Reader Criticizes County Response on Big Issues
Editor,
I have issues on certain actions or inaction that recently have been promulgated by our elected County Board of Supervisors:
1. As an SBC taxpayer I find it extremely offensive that my tax dollar is being used to subsidize a fox removal program for county farmers/ranchers. Let them pay for their own program! Consider it a business expense! Our focus should be on maintaining and improving our county infrastructure and services. Heck, I don’t even have street cleaning services in the subdivision where I live. The same is true for the mosquito abatement program that was sent out for taxpayer (property owner) vote. This program is a good thing but it should have been a general fund expense as it benefits everyone, and the way it was done to bypass Proposition 13 rules is back-room politics at its best. Besides, voting is normally done by closed ballot!
2. A new issue is brewing regarding the rule that would require gaining voter approval on important, large projects and developments. That’s probably not a bad idea but don’t establish a rule that would call for this vote after the county planning process is over. Do it before when project applications are submitted and when an initial impact study to inform the voter base is completed. This will save the county and developers a lot of money.
3. Dr. Bress’ article (July 7-9 Free Lance) on how physicians in our County are treated by Medicare and certain private insurance companies regarding reimbursement formulas was a real eye-opener. This is a must-read for all of us as we are all affected! Our physicians are not getting fair reimbursements! Medicare pays Gilroy doctors 15 percent to 20 percent more and Blue Cross in August will reduce SBC doctor reimbursement by 15 percent. What’s going on? Sam Farr, our House Representative, is introducing a bill, HR 2484, that would mandate that Medicare follow its rules and update medical costs appropriately. Apparently this bill is using out-of-date statistics that would exclude San Benito County physicians for increased reimbursements.
All doctors in surrounding counties, however, would benefit. This is outrageously unfair. We need to flood Rep. Sam Farr at www.farr.house.gov with correspondence to remedy his bill as well as to curb the greed of certain health care insurance providers. The well-being of our county residents and the viability of our medical infrastructure is at stake. We need to keep our good doctors in San Benito County. I challenge each of you to take some action here! Contact Representative Farr immediately. I also urge the County Board of Supervisors, as a body, to take action as well on this matter. This situation should have been on its horizon. Not just foxes and mosquitoes! Both Representative Farr and the SBC Board of Supervisors were elected to look out for their constituency in San Benito County.
John Ucovich, Hollister
