HEALTH CARE
With changes, patient literacy can improve
An article in a recent AJC Living section (“Basic medical terms a mystery to many,” Sept. 4) reports that patients don’t understand medical jargon.
To improve health literacy, three changes must take place: Health professionals need to communicate in more patient-centered ways. Patients and consumers need to ask questions to make sure they understand. Hospitals and insurance companies need to simplify their forms and instructions.
Evidence now documents that if we can improve health literacy in these ways, we can significantly reduce health care costs. We can improve health outcomes. We can reduce health disparities among our diverse populations. The Georgia Alliance for Health Literacy stands ready to provide resources.
You can contact this group at GAHealthLiteracy@gmail.com.
DON RUBIN, CHAIR, GEORGIA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH LITERACY
POLITICAL ETHICS
Lobbyist gifts should be kept close to home
Regarding “Ethics law first, then trip to beach” (News, Sept. 1), since an ethics law overhaul has not stemmed the tide of lavish summer spending on legislators by lobbyists, can we not get a bill through that would require lobbyists to spend their thousands upon thousands of dollars within state borders?
It would be better to boost Georgia’s economy than those of Nashville, Amelia Island and Hilton Head.
BARBARA MORGAN, COVINGTON
ELECTRICITY
Voters should demand clean energy incentives
Regarding “Energy tax’s scope secret” (News, Sept. 5), why isn’t there enough money for clean energy tax credits? Simply put, lawmakers and regulators are financially beholden to power companies. These companies provide campaign funds and lobbyist gifts. In exchange, politicians appear to encourage clean energy production while thwarting its development.
Currently, power companies are guaranteed a return on investment (ROI), but there should also be a guaranteed return on investment to individuals and businesses that invest their own money to produce electricity. Not only should the Legislature dramatically expand clean energy tax credits, it should enact a feed-in tariff. Power companies would pay a set rate for each watt produced. This guarantee would spur clean energy production. Citizens and businesses would know exactly the ROI of installing clean energy systems.
The self-interests of power companies and their political lap dogs will maintain a corrupted status quo — unless we demand better.
DON MCADAM, SANDY SPRINGS
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
Obama administration follows the Constitution
At first, I was surprised that the lead article in a recent AJC was that the IRS would recognize same-sex marriage (“IRS allows gay marriage,” News, Aug. 30). After all, the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional.
Then, the newsworthiness hit me: A federal agency under the Obama administration was following the Constitution, and adhering to a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court.
ALLEN BUCKLEY, SMYRNA
