HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR

UNITED STATES SENATE

SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

S. 1606

A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL

HEALTH PROGRAM

PART 1

APRIL 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, AND 16, 1946

Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor

CONTENTS

Altmeyer, Arthur J., Chairman, Social Security Board:

How healthy are we?...

Barriers to adequate medical care.

Budgeting for medical costs..

Borrowing to pay for medical care.

Adequacies of medical care, facilities and personnel.

The need for protection against sickness costs..

Voluntary insurance.

Method of doctor remuneration..

Selection of physician....

Effect of bill on voluntary plans.

Freedom of choice under the bill.

Health insurance in other countries.

Financing the plan.....

Attitudes of medical associations..

Compulsory insurance...

Voluntary plans are not democratic..

Public-opinion polls on health insurance.

Advantages of a national system..

Title I of S. 1606.

Title II of S. 1606–

Coverage.

Scope of the benefits provided.

Costs and financing.

Administering a health insurance program

Anderson, Joseph P., executive secretary, American Association of Social

Workers:

The American Association of Social Workers.

Endorsement of S. 1050....

Barriers to adequate medical care..

Public health services.

Medical care..

Butler, Dr. Allan M., associate professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical

School:

Inevitable changes in patterns of medical care..

Importance of group practice

Present medical care too expensive.

Voluntary medical plans inadequate.

Physician support of the Bill...

Prompt action is imperative.

Independent citizens committee of the arts, sciences, and professions.

The AMA bureaucracy..

Income of the AMA...

The National Physicians Committee.

Cobb, Dr. W. Montague, the national medical committee of the National

Association for the Advancement of Colored People:

Endorsement of S. 1606

Health problems of the Negro.

Title I of S. 1606

Title II of S. 1606

Attitude of the AMA.

Summary.

Dingell, Hon. John D., representative from Michigan:

Opposition of American Medical Association.

Public opinion polls

Inadequacies of voluntary health insurance

The plan is not radical...

The plan does not regiment doctors..

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LaGuardia, Fiorello H., former president of the United States Conference

of Mayors:

Appropriations for title I are low.

Health insurance most important legislation ever before Congress--.

Hospitals and medical research in New York City..

Financial burden of illness__.

National insurance better than local plans.

The bill does not regiment doctors...

Importance of group practice..

Plan should be put into effect gradually.

Hospital construction..

Gradual introduction of the plan

Hospital plans in New York

Medical education___

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Lawless, Dr. Theodore K., Congregational Christian Churches:

Grants to States for health services and for medical care for needy

Blue Cross plans--

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McMichael, Rev. Jack R., executive secretary, Methodist Federation for

McPeek, Rev. Francis W., chairman, legislative committee, council for

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