Health care access
Since March, nurse practitioners and physician assistants have risked their health to care for COVID-19 patients and prevent community spread. Sadly Anthem, one of the state’s largest insurance companies, recently reduced reimbursement rates for nurse practitioners and physician assistants from 100% to 85%, effectively saying the care we provide does not have the same value as that of our physician colleagues who continue to be reimbursed at 100%.
Of the four providers in my primary care practice, two are nurse practitioners. Many of our patients are from working class Black and brown communities where access to care is already limited by lack of providers, a problem that will get worse as physicians retire and the population ages. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can fill this gap as nearly 90% of nurse practitioners are certified in an area of primary care, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and 17% of physician assistants in Virginia specialize in primary care, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
By reducing nurse practitioner and physician assistant reimbursement, medical practices must choose between keeping advanced practice providers on staff — and accepting lower reimbursement rates — or laying them off if hiring decisions were made assuming 100% reimbursement. This may lead to practice closures, staff reductions, limited hours and decreased access to care. Nurse practitioners work to expand access to care in underserved communities, end health disparities and combat systemic racism in health care. It’s time to recognize the value of this care and reimburse us accordingly.
Olivia Newby, president-elect of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, Virginia Beach
Stop generalizing
Re “Own it” (Your Views, Oct. 3): In her letter, Felisicia Williams made it clear she thought President Donald Trump was a racist. I tend to disagree, but that’s her opinion, and she has the right to express it. But almost in the same breath she states that if you don’t believe this, you are a racist also.
In this she declares about 62 million or so people who do not think like her are all racist.
I really get tired of people generalizing that a huge proportion of the population is racist. And as long as liberals keep thinking this way, I see no way for our country to come back together. Mutual respect is the only acceptable way.
Ron Buckles, Newport News
Mail-in mistrust
As a former candidate for chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach, I lost that election by just 41 votes. Several years ago, I saw Wayne Coleman defeat Richard Ottinger in a primary for the Virginia Senate by just 11 votes. Indeed, I’ve seen several other elections decided by double-digit margins and can faithfully attest that every vote, including yours, matters.
During the historic three-race recount held in Virginia Beach a couple years ago, political operatives and activists of every stripe — Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, young, old and middle-aged patriots — worked together under the direction of Virginia Beach General Registrar Donna Patterson and a Virginia Beach judge to complete what I consider to be one of the fairest, most accurate recounts ever held in the history of our republic. Surely, not everyone was happy with the outcome, but the final outcome was something of which we can all be rightly proud.
Being old-school, I have my doubts about mail-in ballots. Past stories about mail carriers dumping mail or taking it home without the mail ever being delivered don’t give me a great deal of confidence in the ballots’ chain of custody. We’re already seeing problems in various places around the country. This is why I urge all voters to either vote early or in person on Election Day. However this election falls out, the fate of our republic shouldn’t be left in the hand of or decided by the U.S. Postal Service.
Jimmy Frost, Virginia Beach
Wrong analogy
Re “Rattled Biden” (Your Views, Oct. 11): The opinion concludes by equating white supremacist groups with Black Lives Matter. This is inaccurate and reflects a mischaracterization of what BLM is attempting to do. White supremacist groups believe that the color of one’s skin equates to racial superiority, white being superior to Black. BLM does not claim superiority of Black, but instead attempts to remind us that Black lives are equal to white.
Why is this reminder necessary? Because when the words “all men are created equal,” “we the people,” and “liberty and justice for all” were written, they did not include Black people. The reminder is necessary because some of the unfortunate aspects of our nation’s history include slavery, Jim Crow laws, lynching, voter suppression, and real estate redlining. BLM is demanding that black equality be acknowledged and acted upon. All lives of all colors and persuasions do matter of course, but our past and recent history shows that Blacks have not always been recognized as mattering. Equating the hate and bigotry of white supremacy with BLM is inaccurate.
Aaron Johnson, Virginia Beach
Vote in person
As I am high risk, I chose to vote early and in person. The process was seamless, and all protocols were strictly enforced. I would recommend that all who can, vote this way. On a side note, I received my neighbor’s mail-in ballot in my mailbox. Multiply that a million times and tell me how safe mail-in voting actually is?
Nina Hartman, Norfolk