Michael P. Hornick – 8/24/08

This page was last updated on August 24, 2008.

State should make PACE automatic; Michael P. Hornick; Beaver County Times; August 24, 2008. An editor’s note asserts, “The writer is a community pharmacist.” What is a “community” pharmacist?

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“As Pennsylvania, through knowledge constantly shared between the Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service, knows the incomes of every Pennsylvania resident and the ages of those residents, why is it necessary for any state resident 65 or older whose income is within the qualifying income limitations have to apply for PACE or PACENET?”

[RWC] Mr. Hornick described one of the problems people like me have with the annual “full body cavity search” known otherwise as filing income/wage tax returns. It’s a huge invasion of privacy and Mr. Hornick wants that info shared even further.

“If these qualifying individuals don’t want a PACE card, they don’t have to use it. If they are unaware, ill equipped to go through the application process, misinformed or confused by health-care insurance issues, as many of the elderly are, the application process should not be the barrier it now is.”

[RWC] The nanny argument.

“This is 2008, not 1985. Advances in computer technology and the Internet seem to make it a no-brainer for the commonwealth to simply send any qualifying Pennsylvanian a PACE card upon their reaching the age of 65 and after reviewing their yearly income tax returns.”

[RWC] Computer technology could have done this long before 1985. What does the Internet have to do with it?

“In addition, the same technological advances also seems to make it a no-brainer for the state to compel all health-care insurers and prescription drug benefits managers to prevent duplication of coverage and coordinate benefits for those same individuals.

“Too many elderly Pennsylvanians are confused by the multiplicity and complexity of health-care insurance coverage.”

[RWC] Get rid of all these ridiculous transfer of income programs and you don’t have the problem. Mr. Hornick apparently believes more government interference is the cure for the existing government interference. Should people who need help get it? Of course, but it should come from private charities funded by voluntary contributions.

“When will the state act to protect the health and welfare of these people, rather than the economic interests of the insurance industry, pharmaceutical manufacturers and mass merchandisers of medications?”

[RWC] The better question is, when will government get out of the healthcare business?