Dr. Zerhing was not around during the late nineteen fifties when the insurance companies started offering health insurance to their subscribers. I was, and immediately the doctors started raising their fees. The insurance companies raised their fees to compensate for the increased costs of medical care. Then the doctors raised their fees some more. Then the insurance companies countered. For a while there it was a race to see who could raise their fees the fastest! Finally the doctors and the insurance companies got together and decided to cooperate on how much they would charge their clients. Prices are still climbing but in a more orderly fashion.
Obviously Dr. Zerhing needs to check out what the other doctors in his country are charging because just within this last year a doctor told me that he was “paid $1000 per hour,” right here in Huerfano Co. Last spring, an ill mannered receptionist told me that “Drs. have to study throughout their careers so they could keep up with the latest advances in Medicine and therefore they were justified in charging so much for their services”. She was very surprised that “I had to study throughout my career, and I never got anywhere near $1000 per hour.” I have calculated what my medical insurance pays for my doctors fees and it exceeds $1000 per hour.
I wonder if I am the only one who has noticed, over the last twenty or thirty years, the increased number of women, usually young and good looking, running around the doctors offices trying to look busy. Let’s see now there are lab technicians, X-ray technicians, medical technicians, scheduling clerks, billing clerks, book keepers, receptionists and with that many people running to and fro in the office trying to look busy, the Doctor simply must have an office manager. I can remember when the doctor and a nurse/receptionist ran the whole operation. The doctor did the lab work, took the X-rays, diagnosed the patients, administered the treatments and wrote out the prescriptions. The nurse/receptionist made the appointments, did the billing, book keeping and assisted the doctor if necessary. They just don’t make nurses like that anymore. Naturally all these extra employees are a tax deduction at tax time so they don’t really cost him all that much but they sure make the office look like a busy place. So it would seem that Dr. Zerhing is the one spreading misinformation!
The idea of the average fees charged by Doctors all over the country has merit. However, the fee should be adjusted according to the economic level of location where the doctor practices. The last time I checked the “Statistical abstract of the United States,” the cost of living in Colorado was third from the bottom in the U.S. Therefore the people in Colorado should not have to pay the same fees as New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami Florida, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If the readers agree with me, I invite them to clip out the letter to the editor, and send it to their Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress. Their addresses can be found in the Post office.
Jerry Price
Science Fair kudos overdue
This letter is in regard to this years′ Science Fair at Peakview Elementary. I would like to know why there wasn′t any recognition or acknowledgment given to Jada Barela a fourth grader at Peakview. We were told that she was the overall winner within the three schools. She received a trophy and a blue ribbon at the school. I called the school and questioned why there wasn′t anything in the local papers like the other students have had and I am still waiting for a response from them. I am sure it would have been nice for her to see her picture and some kind of acknowledgment for her participation and effort in this years′ Science Fair, are we not always encouraged to get involved in our child′s school and to give them praise when deserved. It wouldn′t have taken too much time to submit a small article recognizing her accomplishment from the school in one of the papers, so after waiting very patiently I would like to take the time to say CONGRATULATIONS to Jada Barela (my granddaughter) for winning in this year′s Science Fair.
A Very Proud
Grandmother,
Frieda Vallejos
TSJC Honors
My husband Tom and I were fortunate to be members of the audience last Thursday night the 2nd of April for the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society Phi Alpha Club meeting. The gathering was a celebration of the past, present, and the future.
Bear Shash gave a power-point presentation of original research: “Estrogens in the Purgatoire River.” It was fascinating and worrisome study and we were once again reminded in the critical importance of the quality of our water and its impact upon us. Bear will be part of a research team going to Africa this summer.
It was a very nice evening of honors – past, present, and future — honoring the past students who have started their careers at TSJC and are shining stars across the nation, honoring the Rankins for their service to TSJC, hearing from the current students in the Biology program and honoring the future students who will be making the college and our city proud.
Linda and Tom Perry
Trinidad, Colorado
