CLINTON, ILL., July 28, 1961. RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE DE WITT COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY ON JULY 26, 1961 Whereas the King-Anderson bill (1) Is incomplete in coverage of medical care for the aged; (2) Includes those willing and able to provide their own medical care; (3) Would lead to very high increase in the social security tax; (4) Would lead to a decline of private voluntary health insurance programs; (5) Would provide poorer medical care for the aged because of the interference by Government employees; and (6) Is a step toward socialized medicine; and Whereas the Kerr-Mills Act (1) Provides medical care to every aged person who needs help; (2) Would be run with a minimum of delay, redtape, and wasted tax dollars; and (3) Would maintain the patient's freedom of choice of physicians and the doctor's freedom to treat his patient in an individual way, therefore preserving the quality of medical care: Therefore be it Resolved, That the De Witt County Medical Society is opposed to the KingAnderson bill. (Signed) ROBERT E. MYERS, M.D., Secretary, De Witt County Medical Society. RESOLUTION OF MACON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, DECATUR, ILL. (1) Be it resolved that the Macon County Medical Society hereby favors the Kerr-Mills law; and (2) Be it resolved that the Macon County Medical Society urges continued implementation and utilization of the Kerr-Mills law; and (3) Be it resolved that the Macon County Medical Society does not approve the King-Anderson bill. Hon. NOAH MASON, House Ways and Means Committee, MONTICELLO, ILL., July 25, 1961. Room 1102, New Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: As secretary of the Piatt County Medical Society, State of Illinois, I have been instructed to write to you by the members of our society to ask you as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, to help protect the interests of our society and the interests of the entire Nation. We feel that there should be strong opposition to the King-Anderson bill, and we would appreciate anything that you can do to prevent this bill from becoming legislation. Also, we would appreciate if a copy of this letter would be placed in the records of the House Ways and Means Committee. I thank you on behalf of the society for any consideration that you can give to this request. Sincerely, J. F. ALLMAN, Jr., M.D., Secretary, Piatt County Medical Society, State of Illinois. MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, The King-Anderson bill is Government dictation as to what drugs and treatment a doctor can provide his patients. This would mean poorer, not better, health care for the aged. The Montgomery County Medical Society advocates nothing but the best for our aged populace, as stated in the Kerr-Mills bill. We feel that the Kerr-Mills Act will preserve the quality of medical care and maintain the patient's choice of a physician. We are against enactment of the King-Anderson bill. The King-Anderson bill would be unfair in that young workers would be taxed for medical care for millions of aged persons who have never contributed anything to the program and many of whom are able and willing to take care of themselves. J. JOHNSTON, M.D., President. M. J. HANTOVER, M.D., M.P.H., STATEMENT OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY (ILL.) MEDICAL SOCIETY IN OPPOSITION TO H.R. 4222 This statement is presented by James E. Wheeler, M.D., privately practicing medicine in Belleville, Ill., as an official representative of the St. Clair County (Ill.) Medical Society. The St. Clair County Medical Society represents more than 175 members practicing in this county and is more than 100 years old, and have on file, minutes of meetings held, as far back as 1841. During this time, the citizens of St. Clair County have had excellent care and no one, young or old, rich or poor, has been without such care. Members of St. Clair County Medical Society were active in support of a bill recently passed by the legislative bodies of this State, to implement and finance the Kerr-Mills bill in this State, and now it is awaiting Governor Kerner's signature. We feel this is the proper approach to medical care of the aged. St. Clair County Medical Society is proud of its program in taking care of older people, and we know of no older people who are denied medical care because of their financial condition. St. Clair County established the first committee on aging in Illinois, and this committee is still active. We organized the St. Clair County Council on Aging and finance this group whose purpose is to coordinate all activities in the field of aging in St. Clair County. The council of aging has conducted meetings with hospitals and nursing home representatives, to establish adequate hospital and nursing home relationships and criteria for transferring patients from hospitals to nursing homes. On September 7, 1961, the committee of aging will conduct an intensive program of care of the stroke patient, using St. Clair County as a pilot study. That evening Dr. Edward Cordon, director of physical medicine at Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Ill., will address the St. Clair County Medical Society on "The Modern Concepts of the Care of Stroke Patients," and will be assisted by a neurologist and a neurosurgeon, also from Chicago. St. Clair County Medical Society has long supported the visiting nurse association, who do home care. We also actively supported and have a medical advisory committee which formulates medical policy of a complete home care program, which started in St. Clair County July 1, 1961. It is felt that the majority of patients requiring this service will be over 65 years of age. Federal control, as in H.R. 4222, would endanger these and other voluntary programs. St. Clair County Medical Society has been active in State programs for the older citizens. Having membership and chairman of the Illinois State Medical Society Committee on Aging, and membership and chairman of the Illinois Public Aid Commission Medical Advisory Committee and members on the boards of directors of both Illinois Blue Shield plans. St. Clair County Medical Society has endorsed and implemented the 12-point program for the care of older people, adopted by the Illinois State Medical Society. We have approved the resolutions of the Illinois State Medical Society for care of the older people with limited income and assets. We are participating in the Blue Shield plans for limited fees for these older people. The above is submitted to show what we are doing in our county medical society for the elderly citizens in the field of health and to show that there is no need for H.R. 4222. A survey recently made by Southern Illinois University, in Belleville and East St. Louis (St. Clair County) of elderly people, shows that 31 percent had an income of $1,000 to $2,500; 18 percent, $2,500 to $5,000; and 5 percent over $5,000 per year. Only 15.6 percent considered their health poor, 46.58 percent said they were not under the care of a physician, and only 26 percent saw a physician more than once a month. More than 59 percent had insurance covering hospital and medical care; 69.34 percent felt that medical, hospital, and dental care in 1959 presented no serious burden; 54.79 percent had no concern about future medical expenses; 11.78 percent said they never worry about future expenses; and 30.41 percent did have concern about future medical expenses. Illinois has passed a law carrying funds to implement the Kerr-Mills bill, which gives aid to those so needing, which we feel is the proper method of caring for the aged. The members of St. Clair County Medical Society vigorously oppose enactment of H.R. 4222, and any other programs leading to socialism, for we feel that our elderly people are adequately taken care of under existing welfare programs, and the H.R. 4222 is uneconomical, and would cause deterioration of the excellent medical care that these elderly people now receive. Mr. LEO H. IRWIN, SHELBYVILLE, ILL., July 29, 1961. Chief Counsel, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR SIR: We of the Shelby County Medical Society believe the KingAnderson bill now being considered by the Congress is not in the best interests of the American people. We therefore wish to go on record as opposing this measure in its entirety. Yours very truly, DUNCAN BIDDLECOMBE, M.D., Secretary, Shelby County Medical Society. STATEMENT OF THE VERMILION COUNTY (ILL.) MEDICAL SOCIETY IN OPPOSITION TO H.R. 4222 The Vermilion County Medical Society, Vermilion County, Ill., submits the following statement in opposition to H.R. 4222 now under consideration by your committee. This report has been composed by Dr. David Engelking, Danville, Ill., with the assistance of several members of the county medical society. The Vermilion County Medical Society is composed of 84 active members. constituting 100 percent of the physicians practicing private medicine in Vermilion County. It was formed in 1910 for the purpose of making the efforts of the profession more effective in protecting the public from inadequate, improperhealth care. The largest community in Vermilion County is Danville, Ill., with 41,900 population. The population of the county is 96,176. The Vermilion County Medical Society has in the past and currently con tinues to sponsor monthly scientific programs conducted by leaders in various fields of medicine. The members have also brought American Academy of General Practice postgraduate courses to this area. These programs are designed to assist the doctors of the county to keep abreast of the latest medical knowledge. The society pays for an emergency call service to assist people to locate a doctor in case of emergency when their doctor cannot be reached and to assist new people in the county to find a doctor when needed by calling the service as listed in the telephone book. It supplies doctors to cover the emergency room at each of the two general hospitals in Danville, Ill. The society conducts the annual school physical examinations for the first. fifth, and ninth graders and cooperates with parent-teacher associations in giv. ing mass polio immunizations for very small fees. The society has provided advisers to each of the voluntary health agencies in the county and has further cooperated with voluntary agencies in giving their approval to each of their health service projects. The society has provided speakers for weekly half-hour radio programs on medical subjects through a local radio station for the past 22 years. The society has provided an advisory committee to the Illinois Public Aid Commission which administers the Federal-State welfare programs now in effect which includes old-age assistance, aid to dependent children, blind assistance and disability assistance, and will soon include the new medical assistance to the aged program. Doctors as individuals have cooperated fully in caring for persons receiving this State assistance as well as those receiving local township relief at a considerable reduction in fees for these medical services. The 84 active county physicians were polled last year by the Chicago Blue Shield as to whether they would be willing to accept a reduced fee for Blue Shield subscribers over the age of 65. All who replied to the questionnaire (63) agreed to cooperate. At least three other insurance companies are offering noncancellable medical and hospital insurance coverage to those over 65 years of age in this county. The State of Illinois now has programs in effect to assist those eligible for old-age assistance, aid to dependent children, blind assistance, and disability assistance which include the complete cost of all medical and dental needs of those covered. Those who do not qualify for these programs and still need help in meeting the costs of emergency medical care may obtain assistance from their respective township relief offices without mortgaging their property. Because of these services now available to the needy of Vermillion County there are no persons now going without needed medical care because they are unable to pay for it. The Vermilion County Medical Society through its legislative committee has been actively publicizing the Kerr-Mills law enabling the State to receive Federal matching funds for a portion of the cost of this medical care given to those needy not covered by State welfare. During the past 6 months speakers provided by the society have informed numerous organizations and many neighborhood groups regarding this new law and its advantages as compared to Federal health legislation as proposed by Congressman King. Individuals at these meetings are encouraged to express their views regarding proposed medical legislation to your committee. The society has encouraged its own members to do likewise. The society sent delegates to the Illinois State Legislature to testify in behalf of legislation implementing the Kerr-Mills law. Vermilion County has had a successful united hospital fund drive adding, now completed, new wings to each of the two general hospitals in the county. The goal was to raise $1,500,000, and the actual amount raised was well over $2 million. Since then another community in the county, Hoopeston, Ill., has conducted a hosptial fund drive to build an entirely new hospital in their community where none existed previously. This drive was similarly successful, and the hospital is now nearing completion. Citizens of the county have contributed generously in this united effort. Vermilion County owns a nursing home with a 200-bed capacity, and they are currently negotiating with the Vermilion County Tuberculosis Hospital Board for the use of the now unused second floor of their facility for additional county nursing home beds. The county medical society has encouraged this step as well as the provision for some rehabilitative services. A modern private nursing home was completed in Danville about 6 months ago and is still not completely utilized in spite of prices comparable to those for older homes. Older homes have not been filled to capacity, particularly those outside of the city of Danville. The county medical society, through its special committee for the study of the health needs of the county, investigated the nursing home needs in 1960. Its public relations committee has investigated the needs for nursing homes and public housing facilities for the aged. Through a special committee appointed to investigate the public health facilities in Vermilion County the county medical society developed a voluntary county health council this year to coordinate the activities of all the health and sanitation activities in the county and work for implementation where needs remain unmet. The voluntary health agencies active in Vermilion County are those affiliated with the Salvation Army, Red Cross, American Cancer Society, American Tuberculosis Association, American Heart Association, the National Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Society, and the National Association for Retarded Children, the Well Baby Clinic and Family Service Bureau, as well as local hospital auxiliaries and religious and service organizations. Some of the services offered in the field of health as might apply to the aged by those organizations are volunteer bedside care at home and in the hospital, paid visiting nurses services, nutrition and weight control classes, loan of sick-room equipment and appliances, case finding chest X-ray surveys, and direct financial assistance to medical research and individual medical and dental care. These voluntary agencies are supported locally by local fund drives during which the generosity of citizens enables them to help solve local problems. The American Association of University Women and the Altrusa Club completed a survey of the needs of the aged in the city of Danville in June 1961. The following figures are quoted from this survey as submitted to the county medical society's committee on aging. Vermilion County has 11,186 persons over the age of 65 as of the 1960 census compared to 9,188 in 1950. Of these, 5,037 live in the city of Danville. The aged survey was conducted on 6.3 percent of the population over 65 years of age in Danville. An equally representative sampling was selected from each of the 5year age groupings from age 65 to 80 and a similar representative sampling from the over-80 group. These people were individually interviewed in their homes. There were 317 persons surveyed with a 33-percent preponderance of females. Of these 129 were living with spouses. Others were either single, divorced, separated, or widowed. Sixty-five percent of those with spouses stated that they could physically care for their opposite member if ill. Seventeen percent of those surveyed were gainfully employed. 29 (9 percent) received income from rents, 20 (6 percent) owned their own business, 214 (74) percent) received OASI, 20 (6 percent) received old-age assistance and 4 other welfare; 145 (46 percent) had income from more than one source. Only 4 were totally dependent upon their children. The incomes of individuals plus their spouse, if any, from all sources exceeded $1,000 in 186 (58 percent) cases, and exceeded $2,500 in 88 (27 percent) cases with 34 (11 percent) receiving over $5,000 in income per year. Sixty (18 percent) had seen their doctor within the past week but 67 (20 percent) had not seen their doctor in 6 to 12 months prior to the survey. Of those surveyed 180 (56 percent) had hospital or medical insurance or both. Another 20 (6 percent) had all their medical expenses paid for by a public agency; 69 (21 percent) could meet their medical expenses from their own re sources; 28 (9 percent) stated that they had no present provisions for meeting medical expenses; and 20 (6 percent) did not reply to this question. To the question, "If you or your spouse have an extended illness how would you plan to meet the need for care?” 107 stated that relatives will give the needed care, 42 would enter a nursing home, 128 had no plan, and 40 failed to answer. This society goes on record as opposing the compulsory partial coverage of hospital and home care costs for those over 65 from social security taxes regardless of need because: (1) In Danville only 9.8 percent (exclusive of those receiving total State aid) of those replying stated that they had no provisions for meeting the costs of their medical care. (2) Sixty-five percent of the individuals and their spouses, if any, answering the question, had incomes of over $1,000 in 1960; 30 percent had incomes exceeding $2,500; 11.7 percent exceeded $5,000 in income in the year 1960. (3) Private pensions or annuities, and health insurance are held by 33 and 57 percent respectively of the aged in Danville. This type of coverage will continue to expand as it has in the past unless Government takes over the field. The King-Anderson proposal would compete directly with private health insurance plans. (4) The number of individuals contributing services or money to health goals in this county in cooperation with local government and voluntary agencies is a source of savings of Government funds as well as gratification and community pride for the donors. (5) The willingness of our doctors to accept reduced fees for State and township aid recipients as well as over 65 health insurance plans is currently demonstrated in actual practice. (6) Complete medical care for all the aged regardless of financial status is now available. There is no unmet need in this area. (7) The adequacy of the State and local agencies to see that no one who needs it goes without medical care is now a fact. (8) We support the Kerr-Mills law with Federal funds assisting the State for aid given to those needing help with their medical care costs as the only program flexible enough to meet with the needs of all the needy aged as well as possessing the ability to expand or contract according to changing needs of individuals. (9) Through now-existing Federal-State programs including the Kerr-Mills Act the States may be assisted in paying the medical bills of all their needy aged |