to mention those not even covered by social security. These latter persons would be eligible under the Kerr-Mills Act. The administration's proposed plan, embodied in the King bill, is not only unnecessary, but it is impractical. We in Milwaukee believe, as I am sure those in California, or South Carolina, or Maine, or any State of this Nation. that facilities to take care of the health needs for our patients cannot be directed from an office in Washington, D.C. When Government help is necessary, perhaps the best means of tending to personal needs of our senior citizens is locally, at the State level. In concluding this statement on behalf of the physicians of Milwaukee County, may I again remind you that the private practice of medicine which has enabled us to achieve a longer and more healthful life has always been eager and willing to help extend the best possible medical care to all persons. Through the expansion of many programs of voluntary health insurance, our Nation is making increasing gains in meeting the health needs of our growing aged population. It is my sincere recommendation that H.R. 4222 not be favorably considered by this committee. Thank you for affording me the opportunity of presenting this statement for the record. ARKANSAS STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION, Clarksville, Ark., July 28, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: As you will recall, the Arkansas State Dental Association in April adopted the following resolution concerning H.R. 4222: "Resolved, That the Arkansas State Dental Association go on record as being opposed to H.R. 4222, the King-Anderson bill, and any other legislation that might propose the enactment of a federally administered health benefits program for the aged." We shall greatly appreciate your giving every consideration to our opposition of the bill, and will also appreciate it if this letter is included in the record of the hearings on this measure. Sincerely yours, DON M. HAMM, D.D.S., SANTA ROSA, CALIF., July 31, 1961. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR SIR: The Redwood Empire Dental Society representing Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma Counties in California is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222. It is requested that this wire be included in the record of the hearings. R. C. BELL, Jr., D.D.S., Secretary. EAST COAST DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY, Hon. A. S. HERLONG, Jr., DEAR MR. HERLONG: On behalf of the 725 members of the East Coast District Dental Society located in southeastern Florida, I wish to register our opposition to H.R. 4222. Our society feels strongly that legislation of this nature is not in the best interest of the American public, and therefore, should not be enacted into law. We request that this letter stating our opposition to H.R. 4222 be made a part of the record of the hearings now in process in the House Ways and Means Committee. Very truly yours, GEORGE J. COLEMAN, D.D.S., President. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee. COLUMBUS, GA., July 28, 1961. DEAR SIR: The Western District Dental Society of Georgia is opposed to H.R. 4222 because we feel that it is not in the best interest of the whole people and in the long run will be detrimental to the future health care of the entire Nation. We request that this letter be included in the record of the hearings. Sincerely, DR. J. M. BINNS, Secretary, Western District Dental Society. Hon. NOAH MASON, House Ways and Means Committee, CHICAGO DENTAL SOCIETY, Chicago, Ill., July 27, 1961. House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: I am writing to you as president of the Chicago Dental Society to convey our opposition to H.R. 4222, the so-called King-Anderson legislation, which seeks to put health care for the aged under the social security system. We base our opposition to the bill on several aspects of it that we find undesirable. I would like to set these forth, briefly but clearly, for we feel that great harm will grow out of the philosophy that passage of this measure would establish. The system would compel the people to pay taxes to participate in a scheme to purchase health care financed and controlled by the Federal Government. In effect, the choice lies between voluntary enterprise and Government planning and control. The success of voluntary enterprise in the health field in the United States is such that to relegate it to Government management would be unwise as well as completely unnecessary. Furthermore, the tendency to extend the coverage from the first group to succeeding segments of the population would be irresistible. This first legislative step is an irrevocable one. Supporters of the thought behind this legislation estimate its annual cost to be about a billion dollars a year. More objective estimates have determined that the actual cost will approach 21⁄2 billion. The result will be the necessity to cut costs and this need to economize will be followed by a dilution of quality of care and constant interference in the management of hospitals and the care of patients. This diminishing of quality of care, like the ever-recurring threats of socialized medicine and dentistry, will serve to deter more and more young people from the health fields, a regrettable trend that is only too evident today. Under this legislation patients could go only to hospitals that had chosen to participate in the program. In many cases this will seriously hamper the free choice of physician or dentist by the patient because only those men with privileges at the eligible hospitals could be sought for care. One other aspect of this legislation that seems rather unrealistic is that it would supply Government-supported hospital service plus some medical and dental care to all social security beneficiaries without reference to their ability to pay for their care themselves. I hope that consideration will be given to our thoughts as outlined above. I would appreciate having my letter made a part of the record of any hearings that are held on the legislation as we represent 3,600 dentists in the Chicago area and speak for them. Very truly yours, O. E. SCOTT, President. ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY, July 28, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR SIR: The Rock Island District Dental Society, composed of 72 active members, desires to express our view as being opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222. At the stated meeting of April 25, 1961, this dental society went on record as being opposed to H.R. 4222 because this bill was not in the best interests of the American public. May this society's resolution in opposition to H.R. 4222 be included in the record of the hearings. Very truly yours, JOHN S. MYERS, D.D.S., Secretary. BLOOMINGTON, IND., August 2, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Let the record show that the Indiana State Dental Association of 2,000 members is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222. Urge your defeat of this resolution as not in the best interests of the majority of the public. Dr. GEORGE W. MCDANIEL, Chairman, Legislative Committee, Indiana State Dental Association. LOUISVILLE, KY., August 4, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, The Kentucky Dental Association is of the opinion that H.R. 4222 is not in the best interest of the public and urges you to take unfavorable action. We wish this to be made a part of the record. A. B. COXWELL, D.M.D., Secretary-Treasurer, Kentucky Dental Association. NEW ORLEANS, LA., July 28, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.: Our society strongly opposes enactment H.R. 4222 as it is not in best interest of public and too socialistic. Resolution to this effect adopted our May 1961 meeting. Request this wire be included in record your hearing on bill. J. CLAUDE EARNEST, D.D.S., President, Louisiana Dental Association. THE NEW ORLEANS DENTAL ASSOCIATION, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN MILLS: The New Orleans Dental Association is unalterably opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222. The Louisiana Dental Association, of which our group is a component, expressed the official sentiments of the dentists of Louisiana in the form of a resolution adopted in May 1961, which endorsed the full implementation of the Kerr-Mills law (Public Law 86-778) by the State of Louisiana, as a measure less objectionable than the then anticipated Anderson-King bill (H.R. 4222). This resolution was prompted by the fact that the Kerr-Mills law was already legally enacted by the Congress of the United States and, despite its objectionable features, was considered to be the lesser of two evils when compared with a health care measure that would be financed through increased social security payments. In view of recent events, most notably the Berlin crisis and the increased budgetary demands attendant to it, any further straining of the public pocketbook is definitely considered to be not in this country's best interests. It must be emphasized, however, that we object to H.R. 4222 because of its inherent contradiction to principles traditional to our country and its govern mental philosophy, The severe demands of an increased defense budget at this time only serve to make it even more impractical. It is requested that this communication be made a part of the official record of the hearings of the House Ways and Means Committee. Respectfully, FRANK L. HERBERT, D.D.S., Secretary. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 28, 1961. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, The Middlesex District Dental Society, a component of the Massachusetts Dental Society, is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222, health care for the aged. It is health care at high cost and low quality. The cost will no doubt exceed the original estimate as witnessed in other nations. If a health bill must be passed, we are in favor of H.R. 4999. Please include this in the record of the hearing. Sincerely, J. RICHARD MYLES, D.M.D., Secretary. JACKSON DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: As secretary of the Jackson District Dental Society, I am writing to express opposition by our society to H.R. 4222. We definitely are not in favor of this measure and its provisions. In your study of H.R. 4222, please consider what it would mean to the dentists throughout the Nation. It is the conviction of the Jackson District Dental Society that the passage of this bill would be the first step toward the Government being the sole purchaser of health for the individual. We urge that you cast a negative vote on H.R. 4222. Please include this letter in the record of hearings before the House Ways and Means Committee. Very truly yours, BLAINE B. JOHNSON, D.D.S. LANSING, MICH., July 28, 1961. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.: The principles and practices of Government supplied health care for the aged as expressed in Kerr-Mills bill has the complete support of the Michigan State Dental Association. Health care for the aged under the bill now being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee (H.R. 4222) is not, we believe, in the best interest of all citizens. On behalf of the Michigan State Dental Association, I would like to express our opposition to H.R. 4222, and to request that the contents of this wire be placed in the minutes of your committees hearings. Sincerely, FRED A. HENNY, D.D.S., President. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., August 1, 1961. House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: The executive committee of the Missouri Dental Association is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4222 which would place health care for the aged under the social security system. Would you please include this wire in the records of the hearings? E. D. SUGGETT, D.D.S., Secretary-Treasurer, Missouri Dental Association. SOUTHWEST MISSOURI DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C DEAR SIR: It is the firm belief of the Southwest District Dental Society that H.R. 4222 is not in the best interests of the public. Please include our letter in the record of the hearings. OREN A. RALSTON, D.D.S., Secretary. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Congressman WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR CHAIRMAN MILLS: Please find enclosed a copy of the resolutions pertaining to the King bill, which were adopted by the Montana Dental Association at its 1961 annual meeting. I would appreciate it if you would enter this in the record of the committee hearings on H.R. 4222. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely yours, JAMES F. BATTIN, RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MONTANA STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION AT ITS 1961 ANNUAL MEETING, GREAT FALLS, MONT. Resolved, That the membership of the Montana State Dental Association at its annual meeting in Great Falls does hereby encourage the Members of the U.S. Congress to limit and to reduce Federal programs and expenditures so that in the foreseeable future social security, personal and corporate income, excise, and all other forms of Federal taxes may be drastically reduced or eliminated; and be it further Resolved, That the members of this association do hereby express their opposition to passage of the King bill, H.R. 4222, and to any other measure which proposes to provide hospital, dental, medical, and/or surgical care to any segment of the population of the United States under the mechanism of the Social Security Act; and be it further Resolved, That the secretary of this association is hereby instructed to voice the unanimous opposition of the members of this association to passage of the King bill or similar legislation to the Members of the Congress from Montana, the Honorable Wilbur D. Mills, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives, and to the Honorable Abraham A. Ribicoff, Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. NEW MEXICO DENTAL ASSOCIATION, Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives Office Building, Waskington, D.C. DEAR SIR: In 1960 the New Mexico Dental Association went on record as opposing the Forand bill because of its inclusion in the social security program. On the same basis the New Mexico Dental Association now opposes H.R. 4222. While we realize that some provisions must be made for the health care of the aged, it is not our belief that the inclusion of all persons 65 years or more of age who are eligible for social security benefits, regardless of financial need, is a suitable method of handling the problem. We therefore urge that your committee not recommend this bill for passage in its present form and ask that this letter be included in the record of the hearings. Very truly yours, EUGENE P. PURTELL, D.D.S., |