6 | April 30, 2016 • The Times of Ti Sun
www.suncommunitynews.com
OPINION
OPINIONS
Behind the Pressline
www.suncommunitynews.com/editorials
The right of dialogue
OurÊ goalÊ atÊ SunÊ CommunityÊ NewsÊ isÊ toÊ publishÊ accurate,Ê usefulÊ andÊ timelyÊ informationÊ inÊ ourÊ newspapers,Ê newsÊ products,Ê shoppingÊ guides,Ê vacationÊ guides,Ê andÊ otherÊ specialtyÊ publicationsÊ forÊ theÊ benefit of our readers and advertisers. WeÊ valueÊ yourÊ commentsÊ andÊ suggestionsÊ concerningÊ allÊ aspectsÊ of Ê thisÊ publication.
Dan Alexander
Publisher/CEO
L
ast week’s column where I suggested that Sanders and Trump might continue their fights to reform the political process by running together on an independent ticket, should their highly popular campaigns be shutdown by the two parties, has received a fair amount of commentary this week. It seems the column struck a nerve on both sides of the aisle. My concern here goes well beyond their candidacies and any speculation about their future. I did not begin writing this weekly column because I am highly opinionated and needed an outlet for my thoughts, although some of our readers believe that to be the case. I began writing because I saw too many people, even within our staff, who wanted to draft opinion pieces anonymously and be shielded from public response and personal attacks. While I’m not a talented writer like our Pete DeMola, I try to lead by example, and this column was the end result. The anonymous approach may be popular on the internet, but it doesn’t help to foster a respectful dialogue over issues of great importance. In that environment people seem more compelled to respond with insults and derogatory comments versus facts and sound arguments to support their position. A democracy such as ours can’t properly function in that manner. We must retain the ability to be open minded toward all issues and not be bullied or influenced by threats of violence when our opinions differ. What concerns me most in our political process today is we’ve lost touch with the ability to debate the issues without trying to degrade, insult or threaten the person who wishes to stand up and share their opposing thoughts. I’m a big boy and have been in the public eye from many years, as such, I’m thick skinned enough to understand both the low blows and the high praise while not taking any of it too seriously. The goal here is to stimulate open discussion but in doing so we also see and hear far too many who are intimidated and afraid to speak up because of the threatening nature of our disagreements these days. We are a community, a country and a world with many differing beliefs. We all need to accept and respect our differences while trying to live our short lives here on this planet. If we can not do so the future will indeed be a rocky one as each group tries to impose it’s will on those not willing to push back with ideas and solutions. Dan Alexander is CEO of Sun Community News.
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Publisher ............................................................................................Daniel E. Alexander Associate Publisher ............................................................................................ Ed Coats Operations Manager ............................................................................... William Coats General Manager Central...................................................Daniel E. Alexander, Jr. Managing Editor ...........................................................................................John Gereau General Manager North ................................................................. Ashley Alexander General Manager South .................................................................Scarlette Merfeld
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EDITORIALS
Beep beep, here comes fraud
W
asteful government spending, for many, is an abstract concept: Perhaps it’s a figure of speech that folks toss around. A buzzword in newspaper columns, an image from a fading political campaign — even a dog whistle depending on where you stand on the political spectrum. But here in the North Country, visible reminders of a government run amok cruise our streets daily. Medicaid taxis. Essex County spent $2.5 million last year paying for medical transportation for Medicaid recipients — All 378 of them. Now this would be ludicrous enough if these were all legitimate trips by patients in need of medical treatment. After all, for $6,613 per person, you could buy them each a very nice used car for that amount. But we’re doubtful considering the horror stories we’ve been hearing since a heroic Essex County whistleblower blew the roof off this crooked scam last summer — It’s pretty ingenious: Incorporate a cab company. Link up to the state’s registry. Drive people to wherever they want to go. Then stick state and federal taxpayers with the bill. Do it again and again until you turn a tidy profit. Boom, you’re on cruise control. Just don’t get caught. New York State caps county Medicaid costs at $6.9 million annually. As such, local governments generally incorporate that number into their spending plans, thank the heavens that it’s not higher and go on with their daily business. That means attention isn’t really focused on this industry until one of the operators raises eyebrows with their misbehavior. Like getting into a fender bender. Or violating privacy procedures. Or, in the case of one Broome County operator, bombing around in an unlicensed vehicle while allegedly defrauding the government of $80,000 within two years. More are inevitably out there, haunting the streets. No checks, no balances. But the state doesn’t seem to be putting the brakes on this mutant industry, which has mushroomed overnight. In July 2012, the state health department shifted the responsibility from counties to provide Medicaid transportation to a private company based in Syracuse. Doing so, they said, would save the state money as it continues to embark on Medicaid reforms. But figures are scant because the health department isn’t talking. While oversight mechanisms are said to exist, the health department isn’t dishing on those, either. This opacity has even been noted by the state comptroller’s office, who said in a report last year that an unfortunate “side effect” of the state’s move to managed care has been reduced transparency with regard to the use of Medicaid dollars.
Even county officials are skeptical that complaints are being reviewed in an expedient manner. Now that local officials are getting wise to the issue, discussions about possible regulations have begun to percolate to the surface. It’s a noble cause. But is the solution of big government more government� We’re skeptical. To us, this unfairly penalizes law-abiding citizens at the expense of the fraudulent few. It really is a microcosm of the bigger problems in our country. Not only is the state’s Medicaid transport industry warped, but so is the overall entitlement system. Barron’s recently likened the relationship states have with the federal government’s Medicaid program as a “three-card monte,” a cozy relationship that relies on an incestuous cycle to keep the dollars flowing — even more so now that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. We agree. But we also acknowledge that health care is an enormously complex issue that can’t be summarized in soundbites. And because Medicaid plays such a large role in our state’s overall health care system, we understand efforts to limit spending could lead to the costs being shifted into the public sector. As such, we agree with the comptroller that the state health department should continue to be transparent on each major step in this major overall. Because right now, this waste is enough to give anyone a heart attack. The good news is, beep beep, folks — a free ride to the hospital is just a phone call away. The Sun Community News Editorial Board is comprised of Dan Alexander, John Gereau, Pete DeMola and Keith Lobdell. We value your opinion and want to hear from you. Drop us a line on our new Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, or email us at johng@suncommunitynews.com.
WEÊ WANTÊ YOURÊ PHOTOS! Spring break� It’s that time of year: Cars are packed, plane tickets are booked and we’re on our way to somewhere far, far away… at least for a little while. Wherever you went, we bet it was fun. We want to share your experiences with our readers. Drop us an email with your favorite shots, or post them to our Facebook page. We’ll choose the best for a photo gallery in our May 7 edition. Deadline to enter: Monday, May 2 at 5 p.m. Have fun and we look forward to hearing from you�