North Carolina's new birth control law falls far short for doctors like me - Raleigh News & Observer
Healthcare
As a family physician in Durham County, I offer tempered applause to the N.C. legislature. While I am thrilled that birth control patches and pills and HIV prevention medications can now dispensed directly by pharmacists, I fear this new law further fragments our health care system.
We need comprehensive reform to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability to pay, has access to primary care. Access to medication, be it contraception or insulin, is not the same as access to care. House Bill 96 does not have a support or enforcement mechanism to help pharmacists connect patients to primary care.
I am happy that a tiny barrier of access has been removed, but without clarity on insurance reimbursements, nor a way to help folks connect to a primary care provider, this new law falls far short of what I need to help my patients achieve health and wellness. I implore the legislature to do better.
Dr. Rebecca Kasper, Durham
A step forward
As a family physician, I serve many patients without insurance and sometimes the added financial barrier of having to schedule an appointment with me, their primary care doctor, can prevent them from getting contraception.
Now that oral and transdermal contraceptives will be more easily accessible, my patients will be able to walk into a pharmacy and grab their prescription. We’ve seen this strategy improve access in other countries and I’m thrilled to see it in our home state.
Improving access to contraceptives is essential so patients can choose when pregnancy makes sense for their lives. They can also help in treatment of conditions such as endometriosis and can lower one’s risk for developing endometrial cancer.
House Bill 96 is a step forward for improving access to key medicines for all patients.
Dr. Avanthi Jayaweera, Chapel Hill
Inflation
The latest inflation number just arrived with an annual rate of 7.5%, the highest in the U.S. in about 40 years. This is a distressing problem for consumers, the economy, and interest rates.
What contributed to this looming dilemma? I see four major reasons: COVID, supply chain issues, the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates too low for too long, and Congress awarding several trillion dollars in aid to taxpayers and businesses. The aid was often excessive or unnecessary and added to the current problem. Meanwhile the federal government is running annual deficits of about $2 trillion and a debt of $30 trillion. Our government entities have created our inflation problem.
Franklin Smith, Raleigh
Dems in Congress
The writer is a former state senator.
Despite its difficulties, the past year also brought new opportunities, including federal legislation that will change the lives of millions of Americans thanks to Democratic leadership in Washington. But so much work still remains on the table for Democrats in Congress.
The digital economy has been critical in providing new job opportunities and creating pathways for mobility for North Carolinians. Democrats in Congress should be taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy — this is a chance for partnership and shared success.
Fortunately, in North Carolina we are lucky to have a strong governor and attorney general who have stayed focused on the most pressing issues at hand. I hope to see the same dedication on the national stage.
Sam Searcy, Holly Springs
NC Supreme Court
The N.C. Supreme Court upheld “democracy” in the gerrymandering map decision. Really? It was a 4-3 split. It only went that way because the court has a 4-3 liberal bias. I am not thinking they had democracy in mind. As long as we have a system in place where the majority in power draws the districts, there will be gerrymandering. Republican or Democrat. North Carolina must change the system by which the districts are drawn. Pure and simple.
Gene Hannan, Selma
RNC censure
The Republican National Committee censured U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinsinger for taking part in the investigation of the assault on Congress, saying they are participating in “the persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
The RNC is correct to call it “political” because it was an attempted political putsch. But it was not civil “discourse” by any stretch of the word and it was not “legitimate” lawful protest. Those deserving censure are the Congressional members who for crass political expediency have been silent about this frightening assault on democracy and those who shamelessly keep defending it.
Joe Moran, Durham
NC teachers
I was glad to read that teachers can finally take a personal day without being docked pay. I began teaching in Wake County in 1995 and the first week of school in 1996 my father died. His funeral was scheduled for a Friday, a teacher workday.
I asked my principal if I could attend and make up the workday with extra hours before and after school. He said no, so I had to pay to attend my father’s funeral.
I’m glad that teachers can finally take a personal day without getting docked pay. I knew North Carolina would get there one day — I just didn’t think it would take 26 years!
Elizabeth Allen, Durham
source: https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article258175938.html
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