1 Average rate equal $41.67 and $26.83. This is comprised of the approved reimbursable rates of $40 and $26 through Aug. 31, 1964, and $42 and $27 for the remainder of the year. 2 Average rate equal $43.50. This is comprised of the approved reimbursable rate of $42 through Sept. 30, 1965, and $44 for the remainder of the year. 3 Rounded. Hospitals and medical care interns and residents, fiscal years 1965, 1966, and 1967 Summary of training and research estimates, 1966 and 1967 This budget estimate provides for medical services to the Coast Guard aboard their vessels and at their shore stations. Not included are costs funded by the Coast Guard such as space, utilities, medical and dental equipment, mobile dental units, furniture, office appliances, pay allowances and travel of Coast Guard personnel assigned to the program, etc. Medical facilities at Coast Guard units are classified as infirmaries, dispensaries, or sick bays. The larger shore units have infirmaries staffed with medical and dental officers of the Public Health Service. Dispensaries are facilities at intermediate size shore units at which either or both medical and dental officers are assigned to duty. Sick bays are facilities aboard vessels and at smaller shore units. Sick bays are usually manned by hospital corpsmen, but vessels may have a medical officer assigned. In 1965, construction was completed which permitted the infirmary at the Coast Guard Academy to provide full hospital services. Full-time medical, dental, and ancillary staff are assigned where there are sufficient concentrations of personnel to make the operation of such facilities more economical to the Government. Small concentrations of personnel are provided medical and dental services by local contract physicians and dentists. Mobile dental units with a Public Health Service dental officer assigned are also used to provide dental services to Coast Guard personnel. The major problem of the Coast Guard program is provision of adequate medical and dental care to personnel widely dispersed in numerous small units, many of which are geographically and medically isolated. The increase of eight positions is as follows: (1) Three medical officers are required to staff five additional major vessels of the icebreaker class which have been transferred from the U.S. Navy to this activity. (2) Four additional positions, two medical officers and two nurse officers, are required for the Fort Jay base as the result of the acquisition of this base by the Coast Guard and the transfer of the Training Station at Groton to this installation. The new base will concentrate personnel and dependents so that additional staffing is needed. (3) One medical officer is required for assignment to an additional weather patrol vessel occupying Ocean Station ECHO. An increase in "Other objects" of $13,000 is also requested for "Supplies and materials" for the five ships acquired as icebreakers. Funds under this activity provide for the operation of employee health programs as authorized by 5 USC 150. The funds for the operation of health units are provided primarily on a reimbursable basis as services are requested by other Federal agencies and furnished by the Public Health Service. Currently there are 41 health units involving the participation of 184 Government agencies. These figures alone indicate the significance that various agencies place on the presence of well run, efficient health units. New Presidential policy Beginning with fiscal year 1966, a new Presidential policy on Federal employee health services was issued as Budget Bureau Circular A-72 dated June 18, 1965. This already has accelerated the demand for reimbursable services in addition to substantially increasing the responsibilities and magnitude of operation involved in the direct assistance given to Federal agencies in setting up and operating health programs. |