
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                    TAG: 9406020008 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A16    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940602                                 LENGTH:

VETO DRUG BILL? CONSIDER THE PATIENT

{LEAD} After reading your May 17 editorial urging Governor Allen to veto a drug bill, I concluded that you are about as knowledgeable about phar-macy, health-care-cost causes and drug distribution as I am about managing newspapers.

Not once did you consider what is best for patients. A patient, as well as the small pharmacist, wants freedom of choice. Small pharmacies can deliver drugs quicker, with better counseling, compliance and cost control, if drug companies will sell to every pharmacy at the same cost. This is doable and what is legally correct at this time.

You speak of Trojan Horse legislation. The true Trojan Horse is the insurance industry, which is pushing this veto because it alone will benefit financially. Cost savings will not be passed on as cheaper insurance premiums.

{REST} We got where we are today, with medical costs going out of sight, when insurance companies allowed claims to be billed directly to them rather than have patients submit their own claims. This means no resistance to the price of medical care at the point of procedure.

You speak of pharmaceutical services as if price were the only issue. Services, care and patient well-being also are issues.

LLOYD J. KELLAM

Exmore, May 19, 1994

by CNB