September 27, 2019 Issue, Page 20 of 26

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, September 27, 2019 Opinion Page “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 A bad sign: No room for jokes here Don Munsch, Editor Most Saturday mornings, I flip on “College GameDay” to check out where the ESPN crew is broadcasting from and hear their takes on the games of the day. Usually, I’m as interested in the signs held by the throng of fans standing behind the outdoor broadcast stage. This past Saturday was no different, as GameDay broadcast from Athens, Ga., site of the Notre Dame-Georgia game. Both teams were ranked in the top 10. Most of the time, the signs are clever and feature a picture along with a mild taunt, pun or witty remark. Occasionally, they’re juvenile, but usually they are in good taste. Exam- ple of a sign from Saturday: Notre Dame was “magically overrated,” a reference to Lucky Charms cereal and Notre Dame’s leprechaun mascot. Not bad. But then there was an ugly sign that should be regarded as an affront to any Notre Dame fan or just anyone who possesses decency. The sign read “Burn Notre Dame.” Complete with Giving out of need flames. All that was missing was a picture of the Cathedral Glynda Lomax is a Chris- get better. they themselves have unmet Notre-Dame de Paris on fire. tian author and podcaster In their small town, they needs. They are the ones I don’t get it. Why go after the cathedral and make light who resides in the Ozark would often see a man who who remember the dark and of the fire that occurred there this spring, or at the very Mountains of Northern Ar- wandered the streets in shab- fearful nights when they or least, use it as inspiration? The sign was not funny or cute. kansas with her two very by clothes. They had spoken someone they knew went to bossy dogs. She wrote her to him many times and their bed hungry, the terrifying And lest people say it was an innocuous message from (first About Life.column in hearts went out to his sad uncertainty of times when someone merely encouraging Georgia to beat Notre Dame, 2003 for a newspaper in condition. there was no work. They re- that conclusion is off the mark. The only reasonable con- Dallas. She is planning her In the evening the man member the kindness of oth- nection one could make was the sign-maker was referring next book, would often come home, ers extended to them as they having seen the wanderer, walked through their own to the cathedral fire. “If you can’t feed a hun- and think about how lucky bleak times. The cathedral has stood for hundreds of years and has dred people, then feed just they were to have a roof Those who have never ex- historic value, and like any house of worship, it’s a haven one.” over their heads, some food perienced need sometimes to those who come seeking peace, guidance, forgiveness —Mother Teresa to eat, and hope to go on. He feel little compassion and and ours could be the next and reconciliation. wondered how the man sur- struggle to understand why doorstep on which need ar- It had been a tough year vived out there day after day others give willingly even tives. Jokes about church burnings — intentional or accidental — and it didn’t appear to be after day with nothing better out of their own need. To just aren’t funny. Can I get an amen? [Note: No evidence getting any easier. She to look forward to. As his them, giving appears fool- The couple’s hope was has turned up to show the cathedral fire was arson.] wasn’t working and he wife began preparing din- ish. But those who have ex- eventually rewarded, they wasn’t working much. They ner, though they often had perienced need know pov- had two teenage children to barely enough, she would erty can show up at one’s both found jobs and life is From bad signs to bad headlines feed and bills to pay. The prepare something for the doorstep any time, ushered much easier for them now Keeping with a college football theme and how words car needed repairs— again. It man in the streets and her in by sudden job loss, seri- than before. But they never can inflict harm, The State, a newspaper based in Colum- seemed every time they took husband would go back out ous illness, divorce or some forgot the man in the street; bia, S.C., apologized for a headline in its sports section one step forward they were in the cold winter evening other sudden tragedy you they still take him food Sunday. The headline centered on South Carolina losing to knocked two back. Still, and look for him again to never saw coming. whenever they see him in they hoped things would get give him the food. Whether your wealth is town. Missouri the previous day. better in time. He had health invested in the stock market, “Selfishness leads to de- The headline read: Hilinski Hope Sinks. Many people problems and so did she, and These are the people of your retirement plan, your might look at the words and move on, not giving it a second so did one of the children. compassion who know one career, your education, your spair. True joy comes to us, not from what we own, but thought. Hilinski refers to Ryan Hilinski, the quarterback Still, they continued to be- person can make a big dif- bank account or your beau- lieve tomorrow could be bet- ference in another's life ty, it can all be gone in the from what we are able to for the South Carolina Gamecocks. ter. Next week, next month, by performing small acts blink of an eye. We should give to others.” Hilinski had a brother named Tyler, who was a quar- even next year if that’s how of kindness. They are the all strive to remember every — from The Power of terback at Washington State. Tyler took his own life after long it took, things would ones who give even when day that no one is immune Thanksgiving the 2017 season. The Hilinski family started a non-profit foundation called Hilinski’s Hope. According to the foun- dation’s website, the foundation’s goal centers on “keeping Lowering drug prices with Tyler’s memory alive and generating the funding necessary to support programs that will help destigmatize mental ill- ness. We will provide the funding and practical tools for bipartisan, market-based proposals the schools with student athletes to implement the change By Senator James Lank- mine access to the federally However, if you’ve found bipartisan group of senators necessary to bring parity to mental health in line with all (ford (R-OK) approved drugs covered by yourself paying brand-name to introduce the Phair Relief other illnesses and injuries these student athletes face.” Most Americans are af- insurance plans. prices for a new generic, it’s The State said on Twitter that the connection between fected in some way by rising PBMs are not inherently probably because the drug Act, Transparency for Phar- prescription drug and health- bad. They were created to company negotiated the macists Act and the Right the headline and foundation was “unintentional,” but did care prices. Whether you’re advocate for lower prices drugs into the same tier. So Price for Medicare Act. I say there was no excuse for such poor wording and that the personally impacted or hear throughout the system. But the patient pays the same paper had reached out to the university and family to apolo- about the effects of rising the negotiations behind the price at the counter, but the have heard from Oklahoma gize. The paper’s management went on to say that a copy costs on a family member scenes can sometimes leave PBM gets a “rebate” frompharmacies that want to pro- or friend, you know things patients paying higher prices the branded-drug company editor in Charlotte had written the headline for print edi- aren’t getting better. or restricting access to the for helping block the new vide price transparency to tions and used wording from the reporter’s first paragraph The Senate Finance Com- latest generic. For example, competition. That’s not how patients, but they are limited about the renewed hope Hilinski’s performance brought to mittee, on which I serve, a patient may have taken a it’s supposed to work. in how they can respond by the team. started working this year on brand-name drug that now In an equally concerning “Again, we offer this only as an explanation for transpar- a series of hearings to better has an available generic. development, PBMs, many PBM fees, rules and cost is- understand the complexity Once the generic is approved of which own a massive net- sues. We can help fix this ency’s sake,” the paper said on Twitter. “There’s still no of drug pricing, especially by the Food and Drug Ad- work of retail pharmacies, anti-competitive mess and excuse for what happened here, and we are deeply sorry.” in the Medicare Part D pre- ministration and a doctor have been merging with in- Sometimes, all you can do is apologize. scription drug program. prescribes it, patients should surers. This has decreased improve financial certainty We've heard from phar- reasonably expect to pay a competition and limited for pharmacies. These bipar- maceutical experts, federal lower price for the generic consumer choice and access Have something tisan bills are a step in the regulators and patients. I’ve at the pharmacy. But some- to certain drugs. Currently, been surprised at the bipar- times patients discover the three PBMs control nearly right direction. tisan common ground we’ ve new generic costs the same 80% of market share and We can and should find to share? been able to achieve toward as the brand-name drug. that’s growing. When com- solutions in lowering pre- How does that happen? panies vertically integrate in ways to ensure drug com- scription drug costs. In Medicare Part D, there the manner in which PBMs, panies have the resources To lower _ prescription are typically five tiers of insurers and big-box retail they need to find the next Send your costs, we should start with how they’re priced. Many people are comfortable in- drug prices within the insur- ance market that dictate the formulary for the costs pa- pharmacies have, consumers lose. In April, Senate Finance lifesaving drug or treatment. We can and should ensure editorial to teracting with their doctor or tients pay at the pharmacy. Committee Chair Chuck patients can afford those pharmacist and have a gen- When a new drug comes to Grassley (R-Iowa) and I eral understanding of the in- market, the drug manufac- introduced the bipartisan treatments without declaring surance that covers some of turer negotiates with the Part Prescription Pricing for the bankruptcy. Market-based editor@ecdaily- the cost and the drug compa- D plan through the PBM to People Act, which requires solutions for pricing coupled nies that develop and sell the get the new drug into circu- the Federal Trade Commis- drugs. But the other compo- lation and gain market share. sion to study recent PBM with regulatory solutions for news.com nent to drug pricing is the After a period of time, that mergers that have created transparency can help in- pharmacy benefit manager drug can also be produced an anti-competitive envi- working behind the scenes in generic form, which usu- ronment in the drug indus- crease drug options for con- to negotiate prices and deter- ally costs significantly less. try. On July 25, I joined a sumers at affordable prices.