The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 10

B2 The Pittsburgh Press Saturday, November 23, 1991 OPINION U.S. to speed healing drugs The Pittsburgh Bffl.PT?R A Scripps Howard Newspaper Established June 23, 1884 Published Daily and Sunday ANGUS McEACHRAN Editor JIMMY E. MANIS General Manager MADELYN ROSS Managing Editor J. BRUCE BAUMANN Asst. Managing EditorGraphics RUSSELL L.

BROWN Assistant Managing EditorSports BARBARA J. GRIFFIN Asst. Managing EditorFeatures RON ROYHAB Assistant Managing EditorNews ISADORE SHRENSKY Editorial Page Editor Offices, 34 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15230 P.O. Box 566 Telephone (412) 263-1100 Give Light and the People Witt Find Their Own Way JAMES J.

KILPATRICK $30 billings for $3 kits Encouraging news comes from the Food and Drug Administration, where Commissioner David A. Kessler has announced several steps to speed up the processing of new drug applications. The bad news is that Mr. Kessler still evidences not the foggiest notion of what individual freedom in a free country is all about. It now takes anywhere from three to 10 years for a drug manufacturer to get his product approved by the FDA.

Mind you, this is three to 10 years after the research has been done and the product has been developed. Economists at Tufts University, after an intensive study, estimated that on average it costs $231 million to get a drug to market. Thanks in substantial part to Vice President Dan Quayle's nagging and pushing, the FDA will now farm out some of its own elaborate testing to private and university laboratories. This will not be done on drugs intended to treat life-threatening diseases, such as AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. The experiment in privatization will be confined to drugs for headaches, allergies, etc.

Even so, this will free the FDA's own people to accelerate the examination of such drugs as tacrine, which apparently has great benefit to some victims of Alzheimer's. My only reservation it is not a large reservation is that many universities are beholden to the drug companies for large contributions. The possibilities For conflicts of interest are self-evident, but the This is the same old FDA. Sick people may have access only to what the commissioner will allow. But the drug that works for one patient may not work at all for another.

Bills have been introduced in both House and Senate that recognize our precious individuality. Rep. Tom Campbell, and Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, have the same idea. They would require the FDA to expedite approval of drugs needed to treat life-threatening diseases under certain conditions.

One assumption is that this expediting will reduce the manufacturer's costs. In theory, this should reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We will see about that. The pharmaceutical industry has been earning profits in recent years that are just south of spectacular and just north of obscene. To be sure, the wonder drugs of recent years have saved society billions in avoidable operations.

Everyone knows that. It is undeniable that the mountainous costs of research and development on unprofitable drugs must be recouped. We know that, too. But if manufacturers want to avoid the folly of price controls, they had better moderate their lust for recoupment. Elections are coming on, and politicians need targets.

Next to the defense budget, the drug industry right now is the fattest target in the land. (James J. Kilpatrick is a syndicated columnist who writes on politics and national affairs from Washington.) potential conflicts are probably more apparent than real. Mr. Kessler and his super-cautious colleagues do not grasp the uniqueness of humankind.

They are agreeable to speeding things up, which implies less demanding field tests of certain products. They will go along with a "fast track" to authorize doctors to prescribe a promising new drug that appears to have few adverse side effects. Additional tests' of effectiveness could be done after the drug is on the market. But then, says the commissioner, procedures to remove "ineffective" drugs must also be streamlined. He said: "There are going to be cases where we will allow things on the market that we think will work, and after accepting further evidence, take off the market." the billings had hit $51 million.

Through the first eight months of this year, they amounted to $89 million. Federal rules permit providers of the kits to submit their claims through the states which have the highest reimbursement rates. The result, not surprisingly, is that they shop around for the highest returns. Medicare costs the taxpayers $117 billion a year, with medical supplies accounting for $3 billion. Of that latter figure, Senate investigators and the federal Health Care Financing Administration say, more than $200 million a year can be traced to overcharges and mistakes in paperwork.

In one flagrant case, investigators found bills for wound kits had been issued for a patient for 10 years, Sen. James Sasser, chairman of the Budget Committee noted. It's not too difficult, of course, to find instances of waste and abuse within large government programs or to find outsiders taking advantage of bureaucratic cumber-someness and clumsiness. That, of course, doesn't invalidate all the worthwhile goals, the help provided and the good accomplished. But those costly hits provide a strong reminder of all the pitfalls on the road when government moves in.

Since Harris Wofford found health care a handy cure for his election to the U.S. Senate earlier this month, the subject has attracted much favorable attention even from the White House. Suddenly, health care is at or near the top of politicians' agendas for 1992. It's also attracting a lot of questions, even though nobody is sure in these formative stages what shape a national health-care plan might take. These questions, understandably enough, focus mostly on the cost and complexity of any federally administered program of such scope.

Those on both sides of the issue got an lesson Thursday during a hearing on Medicare and Medicaid fraud conducted by the Senate Budget Committee. It had to do with billings for a "wound care kit" worth about $3. For almost four years, however, Pennsylvania Blue Shield approved payments of up to $30 per kit after failing to notice changes in federal regulations that would have prevented that. Meantime, suppliers of the kit containing gauze patches, tape, scissors and rubber gloves for use on patients recovering from surgery were only too happy to collect the exorbitant sums. In 1988, they billed Pennsylvania Blue Shield for $881,000 for the kits.

By last year, but sfr ruesB aubhatiohs, AAADt 8VA CONVICTBO PBRTORBR AHO FBIAN, HAM am ToTkwi mscRimev. (fj ARRY mPBAUMAKBS A STATBMtHf: AS fOUAU KNOW, "POOH6S8URY' IS MUCH MORE THAN A COMIC STRIP. FROM TIMB TO TIMS, IT lMSMkTtS SSRKXJS AUB6AWNS ABOUT PUBLIC THIS CASt PANQUAYLS. Sen. Cranston regrets HY-iff only A COMIC STRIP! i Anyone who has followed the sordid spectacle of the Keating Five must have mixed feelings about Sen.

Alan Cranston's imDas- self-defense on the Senate floor 2l I ftfl 1 1 tmc srru I Of TWO Off At, tors, to remain chairman of the Banking Committee. Nor does it make ethical sense to cite Sen. Dennis DeConcini, who hectored regulators by phone late at night on Keating's behalf, merely for an "appearance" of impropriety. But it does make political sense: Sen. Cranston alone of the Five is retiring, the only one with no hope of a political future.

He was indeed a sacrificial lamb. The original Keating Five scandal was compounded by this cover-up. Even if one rejects Sen. Cranston's "everybody does it" defense, the entire institution and each of its members share responsibility for the disgraceful manner in which the affair was handled the dilatory investigation, the craven refusal to pass judgment, the specious delineations of "impropriety" that served merely as a smoke screen for the Senate's reluctance to condemn any of its own. Sen.

Cranston's display of indignation was the last act of this farce. It was perfectly fitting in its ethical obtuseness and its refusal to accept blame. It was the United States Senate at its worst Surely Sen. Cranston got the least he deserved. With the moral cowardice that characterizes its self-policing, the Senate did not vote on, but passively accepted, an Ethics Committee report that "strongly and severely" reprimanded Sen.

Cranston for his dealings with savings-and-loan kingpin Charles Keating. Of course, the consequences of this empty motion are neither strong nor severe. But one couldn't help sympathizing with Sen. Cranston's contention that he has been unfairly singled out. It may not be true, as he implied, that all senators solicit cash from a shady character and then muscle regulators in return.

But the distinctions in culpability the committee drew between Sen. Cranston and his four Keating colleagues are bizarre. It makes no ethical sense for Sen. Cranston to be reprimanded while allowing Sen. Donald Riegle, who orchestrated the meetings between the Five and frightened regula LETTERS Critic unf air to City Council A letter intended for publication must be signed and should include the writer's full address and phone number for verification.

The Press reserves the right to condense or reject any letter; none can be returned or acknowledged. FAX letters may be sent to 263-2014. The hostage and the mouse began providing books. And he recited poems to himself and to his fellow He opened his press conference with a hostage favorite, "To a Mouse." It's Burns' story of a mouse whose nest is suddenly exposed by a farmer's plow. It tells how "the best laid schemes of mice and men" are liable to disruption by unforeseen calamity.

All in all, said Mr. Sutherland, "there were quite a number of positives" in the whole experience. He learned patience and tolerance, he says, and even pity for the young men guarding him. The rest of us gained an example of gallant courage. To an austere cell in Lebanon, the 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns brought warmth.

Scottish-born American hostage Thomas Sutherland, released the other day after 6V6 years' captivity, told reporters how poetry helped him stave off depression and loneli- ness during his ordeal. Usually kept chained to the wall, sometimes in the dark, sometimes underground, Mr. Sutherland at least was blessed with companionship. He argued by the hour with fellow hostage Terry Anderson, now a cherished friend. He read voraciously, whenhis captors finally ing discrimination, apparently discriminatory lending practices and employment? My conversations with others who suspect some of the variety of.

race, sex or ethnic discrimination suggest that: 1) discrimination is alive in America, including Allegheny County, and 2) our "leaders" are-aging and are perhaps more coik cerned with the status quo than effecting real change. Further, it appears our are not interested in bringing any new ideas or people into this process for fear their limited base of support may become diluted. JOHN J. CLARK East End Roadside litterers This letter is written to make you aware of two sources of litter and trash that continue to blight the roads and other areas of Allegheny County. These litterbugs are the Duquesne Light Co.

and the road maintenance crews of the county. On Nov. 4, a Duquesne Light, road crew of six or eight people cut and pruned trees on Lougeay Road; in Penn Hills. They finished their work and departed about 2 p.m. They left strewn along the road' an incredible amount of trash from' coffee breaks and lunch.

I picked up and threw away this mess. On Nov. 6, an Allegheny County, road crew arrived to cut and prune, some more trees in the same area. When the workers left that there were empty cigarette candy wrappers, cups, etc. Allegheny County, Duquesne Light and any other employer doing work along our roads should be better citizens and have a strict policy for their people to leave, a neat and litter-free area behind.

WILLIAM C. BALPH' Penn Hills Happy holidays With the decision to put the tree and menorah on the steps of the City-County Building, it will feel like Christmas in Pittsburgh again. "Way to go, Sophie." MILDRED ZELLMER Shale? Although I am an admirer of Jon Schmitz's tenacious and sober approach to covering City Hall for your newspaper, I would like to amplify and clarify some points he made in his City Beat column Nov. 11 has few strings attached to 'consultants' Mr. Schmitz asserts that council has no guidelines for retention of consultants for professional services.

This is not so. Perhaps Mr. Schmitz is referring to a time prior to the passage of an amendment to the city ethics code co-sponsored by Councilman Jim Ferlo and me. This amendment, passed earlier this year, requires that the companies performing work under professional service contracts be required to state their qualifications and experience. While I cannot speak for consultants hired by my colleagues, I can state unequivocally that the work of my consultant, Mark Zabierek, has matched his superior qualifications.

His assistance to me has produced over $1 million in revenues to the taxpayer, including the discovery of $600,000 in unpaid taxes by the billboard industry and $500,000 in annual savings in city debris disposal contracts. While I always welcome questions about the high quality of my staff, I am distressed that by singling out council (always an easy target), Mr. Schmitz's piece distorts what is otherwise a very legitimate area of inquiry. Mr. Schmitz correctly tells us that council has spent $31,000 this year for consultants.

This represents one-tenth of 1 percent of the total level of spending by the city on professional service contacts. Perhaps some veteran observers are slow to change their attitudes about City Council because, until the advent of district elections, it was always so easy and entertaining to criticize and make sport of our council. The "new" council isn't perfect, but maybe it's time we were fairly and toughly evaluated by the same standards reserved for other public servants. GENE RICCIARDI South Side (The writer is a member of City Council.) ffiUEFLY SAID Berry's World Let's save U.S. jobs Right on, City Council, for refusing mis week to approve a Japanese firm to handle some short-term investments for the city.

Council asked Finance Director Ben Hayllar last week if he couldn't find a U.S. financial institution to handle these investments. Mr. Hayllar had stated that the Japanese company was recommended by PaineWebber. In all of these United States, I am sure that PW could have found at least one company to recommend.

Mr. Hayllar also had stated that the saved $40,000 could become somebody's job down the line. I wonder how many jobs the Japanese company would have gained. By awarding this service to a U.S. company, we could provide jobs for our own now and down the line.

We have already lost too many jobs to foreign countries. EMILY DAVIS Point Breeze 'Black leaders' silent The recent column by Edwina L. Kaikai housing discrimination a lost cause, or is there a fight helps bring a very important issue to a new level of discussion. Thank you for bringing to the forefront a major issue in this region, and for highlighting the impact of discrimination on our citizenry. The issue of leadership and, more specifically, leadership in the black community, is often ignored and on other occasions is given a cursory mention by the media.

Why is it the "black leaders" are so silent on recent reports of hous "We now have a firm majority on City Council." Ray Guenther, one of four Rays on the six-man council in Simpsonville, S.C, a town of 14,880 with only one other resident named Ray. 'You found my purse at Taco Bell and used my cash and credit cards. Please return my pictures. You know my address." Personal ad in the Charleston, W.Va., Gazette. "This is a continuation of our policy to put some time between the holidays and the tax package." Frank Keith, spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, which will abandon its practice of delivering income tax forms on the day after Christmas and put them in mail boxes on Jan.

2 instead. "If wejind we have a worse set of economic circumstances on our hands, the amount of money. in this bill will not be enough." THE SECRET WORD FOR 1992 Sen. Donald W. Riegle on efforts to shore up the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp..