Health Care

“During President Obama's 2010 State of the Union speech, he insulted the Supreme Court justices who were sitting in the front row, for a law they passed that Obama said he would change. Sen. Obama made it clear he wasn't in favor of Judge John Roberts being appointed Supreme Court justice by Bush, on grounds Roberts was prejudiced. Now Obama is all smiles, shakes Roberts' hand. ... It is a mystery, as Roberts made it clear in April, socialized health care was unconstitutional.” - Hagerstown “Does anyone in Washington County enforce burning regulations?

Granted, my memory isn't the greatest, but I can't recall ever seeing so many people huddled around the TV set awaiting a Supreme Court decision. Has the whole world gone nerd? A moon landing I get, but a decision on the legality of reams of arcane and impenetrable health care legislation? This is public policy, people. Not the O.J. Simpson trial, public policy. Yet here were housewives, bartenders and maintenance crews - who otherwise wouldn't know the Commerce Clause from Santa Claus - hanging on every word, parsing the framers' true intentions in the realm of implied powers.

Students have received excellent health care To the editor: In the midst of the present crisis regarding school health services, I would urge all citizens of Washington County to keep in focus the excellent health care that our students have received from school health staff over the past 18 years. As an employee of the county health department, it was my privilege to work with school health staff as a program supervisor from 1995 until my retirement in 2005.

Hagerstown resident Ed Reed was vocal Thursday about his support for the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of President Obama's historic health care law. “It's a good law, and more people will be insured,” he said. “Somebody had to do something.” Reed, 70, was among area residents who offered their reactions   to the high court's ruling that also validated the constitutionality of a controversial individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance.

For the most part, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Thursday to largely uphold President Obama's health care overhaul won't result in any immediate changes for local residents. But in the long term, it will lead to changes that provide better access to health care, according to Joseph P. Ross, president and chief executive officer of Meritus Health. “We're pleased with the decision,” Ross said of the Supreme Court's ruling. He said the federal health care law is “the most significant health policy legislation since Medicare and Medicaid.” “There are without a doubt, thousands of people in Washington County who will be able to access affordable health insurance coverage because of the Affordable Care (Act)

Several hundred Chambersburg Hospital nurses and other health-care professionals rallied Wednesday in front of the steps of the old Franklin County Courthouse, protesting that their benefits are being reduced. Workers are currently negotiating a new contract to replace the one that expires Saturday. Hospital employees held signs that read “Hands off my Health Care” and “Be fair to those who care.” They chanted and listened to speeches by union representatives and fellow employees.

Washington County's health officer and schools superintendent met Saturday to talk about the future of health care in local schools, three weeks before funding for a nurse program is scheduled to be cut. Health Officer Earl Stoner said no decisions were made at Saturday's meeting. For now, the Washington County Health Department and the school system will crunch some numbers, he said. Representatives from each agency will keep in touch by email and probably meet again within a few days, he said.

The Washington County Health Department on Thursday began sending layoff notices to all 76 nurses and other health care workers at county public schools, two days after county commissioners voted to cut funding for the program, a health department official said. Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said Thursday night that the layoff notices seem premature, but he didn't know the policies and procedures under which the health department has to operate.