
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery

Letters to the Editor

County animal control:
Dear Editor,

I agree that irresponsible pet owners are a major problem throughout Marshall County. In order to correct the problem the following comprehensive ap-proach is required:

•Enforcement of Animal Control Ordinance by Law Enforcement.

Animals are required to be restrained (leashed) by their owners in public or properly confined (fenced) to the owner’s premises. Citizens not in compliance should be readily fined in accordance with the provisions of the law ($25 first offense, $50 second, $100 third and $1,000 and six months in jail for the fourth offense). Enforcement will lead to compliance as the inconsiderate pet owners who think it is their right to allow their animals to roam free are fined into submission.

•Spay and Neuter. Pet overpopulation is a real problem. Millions of animals are euthanized every year because there are not enough people to adopt all of the animals. Be considerate of your pet’s health and get your pet fixed. Avoid buying pets from dog breeders and puppy mills.

•County Action. Contact your supervisors and let them know you support more animal control. Marshall County needs full time dogcatchers and those folks looking to spring their captured pet from the joint should be required to pay additional fines. By enforcing the Animal Control Ordinance and charging irresponsible pet owners whose animals are caught, the funds raised should offset the expenses incurred. Animal Control can be self-funding until the compliance objective is achieved.

•Adopt an Animal, Volunteer Time, Donate Money and Join the Humane Society. Winter is quickly approaching and we have approximately 20 dogs and several cats in need of a home. Please adopt an animal today. In addition, we need help preparing the shelter for winter. Doors, heat and electricity are the basic essentials required to operate this winter. Please open your hearts and wallets to help with this worthy cause. If you would rather donate time and elbow grease, caring for the animals is a 24/7 job. We need your help in cleaning the facility, feeding the animals, cutting the grass. You name it; we need it.

•Education. The next generation of pet owners needs to be taught properly regarding animal care. Without educating the children of today, they will in turn be the problem of tomorrow.

In closing, the efforts of many people are required to rectify this problem. Get involved and let’s fix the problem; do not be part of the problem. Citizens of Marshall County should not have to put up a fence to keep irresponsible people’s pets out of their yard. Let’s be considerate of others and keep your pet under control. Anyone wishing to volunteer time or donate money, please contact the Humane Society at 662-564-2900 (P.O. Box 625, Holly Springs, MS 38635). Your help and donations are greatly appreciated in advance.

Dan Gaw, Mt. Pleasant
Marshall County Humane Society Dear Editor,

Pharmacist's reaction:
Dear Editor,

As a member of the National Community Pharmacists Association and local pharmacist for 25 years, I want to make the public aware of this latest marketing tactic.

I hope the public can see through this and I know my patients will continue to place their trust in me as they have in the past.

I’m including a recent release from the NCPA...

Wal-Mart Offers Up Classic Bait-and-Switch: $4 Generic Offer is Less Than Meets the Eye,
Says NPCA
Source: U.S. Newswire
Publication date: 2006-09-28

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today warned patients, consumer advocates and health policy experts to look closely at the program recently announced by Wal-Mart to begin offering a limited number of generic prescription medications for $4 for a 30-day supply in the Tampa, Fla., area. The 291 drugs on the Wal-Mart list include many older medicines, multiple versions of the same medicines and no choices for a number of key health conditions.

“What happens to patients who walk into Wal-Mart thinking that they will be able to get their medications for $4, only to be told that the medicine they need is not on the list and will cost much more?” said NCPA executive vice president and CEO Bruce Roberts, RPh. “That is the classic bait-and-switch.”

Of the nearly 9,000 generic drugs available in the U.S., the Wal-Mart pilot program will offer fewer than 300. Of that group:

Fewer than 150 separate medicines are included. For example, 12 different versions of the antibiotic amoxicillin are included on the list.
Only one of the top 20 most frequently prescribed medications, in its commonly used form, is on the list.
None of the generic statins, used to treat high cholesterol, are on the list.
Many older medications are on the list and newer, replacement medications that often work better or have fewer side effects are not included on the list.

“Community pharmacists strongly support providing access to safe, affordable prescription medicines to the people who need them,” Roberts said. “That is one of the reasons why community pharmacists have worked so hard, under difficult circumstances, to make the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan work. But this move by Wal- Mart certainly cannot be viewed as the answer to most patients’ needs. Patients’ time and health are too valuable to send them on a wild-goose chase looking for their medications.”

The impact of Wal-Mart’s announcement also raises concerns about patient safety and the professional counseling role of pharmacists.

“We have tremendous respect for the power of prescription medications and the lifesaving -- or if used incorrectly, life -- threatening-power they possess,” Roberts said. “NCPA hopes that Wal- Mart pharmacists will be given the time and incentive to adequately counsel all of their patients about their prescription medicines.”

NCPA also is seeking a close examination of the anti-competitive nature of Wal-Mart’s action. Wal-Mart is infamous for driving small- town businesses out of business through deceptive and predatory pricing practices.

“Prescription medicines are not a commodity like T-shirts and DVDs and should not be held out as a loss-leader lure to patients,” Roberts said. “Community pharmacists are in the health care business and provide a value to patients no matter what medications they are taking. We are concerned that patients will be both misled and disappointed by the limited number of medicines in this new program.”

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 24,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation’s retail prescription medicines.

Sincerely,
Bob Lomenick
The Tyson Drug Stores
Holly Springs

Medicare fraud:
Dear Editor,

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a warning to Medicare beneficiaries about a new scam involving the Medicare prescription drug benefit:

A caller asks for bank account numbers that are then used to electronically withdraw money. In return, beneficiaries get a bogus Medicare drug card.

To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, turn to a trustworthy community organization for accurate information about the benefit.

The Arthritis Foundation, Mississippi Chapter and the Medicare Rx Access Network of Mississippi give the following reminders:

Contractors and employees are prohibited from calling a beneficiary and asking for bank account or other personal information. A beneficiary must initiate the call.

No one can come to your home to solicit you for Medicare products. Legitimate Medicare drug plans will not ask for payment over the telephone or the Internet. They must send a bill for monthly premium.

If you suspect someone is trying to coerce you or steal personal information, contact the Mississippi Department of Human Services at 1-800-948-3090 or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.

Sincerely,
Peggy S. Wall
President
Arthritis Foundation,
Mississippi Chapter
Member of the Medicare Rx Access Network of Mississippi

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page