"Resolved, That the American Nurses Association support the extension and improvement of the contributory social insurance to include health insurance for beneficiaries of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance; and be it further "Resolved, That nursing service, including nursing care in the home, be included as a benefit of any prepaid health insurance program." When the social security program was first enacted into law there were, I'm sure, many objections raised. It is now an accepted way of financing retirement; surely medical care is one aspect, second only to food and housing that should be included in any plan considered adequate to meet the needs of our aging population. It would seem wise also for persons to make a contribution while employed toward the care they might need in later years rather than, as so often is the case, place the entire burden on taxpayers and charitable institutions. In considering the bill in your committee we hope you will take into account the fact that as professional nurses we are, by virtue of our relationships with the sick and needy, strongly of the opinion that this type of legislation is beneficial and long overdue. Yours sincerely, KATHERINE E. REHDER, R.N., Executive Director. Representative WILBUR MILLS, NORTH CAROLINA STATE NURSES' ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: The North Carolina State Nurses' Association joins with the American Nurses Association in support of legislation to extend the social security system to include health insurance benefits for recipients of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. The American Nurses Association in 1958 voted to support such legislation and reaffirmed this position in 1960. ANA believes this to be the soundest method of providing health care for older citizens. The social security system has proved itself, and its extension to include health insurance benefits would permit people to pay themselves during their earning years for the assurance of adequate health care in their retirement years. Physicians continue to attempt to dissuade nurses on the local level from their endorsement of health benefits under the social security system, but the North Carolina State Nurses' Association and ANA continue in this position in spite of such pressure from members of the American Medical Association. We urge that the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives give favorable consideration to H.R. 4222. Sincerely yours, ATHA HOWELL, R.N. PENNSYLVANIA NURSES ASSOCIATION, Hon. WILBUR MILLS, Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR MR. MILLS: The Pennsylvania Nurses Association, a constituent of the American Nurses Association and representing over 16,000 licensed professional nurses in Pennsylvania, expresses the hope of early and favorable consideration of H.R. 4222 which provides for health insurance benefits for recipients of oldage, survivors, and disability insurance. We also welcome this opportunity to share with you and your committee the problems of the aged which come within the scope of this association's activities. Nursing is the largest and most com plex of all the health professions, and its services are vital to the prevention and treatment of disease and injury to any age group. Our special concern for the problems of the aged is manifested in all that is done to improve nursing services for the public. One of the important functions of the Pennsylvania Nurses Association centers around the promotion of measures to insure adequate nursing service within this Commonwealth, including nursing benefits in prepaid health and medical care plans. Since 1958 we have supported the American Nurses Assoication in its efforts to secure the use of the social security insurance mechanism, employeremployee contributions during a person's working years, as a dignified approach to solving the problems of financing health care for the aged. With the enactment of H.R. 4222, necessary health services would be available to all people in this country without regard to their ability to purchase these services. We are pleased that this bill does provide for home nursing service. The inclusion of public health nursing service will do much to make home nursing care more readily available to the aged. Public health nursing agencies are finding that more and more of their visits to patients are made to aged persons with long-term illnesses. In Pennsylvania visiting nurse associations report over 70 percent of their calls are for the aging, and more prepared nurses are needed to render service to these people in their homes. In some instances, there is only 1 visiting nurse to serve a population of 20,000. By and large today, it is only through visiting nurse services that this type of care can be provided and which exists mainly in large urban areas. Small centers and rural areas have few facilities to care for aged patients in the home. We trust that you and your committee will give this matter your immediate attention and favorable consideration. Should you have any questions or otherwise want additional information we know that our ANA representative, Miss Julia C. Thompson, would indeed be pleased to furnish it. Sincerely yours, AGNES E. M. ANDERSON, R.N., TENNESSEE NURSES' ASSOCIATION, INC., Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. MILLS: As executive director of the Tennessee Nurses' Association, I have been asked by our membership to inform you of the position our organization takes regarding the Anderson-King bills and, in particular, the King bill, H.R. 4222, on which hearings will be held very shortly by the House of Representatives. The American Nurses' Association, of which we are a constituent, voted through its house of delegates in 1958 and 1960 to support legislation that would include health insurance under the social security program. Legislation proposed by Senator Anderson and Representative King would provide for specific health insurance benefits for recipients of old-age, survivors' and disability insurance. In spite of various pressures being brought against our nurses by members of the medical profession to speak against the extension of health insurance under social security, we feel that the public is entitled to this kind of provision for medical care in their later years, particularly those disabled, retired, or aged of the population who are neither eligible nor able to purchase some type of voluntary health insurance for themselves. Anyone familiar with medical services appreciates that it is more comfortable working with than against physicians. Nurses, in taking the stand we do, are not in an enviable position. In all good conscience, however, we must support the extensions and improvement of contributory social insurance to include those benefits which the King bill would provide. We request that this letter in support of H.R. 4222 be entered in the record of hearings on the bill. Very truly yours, LYNN B. WESTCOT, R.N. UTAH STATE NURSES' ASSOCIATION, Representative WILBUR MILLS, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 26, 1961. Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: As members of the house of delegates of the American Nurses' Association in 1958 and in 1960 we voted to support legislation that would include health insurance under the social security program. This legislation has been much discussed at various meetings of our members and we continue strongly to support the ANA position, and urge that careful consideration be given to the testimony which our legislative representative will present at the hearings on the King bill, H.R. 4222. In some areas of our State, members of the medical association have approached individual nurses urging them to support the AMA position on health insurance and to inform ANA that they are so doing. These nurses indicate, however, that they assure the doctors that they believe our ANA position to be the one which considers the welfare of the patient. Again, we urge special attention to our ANA testimony and assure you that we are supporting you in this legislation. Sincerely yours, MINNIE H. WALTON, President, Utah State Nurses' Association. VIRGINIA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION, Representative WILBUR MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR MR. MILLS: In 1958 and 1960 the American Nurses' Association of which the Virginia State Nurses Association is a constituent member voted to support legislation that would include health insurance under the social security program. The Board of Directors of the Virginia State Nurses Association, representing over 4,000 professional nurses in the State, would like to advise you that we are in support of the recent legislation introduced in the 87th Congress by Senator Clinton Anderson and Representative Cecil King to extend the social security system. We believe that it is essential that provisions in addition to the Kerr-Mills bill be made for health insurance benefits for elderly people. More and more nurses are being required to care for people in the older age bracket. They are increasingly aware of the financial problems which these patients face in securing adequate health care. The Anderson-King bill, we believe, would provide much needed assistance to these people beyond emergency hospital services. We earnestly request that the Committee on Ways and Means give careful consideration to this bill realizing its cost in dollars but being constantly aware of the many benefits which it will provide to people who need such assistance. We hope that the committee will vote favorably on this bill so that it may receive further consideration in the Congress. We are grateful indeed for the interest our congressional leaders have shown in the problems nurses face. We know that thoughtful consideration will be given to this legislation which nurses believe is vital to the health of our Nation. Sincerely yours, JULIA B. FISHER, R.N., WEST VIRGINIA NURSES ASSOCIATION, INC., Representative WILBUR MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. MILLS: We are pleased that the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means will soon be holding hearings on the King bill, H.R. 4222. The West Virginia Nurses Association, a professional nursing organization of over 2,100 members, continues to support the American Nurses' Association on its position favoring health insurance under social security. We of the health professions agree that some plan of health care for the aged is needed. Within our own profession of nursing, we recognize that many of our group, due to their meager incomes today, will be faced with many problems in their retirement trying to maintain a decent standard of living and paying for necessary health care. It is gratifying to have included in this bill provision for the patient to meet some of the cost for his hospitalization, skilled nursing home services after he leaves the hospital, outpatient hospital diagnostic services, and home health services as necessary. We as members of our professional nursing association support the principles contained within H.R. 4222, whereby those persons on old-age assistance can receive the health care they need through this reasonable and dignified approach to solving the problem. Sincerely yours, JULIANN RITTER, R.N., Executive Director. WISCONSIN NURSES ASSOCIATION, INC., Hon. WILBUR MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. MILLS: The Wisconsin Nurses Association, a constituent of the American Nurses Association, wholeheartedly endorses the action taken by the ANA House of Delegates in 1958 and 1960 to support legislation that would include health insurance benefits for recipients of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. Our association urges your support of the King bill, H.R. 4222, which would extend the social security system to provide this much needed health insurance coverage. Your consideration of this request is deeply appreciated. ALICE A. WELDY, R.N., Executive Secretary. FIFTH DISTRICT GEORGIA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION, Hon. IEO H. IRWIN, SIR: As chairman of the Fifth District Private Duty Section, Georgia State Nurses' Association. I wish to go on record as protesting bill H.R. 4222, the King bill. This bill is discriminatory to the private duty nurse, and we feel that for the best interest of the nursing profession, it should not be passed. Bill H.R. 4222 states in plain words, "Private duty nursing not included." Of the registered professional nurses in Georgia, approximately 2,000 to 2,500, there are 873 private duty nurses which constitute approximately one-third to one-half of the registered voting professional nurses. Of the American Nurses' Association there are 44,125 private duty nurses. As you are well aware, this is quite a large number to plainly state will not be represented or considered, which is in violation of the resolution adopted by the House of Delegates of the American Nurses' Association, the second resolve. Thank you for your kind helpfulness on this matter. Respectfully, Mrs. ALICE B. MORGAN, Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Dr. Stokes? Dr. Stokes, although we know you quite favorably, will you identify yourself for the record by giving us the name, address, and capacity in which you appear. STATEMENT OF DR. J. BUROUGHS STOKES, MANAGER, WASHINGTON, D.C., OFFICE, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION Dr. STOKES. I will be very glad to. My name is J. Buroughs Stokes. I am manager of the Washington, D.C., Office, Christian Science Committee on Publication of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. The CHAIRMAN. You are recognized, Dr. Stokes. Dr. STOKES. The Christian Science Board of Directors, the administrative head of the Christian Science denomination, has authorized my appearance before you. It is recognized that one of the most significant social trends in our country today is that of an increasing population of older people. In fact, in the foreseeable future the myth of being through "because I am 65" will be discarded and the ability, intelligence, and experience of our senior citizens will continue to be utilized to further the forward march of society. Longevity is increasing and the impact of this upon our socioeconomic life is just beginning to be felt. The White House Conference on Aging, held in January of this year, in which I was a participant, confirmed that already we, as a Nation, are rapidly adjusting our social, economic, educational, recreational, health, and religious activities to meet this need. It also demonstrated that none of the problems in this area is simple. The problem of furnishing an adequate level of high quality health care for the aged is as complex as any. It was encouraging, though, to learn that the majority of citizens are even solving this problem effectively by means of private savings, cooperative family action, individual and group health insurance plans, social service organizations, company and trade union health programs, retirement funds, and the like. We recognize that despite the progress which is resulting from these, there is still an area in which the Government, both State and Federal, can be helpful in providing aid for the aged whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the cost of proper health care. We note with favor, that Federal action was taken in the last Congress to assist this group by the passage of the Kerr-Mills bill (now Public Law 86-778)-a Federal-State program. This law, if properly implemented into action, should provide an equitable means of aiding all needy individuals regardless of whether or not they are railroad retirement or social security beneficiaries. Now, gentlemen, you have before your committee H.R. 4222, to be known as the Health Insurance Benefits Act of 1961-an act designed to provide for the medical health care of all individuals who are 65 years or older and eligible for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance and railroad retirement benefits. The provisions of this bill, however, constitute a wide departure from the normal practice under the social security and the railroad retirement plans of providing benefits solely on a cash benefits basis. |