Letters: Corman misdiagnoses issue with telemedicine bill; Memories of Colonial Pastry Shop stickies

Corman misdiagnoses issue with telemedicine bill

Senator Corman recently wrote that “narrow political ideology is going to deny my constituents, and rural Pennsylvanians, access to life saving medicine.” Unfortunately, that’s a misdiagnosis: the problem isn’t narrow ideology, it’s Corman’s political games. Yes, Senate Bill 857 would expand telemedicine standards and clarify insurance reimbursement for telemedicine, but the bill features one last-second amendment: a ban on accessing necessary drugs like Mifepristone, an abortion medication, over telemedicine. Luckily, as Senator Corman conveniently excluded, the same bill was passed last October almost unanimously without the amendment by the Senate. Now, in the midst of a health crisis, Republican members of the House took it upon themselves to add the amendment. Instead of focusing on bipartisan legislation now and stirring controversy later, Republicans in the House inserted a bad-faith amendment, knowing it would torpedo a bill Pennsylvanians need.

Corman hides behind FDA recommendations for the use of Mifepristone to support the amendment, but he ignores that the medical community, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Academy of Family Physicians, overwhelmingly recognizes that Mifepristone is safe — so safe that 3 million people have used it in the last 16 years with incredibly low rates of complications. Studies even show that telemedicine administration of Mifepristone is just as safe as an in-person visit. That’s why only 18 states enforce the restrictive, medically-unfounded FDA recommendations. Corman should stop playing bad-faith, baseless political games, secure telemedicine for all, and do some research before throwing Pennsylvanians under the bus again.

Memories of Colonial Pastry Shop stickies

My father, James Neidigh, passed away two years ago and a significant tradition of State College and Penn State college students went with him. The “diner” that was located on College Avenue was known as the “place to go” during the ‘50s , ‘60s, and ‘70s for grilled stickies that were made at Colonial Pastry Shop, which was owned by my dad.

The traditional “formula” for the stickies was not a secret but was something special. Different businesses have tried to create the same taste but none have succeeded.

Eating a Colonial Pastry Shop sticky was not just something that tasted great, they also bring to mind cherished memories of living in State College or going to school at Penn State, going downtown and visiting the diner with friends.

There are not many products that are remembered by the people of State College from years gone by as those stickies.

Prescription drug price reform is a key election issue

While we remain focused on stopping the spread of the coronavirus, it is important to remember that other health care challenges continue to negatively impact millions of Americans. The challenge I struggle with more and more is gaining access to the medications I need to treat multiple sclerosis. This is even more important to keep in mind now considering the financial strain millions of Americans are experiencing — and will continue to experience — as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately, since being diagnosed with MS, I have experienced several obstacles that have made it increasingly difficult for me to access the drug therapies I need to effectively treat my MS. From the amount I have to pay, the difficulty in getting the medication I and my health care provider think is best for me, to the hoops I have to jump through with my insurance provider and specialty pharmacy just to get the medication I need — the current system seems designed to make my health worse rather than better.

In considering candidates for president in the upcoming elections, I’m looking for leadership and a commitment to finally do something to make prescription medications more accessible and affordable. This problem has continued to get worse not better in my decade since MS diagnosis and it is time to put the needs of Pennsylvanians first. When I mark my ballot in the upcoming elections, the issue of prescription drug price reform will be my number one priority.