Your interest in this important piece of legislation is appreciated, and I will be grateful for anything that you might be able to do to expedite the passage of it. Our Department of Health is well on the way to implementing its provisions, and any additional effort you might lend toward the passage of this bill will greatly help us in the period of transition concerning Federal health programs that will be occurring next year. With warm personal regards. May the Almighty be with you and yours always. Sincerely, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, JOHN A. BURNS, Governor. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Annapolis, Md., May 12, 1967. House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN STAGGERS: My staff has examined Bill H.R. 6418 which you recently introduced. I am fully in agreement with the provisions of this Bill. I particularly am in favor of the proposal which provides an increase of ceiling for comprehensive health planning and grants to the States. Maryland now receives no funds for comprehensive health planning and, in all categories of grants, only receives about ten per cent more than the amount authorized in Public Law 89-749. This Bill moreover would provide for licensure of laboratories which conduct business on an interstate basis. Maryland at the present time has to certify out-of-state laboratories which receive specimens from Maryland patients. May I wish you every success as this Bill is debated in the House. Sincerely, SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, Springfield, Ill., May 8, 1967. Re: H.R. 6418. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Chairman, House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House of Representatives, DEAR CONGRESSMAN STAGGERS: I understand that additional legislation is needed in this session to extend the concepts of flexible health grants in combination with money needed to implement the Comprehensive Planning under Public Law 89-749, which I previously supported. I would like to place myself on record in support of this additional legislation. It will bring not only more flexible health grants and planning programs to the states but will place more leadership responsibility in the several states, thus making them more effective partners with the federal govenment. Sincerely, OTTO KERNER, Governor. STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Charleston, W. Va., May 9, 1967. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Member of Congress, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN STAGGERS: In answer to your letter of May 3, 1967, referring to the Health Referral and Counseling Service for armed forces examining station medical rejectee program in West Virginia, we would like to first thank you for the information which you supplied us. Regarding your question concerning the method of financing, we feel that plans currently being formulated under section 314 (c) will be sufficient providing funds are available to the extent of that level of operation which is now being carried on. It is the intentions of our department to extend counseling and refer ral to those young men that have been rejected at the draft board level, funds being available. In West Virginia in the fiscal year of July 1, 1965, through June 30, 1966, 871 men were eliminated at the draft board level before reaching the armed forces examining station at which point we would normally intercept them. Also, many more young men of our state and nation have been accepted by the armed forces and after having served for a period less than ninety days were discharged for a defect discovered after entry into the services. This group, it is planned, will also be served by our Health Referral Program. In addition studies are being made toward possibilities of a referral and counseling program for eighth grade level boys and girls in our elementary or junior high schools in West Virginia. The inclusion of the above program into our present operation of the Health Referral and Counseling Service will be a big step to be taken for future planning in the comprehensive health of the future. Item IV, "Grants for Studies and Demonstrations," Project Grants for Studies and Demonstrations in Comprehensive Health Planning, we refer to Item IDevelopment and Testing of New Methods of Obtaining and Analyzing Information Pertinent to Health Planning. It is our impression that the experiences which we are having in the Health Referral Program in West Virginia will be invaluable in this particular category. We are enclosing statistics (attachment A) showing West Virginia activities in eomparison with the national average for the months of July, 1966, through February, 1967. Also, a chart (attachment B) to point out the areas which we feel are in the greatest need. This is covered in our graph showing number of defects and diseases discovered in rejectees during the period of fiscal year 1965-1966. If you would convey to your committee the above information and the enclosed statistics it will be greatly appreciated. We would like to point out to you that it is very important that some action be taken relative to our program in this state and in other states throughout the nation at the very earliest date. We are required to give notice to our personnel and to our lessors thirty days prior to termination should this be necessary. West Virginia Law and Civil Service Regulations require this. Your work in comprehensive health is well known and the services rendered by you in the interest of West Virginia is common knowledge. Your assistance in advancing this program into another fiscal year will be in line with your continued fine service to West Virginia. Sincerely, N. H. DYER, M.D., M.P.H., receiving care was 56.1 as compared with the national percent of 46 over this same time period. NOTE.-In comparing West Virginia with the national average of those rejectees receiving care through the period of July 1966 through February 1967, West Virginia's percent ARIZONA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN STAGGERS: I have been informed that your Committee is currently conducting hearings on H.R. 6418, the Partnership for Health Amendments of 1967. I strongly support the provisions of this bill in general and hope for early and favorable consideration. We need to get on with the challenging job of Comprehensive Health Planning for our people. I would like to comment on the provision of the bill requiring that at least 70 per centum (70%) of the formula grant monies be available only for provision of services in communities of the State. This limitation appeared in the original wording of H.R. 18231, 89th Congress, but was eliminated in Public Law 89–749 as an unnecessary restriction on the flexibility of the determinations of the State Health Planning Agency, a basic principle of the Comprehensive Health Planning concept. It is my opinion that no one can object seriously to the principle of subvention of a major portion of Federal health monies to health services at the community level. I would plead, however, for an extension for at least one year and an increase in the appropriation for section (d) of P.L. 89-749 before the 70 per centum limitation would be imposed. This modification would provide reasonable assurance of the preservation of the present level of capability and competence achieved for the State health agency. To reduce in any way the Federal grant support to State health agencies would seem to me to contradict one of the declared purposes of P.L. 89-749, wherein the Congress found that desirable administration requires strengthening of the leadership capacities of State health agencies. Sincerely, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, GEORGE SPENDLOVE, M.D., M.P.Í., Commissioner. STATE OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fe, April 26, 1967. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR CONGRESSMAN STAGGERS: This Department, and I as a long-time laboratorian, are much interested in the objectives of H.R. 6418 which will shortly come before you. I express to you our unqualified support of the bill and I solicit your assistance in gaining the understanding of Congress that it may become law. Sincerely, EDWIN O. WICKS, M.D., D.P.H., Director. Hon. HARLEY Ő. STAGGERS, THE AMERICAN REHABILITATION FOUNDATION, Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The American Rehabilitation Foundation respectfully submits the following views and recommendations concerning the proposals for health services research contained in H.R. 6418. The most significant aspect of this proposal is the underlying assumption that the organization and delivery of health services has now become a subject of inquiry that must be pursued with the same scientific rigor and urgency of purpose as biomedical research. The scale of the Government's present and probable future subsidies for the payment of health services is by itself ample justification for exerting systematic efforts to realize the maximum return on this investment in the Nation's health. In addition, however, the development of |