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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2018)
2 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Warning: Don’t be fooled by fake patient groups AARP Oregon and OSPIRG, the leading senior and con- sumer advocacy groups in Oregon, are warning voters to watch out for telemarketing scams designed to trick voters into supporting policies that could hurt them. The Voter Alert comes a week after a Eugene Register- Guard investigation into the shady practices of a group called “Caregiver Voices United,” which revealed that the group funded by drug man- ufacturers pretended to be a patient advocacy group and called Oregonians to convince them to join an effort to stop the prescription drug price transparency bill, HB 4005. One of the independent con- tractors hired by Caregiver Voices United blew the whistle after looking up the bill and realizing that it was one he and other people would support. Calling it a “subversive cam- paign,” the Eugene Register- Guard published the docu- ments from the whistleblower. The documents showed: 1. Caregiver Voices United — the front group — is actual- ly funded by the pharmaceuti- cal industry, including Allergen, Genentech and GlaxoSmithKline. 2. The script Caregiver Voices United gave its telemar- keters is riddled with false information about HB 4005. 3. Telemarketers are paid on a bounty system, earning more money for each voter they con- vince to send a letter and par- ticipate in the campaign. Oregon seniors have great concern over prescription drug prices and are likely to be tar- geted in scams like this says Jon Bartholomew, Government Relations Director of AARP Oregon. “It’s shameful that prescrip- tion drug companies would spend their money trying to trick seniors into opposing a bill that would finally shine the light on why drug prices keep going up year after year,” says Bartholomew. “We are alerting our members: if you get a call from Caregiver Voices United, don’t be fooled. This is not a real patient advocacy organiza- tion.” Jesse O’Brien, Policy Director at OSPIRG, said “It’s clear from the Register-Guard investigation that the powerful pharmaceutical industry will do whatever it takes to keep us from knowing the truth behind their skyrocketing prices.” HB 4005 would require drug companies to report to the state the justification for any price increase 10 percent or higher. The report must include the company profits from the bill, the cost for research and devel- opment, the cost to market the drug, whether there are generic alternatives available and what the drug costs in other coun- tries. AARP Oregon and OSPIRG have joined with nurses, doc- tors, health plans, labor and other advocacy groups in sup- port of drug price transparency. They see the actions by the pharmaceutical industry as a way to trick voters into oppos- ing something that would help bring prescription prices down. They urge voters to be alert for the calls. Top three things to do if you get a call: 1. Ask to speak to a manag- er. A true patient advocacy group will have one you can speak to. Groups like Caregiver Voices United pay individual contractors who work alone, usually from home. 2. Ask how the group is funded. A true patient advocacy group will be able to provide you with an answer. 3. Do not give the telemar- keter your personal informa- tion or agree to have a letter sent to your representative on your behalf. AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organi- zation dedicated to empower- ing Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. To learn more, visit www. aarp.org. Port of Siuslaw seeks budget committee members The Port of Siuslaw Board of Commissioners invites applications from residents interested in serving on the port’s Budget Committee. Interested persons should obtain an application from the port office at 100 Harbor St. or from the port’s website, www.portofsiuslaw.com. Applications will be accept- ed until 5 p.m. Friday, March 30. Applicants must be regis- tered voters residing within the Port of Siuslaw district. The district boundary encompasses most of the Siuslaw River watershed, including the com- munities of Florence and Dunes City, and extending upriver to Mapleton, Walton, Lorane and Blachly. The Budget Committee is a standing committee of five members that sits jointly with the Port Commission to pub- licly review and revise the annual budget. The Budget Committee approves the budg- et and tax levy. The budget then goes to the Port Commission to be adopted. Committee members serve three-year terms which expire on June 30. Each committee member is expected to work up to 20 hours; that includes reviewing the budget and meeting one to three times from May through June each year. The Committee may be called to meet again during the year in the event of a signifi- cant budgetary change. Questions should be direct- ed to the port office at 541- 997-3426. City of Florence answers questions about Harbor Vista Recently, the City of Florence has been receiving inquiries as to why Lane County's Harbor Vista Campground, 87658 Harbor Vista Rd., is closed. Lane County Parks has closed the popular campground due to the imminent start of a major sewer improvement project. The campground will remain closed through May 23, 2018. The Harbor Vista Campground Sewer Collection System Project was recently awarded by the City of Florence to Ray Wells, Inc. This $638,526 project will pro- vide municipal sewer service to Lane County's Harbor Vista Campground and to properties along South Harbor Vista Drive. Specifically, the project will install 2,450 lineal feet of 8-inch PVC sewer mainline; 1,300 LF of 4-inch pressure sewer main; 16 manholes; 40 sanitary sewer services; and a sewer pump station. This coop- erative project between Lane County and the City of Florence will be managed by the City. The contractor, Ray Wells, Inc., has begun to stage equip- ment and material at the camp- ground. The contractor will be starting to excavate for the sewer pump station on Monday, Feb. 19. Due to the size of the con- struction project, depth of the structures manholes and pump station (wet well), and the necessity to open trench the sewer main lines, Lane County Parks decided, in the best inter- ests and safety of campers, vis- itors and area residents, to close the park during construc- tion. The campground will remain closed for the duration of the project with the goal to reopen the campground for the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. Once completed, the sewer project will allow Harbor Vista Campground to offer its guests full service (water, sewer and electric) campsites. Although the city has planned the construction well and has worked hard to mini- mize any inconvenience, due to the nature of this construction project there will be slight inconveniences, particularly to the residents along South Harbor Vista Drive. The city and the contractor will expedite the construction through the area so that disrup- tion to residents and visitors alike will be limited. Florence sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience it or the contrac- tor might cause during this project and will work hard to minimize any of those incon- veniences. U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West s r e d n a m Com The JAZZ ENSEMBLE FREE CONCERT! Monday, March 19th • 7:00 p.m. Florence Public Works would like to extend its thanks to the public in advance for their patience as the city begins this important project that will bring improved sanitary sewer service to the community. Residents are encouraged to call the City of Florence Public Works office with any concerns and questions at 541-997-4106. Campground visitors are encouraged to contact Lane County Parks for updates and inquiries to campsite locations that will be offering full service connections at 541-682-2000. Visit the Siuslaw News online at WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM HEARING LOSS & YOUR BODY Improvements * With Hearing Loss Treatment: 36 % 48 % saw mental health improve saw quality of life improve 56 % 40 % saw relations with loved ones improve saw relations at home improve *Of hearing aid wearers in a study sponsored by the National Council on Aging at the Florence Events Center AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR • FEBRUARY 22 • 2 2–3PM 3PM 3P Admission Tickets required (limit two per person) Tickets available beginning Febraury 14 at the following locations: WHERE: Shorewood Senior Living 1451 Spruce St, Florence, OR 97439 SIUSLAW NEWS 148 Maple St. BANNER BANK 777 Hwy. 101 BEST FOR HEARING 2285 Hwy. 101 FLORENCE EVENTS CENTER 715 Quince Call today to RSVP — space is limited. For more information, call 541-997-3441 Presented by: Sponsored by: HEARING ASSOCIATES Siuslaw News Best for Hearing of Florence Florence 1525 12th St, Ste 2 541.991.4475 Steven G. Anderson, Au.D. www.HearingAssociatesOfFlorence.com
