Editor,

I am constantly disappointed and frustrated with the Whidbey News-Times for its lack of apparent oversight of the opinion letters they receive.

Recent letters published about the hospital bond reflecting inaccurate information by a Thomas Kosloske that the hospital CEO was an employee of Windermere, to the latest from a Richard Wagner that Medicare will not pay for “private” rooms.

Do you not fact check these claims?

Do you like the public being misinformed? Both of these claims could easily be proved false. Then, to Larry and Jewell Lohmann, yes, it is true only property owners will pay any taxes.

I wish, too, somehow this could be changed.

I therefore would assume you have voted against any school bond proposal since only property owners are being taxed on that.

And as to the hospital’s current operating loss, there is always more to the story.

According to a recent audit report the hospital would have operated at a slight profit for 2012 if not for required changes in its information and EMR systems brought about by the Affordable Care Act.

It’s loss to date for 2013 is a direct result of all the implementation costs resulting from this required change.

Sam Thierstein
Oak Harbor