contract is much superior to the provisions of the King bill and is available at $8.50 per person per month. This is about half the cost estimated for care per person under the King bill. 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 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, 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 recort 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. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: BLOOMINGTON, IND., August 2, 1961. 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, 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 |