(2) The reduction of premiums of voluntary prepayment health insurance programs covering persons 65 years of age and older; (3) Federal subsidies for voluntary prepayment health insurance plans to assist persons in the older age group to obtain such coverage; (4) Prompt implementation of the Kerr-Mills Act by the passage of enabling legislation by State legislative bodies; (5) Elimination of compulsory retirement at age 65; (6) Elimination of the present restrictions in income which may be earned from gainful employment to permit persons otherwise eligible to receive social security benefits; (7) Cooperative efforts between labor, management, hospitals, physicians, and voluntary health insurance companies to reduce the cost of medical care; (8) Increased function of medical society grievance committees to maintain high standards of professional conduct; (9) Continual study of health needs on a local level by medical and community groups to insure more immediate recognition and solution of urgent health problems; (10) Expansion of home care programs as a means of reducing unnecessary hospitalization; (11) Improvement and expansion of nursing home facilities for long-term care of the aged through the Hill-Burton program; and (12) More liberal income tax deductions for medical expenses. The Philadelphia County Medical Society, in line with the adoption of this rogram, will sponsor a conference on health insurance for the aged this Sepember in Philadelphia, to present and discuss all views on this controversial but mportant topic. The society, feeling that its duty goes beyond merely making recommendations and fostering discussion, has entered into ongoing programs in the Philadelphia area to assist elderly persons needing medical care. For several years prior to 1961, the county society provided two consultants o the division of the aging of the health and welfare council, a local agency for coordinating health and hospital services. In 1961 the consultant services were eliminated and taken over by regular staff members. The society's committee on chronic and long-term illness has been attempting o secure funds from private philanthropies in order to make the community nore aware of the problems of the aging. This same committee has been meetng with State officials and nursing home executives in an effort to help solve ome of the problems in these institutions. It also has sponsored public semiars on topics of vital interest to those involved in the care of the aged. In June of 1959, a delegate from the society was sent to the National Leaderhip Training Institute at Ann Arbor, Mich., a conference which made plans or this year's White House Conference on the Aging. From this review of the society's activities with regard to the problem of edical care for the aged, it is evident that we have actively been concerned with this problem for some time, and we have formulated a practical approach o the problem on the basis of our own experience. It is on the basis of this experience that we believe that the King-Anderson ill is not the answer to the problem of financing the health care of the aged. his legislation would provide benefits, not only to the indigent aged, but to illions of others who are able to provide for medical needs through their own esources. Since its benefits would be spread over such a large group, its cost o the taxpayers would be unnecessarily heavy. The spirit of the King-Anderson bill is in direct opposition to the traditional merican ideals of self-reliance, independence of action, and use of initiative; offends the concept of bestowal of welfare only on the needy. The legislation = based on a compulsory tax, and its benefits are not in any way limited to hose people who need them. If the King-Anderson bill becomes law, it is likely that strong pressure will e exerted by other age groups for similar legislation. This could conceivably ut private insurance carriers out of the health insurance business, even though rivate companies have been doing such magnificent work in this field to date. In preference to the type of solution represented by the King-Anderson bill, e recommend, rather, that the existing Kerr-Mills law be fully implemented every State, with benefits confined to the area of need. Kerr-Mills buys what needed for the people who need it. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C., July 28, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The members of the Third District Medical Society of South Dakota and the Eighth District Medical Society of South Dakota have requested that the attached resolutions in opposition to the enactment of H.R. 4222 be made a part of the record of hearing on this legislation. Sincerely yours, BEN REIFEL, Member of Congress. RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY TO THE THIRD DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ON JUNE 15, 1961 Whereas the Woman's Auxiliary is interested, above all else, in the best possible health care for every American, including the older citizen; and Whereas proposed legislation, known as H.R. 4222, would weaken the Amer ican patient-physician relationship and introduce a degree of regimentation of medical service, thereby producing a deterioration of the quality of care; and Whereas the medically indigent, those who need help most, are not covered by social security and would receive no aid from H.R. 4222. They now receive care they need under Kerr-Mills legislation administered at State and local level; and Whereas passage of H.R. 4222, and like legislation, would lead to the decline, if not the end, of voluntary health insurance, for all citizens over 65 are not needy, and many have provided for possible illness of advanced age: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Woman's Auxiliary to the Third District Medical Association expresses its firm opposition to this Government intrusion into private enterprise and that expression of such be directed to the South Dakota congressional delegation. RESOLUTION FROM DISTRICT VIII MEDICAL SOCIETY-SOUTH DAKOTA STATE MED ICAL ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION TO KING-ANDERSON BILLS (H.R. 422 AND S. 909) Whereas the doctors of District VIII Medical Society-South Dakota State Medical Association believe that aged citizens who need medical care should get it whether or not they can offord to pay for it; and Whereas effective mechanisms now exist for providing this care; and Whereas the King-Anderson bill (H.R. 4222 and S. 909) would invoke upon the American public a program of socialized medicine, which by common definition, is a system of compulsory health care administered, financed, and controlled by the Federal Government for that segment of the population which it serves; and Whereas socialized medicine would result in poorer, not better, medical care for the American public; it would provide health benefits for millions who are not needy, and can afford to pay for their own; it would lead to the decline, if not the end, of voluntary health insurance programs; and Whereas Federal health care for the aged plans completely ignore the health needs of a 3-million segment of the aged population who are not eligible for social security; and Whereas Federal health plans continue to exclude the principle of the means test to determine the truly needy individual's health care requirements thereby omitting all reasonable control and protection of the taxpayer's funds used to subsidize such health plans; and Whereas if a health program, such as the King-Anderson bills (H.R. 4222 and S. 909) is enacted it will be certain to create a crisis for hospital staffs and administrators because of the potential inpatient influx when 14 million oldsters will immediately be eligible for hospital care: Therefore be it Resolved, That District VIII Medical Society-South Dakota State Medicat Association go on record in opposition to the King Anderson bills (H.R. 4222 and S. 909); and be it further Resolved, That such action be transmitted to our Congressmen without delay. E. J. MOORE, M. D., Secretary. Hon. WILBUR MILLS, TARRANT COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR SIR: The enclosed statement made on TV represents the statement of the Tarrant County Medical Society relative to the King-Anderson bills. Please present this to your committee and make it a part of record of the hearings. Yours very truly, JAMES W. BROOKS, M.D. Chairman, Medical Jurisprudence Committee. The Tarrant County Medical Society views the health care of all segments of our society (except those in the Armed Forces and those veterans with serviceconnected disabilities) as outside the realm of the Federal Government as prescribed by the Constitution. This applies to the elderly as it applies to other age groups. The physicans of this community-as of most others have taken care of the indigent of all ages in the past and expect to continue to do so. However, the last Congress saw fit to enter the Federal Government into the health care of the elderly by passage into law of what was known as the KerrMills bill-a bill to assist the needy elderly by aid to the States in State option plans. While we regard this law as unconstitutional, it is on the books. Before it has been given any sort of trial it is under attack by the present administration, union groups, and misguided Socialist leaders of the National Council of Churches, who would offer hospital and nursing care to part of the elderly as a right-regardless of need-under the financial control of the Federal Government-and paid for by taxing all the working population and their employers. To such a proposal we are bitterly opposed for many reasons. The main reasons for our opposition are: 1. It is unconstitutional. 2. No need for it has been demonstrated to the committees of Congress. 3. It is unsound financially. 4. It is socialism and quickly will lead to more socialism. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The attached communication was sent to the members of your committee by Dr. Andrew G. Webster, chairman, legislative action committee, Benton-Franklin Counties Medical Society, Kennewick, Wash. I am impressed with the effort of this society to meet the needs of our senior citizens and respectfully request that you insert in the hearing record on H.R. 4222 the enclosed correspondence. Sincerely yours, CATHERINE MAY, Member of Congress. BENTON-FRANKLIN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE: Both as private citizens and as physicians, the doctors of the Benton and Franklin Counties Medical Association are strongly opposed to the King bill (H.R. 4222). We believe that the King bill would lead to poorer rather than better medical care for our senior citizens because of the burdens of Federal bureaucracy. We believe that the Kerr-Mills law administered on the State and local levels can more effectively aid all those citizens who are in need. This law is already being applied in Washington State with excellent results. We know that through private insurance many of the older people are able to help themselves. To this end, the Benton-Franklin Medical Service Corp. has provided a new senior citizens' contract for hospital and nursing home care and in addition medical and surgical care not even considered by the King bill. This contract is much superior to $8.50 per person per month. person under the King bill. the provisions of the King bill and is available at This is about half the cost estimated for care per It is a good example of private enterprise versus Government inefficiency. A copy of our contract is enclosed. No country ever gained strength under socialism. The United States cannot afford to waste its resources through unwise programs such as the King bill. Sincerely, ANDREW G. WEBSTER, M.D., Chairman, Legislative Action Committee. BENTON-FRANKLIN MEDICAL'S SENIOR CITIZEN HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR PEOPLE AGE 60 AND OVER Time limits for treatments: 30 days for one covered injury, illness, or condition. Nursing home care available: 2 days for each 1 eligible hospital day. Doctors' visits---- $10 per day. Waiting periods: Chronic and preexisting conditions (unless excluded by waiver) will be covered after a patient has been covered for 10 consecutive months. Exclusions: No treatment will be furnished for any of the following: Insanity, neuropsychiatric or mental conditions; occupational injuries; alcoholism; sterility or operations for sterilization; any result of drug addicition; plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons: dentistry; congenital physical defects; tuberculosis whether pulmonary or otherwise; any care for pregnancy; rectocele, cystocele, prolapse, and enterocele, or other results of child bearing; physiotherapy; and sickness for which Federal, State, or municipal authorities have directed isolation in any institution: care in an institution owned, operated or maintained by the Federal, State, or local government or any agency thereof; any military or naval connected illness or injury and any condition occasioned by war or an act of war, declared or undeclared, or complications of any of them. No office or home care will be provided except as described above, nor will care be provided in the hospital for conditions not usually hospitalized such as common colds, minor cuts or bruises, and any similar minor conditions, nor in order to have an X-ray study when the patient is not ill enough for hospitalization. Ambulance service, eyeglasses, hearing aids, orthopedic appliances and braces are not furnished. Assured individual coverage: When your contract is issued, Benton-Franklin medical guarantees that your contract will not be canceled, except for failure to make proper payment of the monthly rate, nor rates increased or benefits changed unless like action is taken on all senior citizen plan contracts. The statements contained in this pamphlet are a brief explanation of the salient features of the coverage offered through the Benton-Franklin Medical Service Corp. This does not constitute a contract. It is impossible in the space available here to explain fully the application of the contract under every contingency. For a more detailed description of the benefits offered you may consult this office. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, DEAR CHAIRMAN MILLS: Dr. George Barry, president of the Green County (Wisconsin) Medical Society at Monroe, Wis., asked me to present the opposition of the society to the King (H.R. 4222) bill. Here are Dr. Barry's exact words: "The Green County Medical Society felt that the King bill would not adequately take care of the aged people that needed help. It was our feeling that the Kerr-Mills bill was a much more satisfactory solution and a much more realistic one." I would appreciate it very much if the statement of the Greeen County Medical Society could be inserted into the record of hearings presently being conducted by your committee on the President's proposal for hospitalization services for the aged under social security. Respectfully, HENRY C. SCHADEBERG, STATEMENT BY DR. JAMES M. SULLIVAN, PRESIDENT, THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Dr. James M. Sullivan. I am engaged in the private practice of medicine in Milwaukee, Wis. As president of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, I make this statement in the best interests of more than 1 million patients whom the 1,400 ment and women of the medical profession in Milwaukee County hope to continue to provide with the best medical care in the world. Therefore, the primary reason for our opposition to the King bill, H.R. 4222, is that in the opinion of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, the enactment of this legislation would result in poorer medical care for the citizens we serve. The majority of the senior citizens of our community generally enjoy good health-good health which has been made possible through the years because of the freedom of medical practice. More and more aged persons not qualifying for care under Government agencies are receiving protection through Blue Cross and Blue Shield and other voluntary health insurance. In Milwaukee County, with 8.8 percent of the population over 65, or around 90,000 persons, about 63,000 over 65 have some type of health insurance protection. Surgical care Blue Shield, which provides prepaid medical-surgical care for people throughout the State, protects 55,600 persons over age 65. Obviously, the voluntary means of providing health insurance for these persons would be obviated by passage of compulsory health insurance coverage under social security. The voluntary way which is demonstrating it can do the job would be shunned in favor of a system which would increase the general tax burden. A report of the Milwaukee Housing Authority states there are some 53,400 families with one or more members over age 65, a total of 23.4 percent of the families in the community. It is interesting to note that of these families, 52.1 percent own their homes, debt free; 10.9 percent live rent free; 7.3 percent own mortgaged homes; and 29.7 percent are renters. Of all the persons in these elderly families, the study showed that about 3 out of 10 had received some kind of medical care during the year and that 2 out of 10 were on some kind of special diet. The study indicates that in this group there is a median income of $4,400 for families of three or more persons. In Wisconsin, the old-age assistance programs have long helped needy persons. With the implementation of the Kerr-Mills Act, additional help will be made available for the needy and near needy to obtain hospital and medical services. More and more persons who need better care will get it. We believe millions of tax dollars will be wasted under the King bill for persons who do not need such aid and do not care to have it foisted upon them, not |