In response to Dr. Dennis L. Shubert’s op-ed in the Bangor Daily News on March 7 (“Health care that Maine can live with”), I find his conclusions not only flawed but also self-serving.

Unquestionably, Dr. Shubert is a highly respected surgeon, however, his analysis of what we need and what we want is based on what the medical profession wants.

I agree that any patient sitting down with his or her doctor (MD, DO, DC, DMD) should be fully informed. Any patient in Maine should be able to obtain medical and dental care that has clearly been shown to be effective. The people of Maine should also be able to obtain alternative care that has been demonstrated to be effective. Chiropractic has been studied, re-studied and studied again. Each and every time chiropractic has proved itself to not only be cost effective, but also to decrease the number of recommended surgeries.

I agree with Dr. Shubert that all health options should be categorized into three groups. If a patient chooses from list A, “known effective treatment,” there would be no additional cost. However, what constitutes group A? Do we consider the World Health Organization’s recommendations or do we adopt the recommendations of the Maine Medical Association? Do we consider the ancient healing system of the Orient that has worked for more than 5,000 years or do we consider the 100-plus-year drug and surgical system that the medical providers would like to continue to shove down our throats?

Again, I agree with Dr. Shubert, if a patient wants to choose from list B, where there may be some benefit to his or her length of life but that benefit is more than society as a whole can afford, then the patient can still have the desired service but must have insurance that covers group B care and pay a copay. What constitutes group B? Medicine by nature manages disease, it does not cure it. Pharmaceuticals are created to prolong life while the patient still has the disease. Oriental philosophy is based on curing disease through lifestyle changes such as meditations, tai chi chi kung, nutrition, tu-ina (chiropractic in this country), philosophy, feng shui, herbology and acupuncture.

I also agree that under group C, services are still available but entirely at the cost of the patient.

Dr. Shubert would like a health maintenance panel to create groups A, B and C. This panel would bypass our legislative system and mandated benefits. This reeks of the same medical philosophy of “contain and eliminate any and all professions that compete with medicine,” that was so prevalent in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

For those of you who easily forget, in 1972 then Senate President Ken MacLeod, who was politically aligned with the Maine Medical Association, the Maine Hospital Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine and other medical groups, tried to eliminate chiropractic care from being provided to the people of Maine. During the legislative hearings, so many Maine constituents poured into Augusta that the hearings had to be moved to the Augusta Civic Center. The response was so much in favor of chiropractic that Sen. MacLeod’s bill was defeated embarrassingly and he was defeated in the

next election.

Presently, chiropractic has been included in insurance reimbursement as a mandated benefit because it is clearly shown to be effective and cost saving. The medical profession would like to eliminate this and all mandates so it can have total autonomy in the health care delivery system. It is a blessing that we have a Legislature, comprised or grass-roots, committed citizens which encompasses the people of Maine as opposed to professional politicians. Their decisions help level the playing field on health

care issues.

Here is what I propose. Group A should be covered at 100 percent. That would include all emergency services that are life saving. Group B should include all other models of care that are proven effective not just in this country, but in other countries as well. Group B would then revert to the 80/20 principle with a $100 to $200 deductible. Group C should be covered as stated above.

In my practice, I charge the same as I did 10 years ago. Can we say the same about the medical profession? Who is to blame for the rising cost of health care? How about the pharmaceutical companies and their big profits or the medical supply companies?

Let’s everyone take a deep breath, relax and consider all the options. Not just the one the medical profession would like us to adopt.

Dr. Zev J. Myerowitz is a licensed chiropractor and a licensed acupuncturist practicing in Holden.