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I just read an article in the Bonner County Daily Bee stating that George Mason University’s Healthcare Openness and Access Project has rated Idaho as No.1 in national health care? Who’s fooling who?

Only two forms of health care are available, Blue Cross or Blue Shield. My wife of 63 years was informed this week by her primary care provider, to find another practitioner (she’s been a patient there for 20-plus years). These physicians and the administrators don’t want to negotiate their rates, all the health care facilities have administrators because they are profitable entities. They also don’t want to wait three months to get reimbursed for their medical services by insurance companies. She has been recommended by local pharmacists to find another provider as well, they don’t see the necessity of blood work every 30 days for basic prescriptions that most patients need every 90 days, it just increases the payments that both patient and insurers need to pay out.

The entire northern panhandle of Idaho is in the same boat. There isn’t a single health care facility in Bonner County that wants to take new patients. That’s Bonner and Kootenai counties, or maybe a researcher can make a recommendation?

No. 1 in health care, I guess if you receive VA medical benefits as I do being a Vietnam veteran. I’d like to hear the response or suggestions from anyone involved at George Mason and this healthcare study.

DANIEL CHRISTIANS

Sandpoint