Letters

On Saturday, March 22, 2008, a patient called my office complaining of a toothache. The name sounded familiar and alarming. My records indicated that I last saw this individual in 1999. After several calls to area pharmacies, he was identified as a "doctor shopper" at that time.

"Doctor shopping" refers to the practice of a patient requesting care from multiple practitioners, often simultaneously, without making efforts to coordinate care or informing the practitioner of the multiple caregivers.

I wanted to write and thank the community of Campbellsville for its support of our nation's sons and daughters serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Campbellsville and Campbellsville University hold a special place in my life.

I graduated from Campbellsville University in 1984 and have served as an Army chaplain for the past 16 years. I grew up in Hodgenville and still have family living there. My daughter is currently a freshman at CU.

The other day I pulled into the gravel parking lot of a store I do business with and in the middle of the parking lot was a good country mud hole, the likes of which I hadn't seen in years.

Starting in May, economic stimulus payments of up to $600 for individuals ($1,200 for married couples) will be issued by the IRS based on 2007 tax returns. Parents also get $300 for each eligible child.

People must file a 2007 tax return. That's it. But here's where the IRS needs help.

Millions of people are eligible but may not know it. These are certain retirees, disabled vets and low-wage workers who normally don't file a tax return. This year, they must file to receive the payments.