Letters to the Editor: March 12, 2022

Pharmacy benefits managers are middlemen in the prescription drug market

Jim Maxwell’s Feb. 27 “Your Turn” column tried to describe prescription drug fraud. His premise is that “independent pharmacists” cost us “billions of dollars” in the form of higher prescription drug costs.

This ludicrous claim appears to be based on a case involving a Peter Bolos of Synergy Pharmacy. While I am not familiar with the details of this case, I object to the smearing of all independent pharmacists for the action of one. It is unfair, slanderous, and wrong.

Maxwell appears to be a good lobbyist for the pharmacy benefits managers who have inserted themselves as middlemen in the prescription drug distribution systems in the United States. They are collecting millions of dollars and are now being challenged for their tactics, which include secret agreements with drug companies, gag orders preventing pharmacists from suggesting lower prices to patients, and hiding their profits as “trade secrets.” One may review their many questionable actions by looking at pharmacy benefits managers on Wikipedia.

Drug prices in our country are two to four times higher than in many other countries. For example, the five leading diabetic drugs have suspiciously similar retail prices between $500 and $600 a month. Of course very few people pay this much because of discounts and rebates. Most likely if someone had to pay full price they could simply not afford the drug or drugs. We should have a level playing field by starting with allowing Medicare to bargain for lower prices.

Gary D. Hall, Vero Beach

Our species has learned countless ways to pursue happiness over many, many moons

Scientists inform us that our species, Homo sapiens, originated in Africa and out from there traveled all over our planet Earth, pursuing happiness in many ways by:

Successfully adapting to the changing climates and environments as they were encountered. As well as overcoming endless obstacles and interruptions.

Learning to identify and grow edible plants, especially trees and shrubs that can produce fruit or nuts in gardens or orchards.

Learning to domesticate edible wild animals, especially large herbivores that can be confined on farms and ranches.

Identifying edible seafood, especially fish, oysters, mussels, clams and even algae and then building the ponds and hatcheries to grow them.

Developing the handling of food into major industries, especially the many varieties of restaurants. Consequently, “eating out” at a favorite restaurant has become a major source of happiness, especially during holidays and other special occasions.

Developing travel into a major industry; replacing horses, camels, etc. with cars, trains, cruise ships, and now even spaceships. Consequently, travel has become a source of happiness, except during extremely bad weather.

Caring for someone in a permanent, loving relationship.

Training animals, especially dogs and cats, to become lovable pets.

Improving education, both scholastically and by experience.

Creating a comfortable lifestyle and a secure home.

Inventing electricity. Think of the thousands of pleasurable activities we can now enjoy because of it, but not before.

Communicating with others.

Seeking spiritual guidance.

Other sources of human pleasure might be fishing, bird watching, enjoying flowers and gardens, listening to music, attending a movie, museum or zoo, and playing indoor or outdoor games.

Anthony Taormina, Stuart, celebrates his 101st birthday on March 12.

President Biden does things in reverse order

Why does Joe Biden always put the cart before the horse?

First, he removed the troops from Afghanistan, and only then, with no leverage, did he decide to negotiate with the Taliban for the U.S. citizens held there. Ultimately he left hundreds behind.

Now, he is going to ban importing Russian oil into the United States and then, negotiate with Venezuela, the Saudis, and possibly Iran to please sell us oil.

That brings up a vision of the sellers, acting like Nancy Pelosi, standing up and rubbing their knuckles together at the thought of the cost to the U.S.

Will we ever find out who Biden’s advisers are? Will they ever learn? Will we?

Jim Grant, Nettles Island

Think about all the things GOP stands for — both the letters G-O-P and the party itself

It is evident that GOP now stands for Governess of People! If you remember the premise of our Constitution you are very aware that Republicans have their own agenda in governing that excludes the will of the people.

Back in the good old days our Founding Fathers made great efforts to ensure “Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The GOP has manipulated this nation into so many factions we are busy squabbling one against another. We have failed to govern and so we are governed.

Ben Franklin knew our constitutional government was only as good as those citizens who held legislators accountable! In just 246 years since 1776 we the people have surrendered our power to an oligarchy of Greedy Old People.

Lowell Sasser, Fort Pierce

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Letters to the Editor: March 12, 2022