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VERMONT STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY,
Rutland, Vt., July 7, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: It is our understanding that H.R. 4700, the Forand bill, is up for hearings beginning July 13, 1959.

Our Blue Cross-Blue Shield program here in Vermont and New Hampshire has always (for some 15 years now) allowed people to enroll in it without regard to age or physical condition. They enrolled a lady of 99 living in a nursing home a few months ago.

We already have about 45 percent of our people over 65 enrolled in Blue CrossBlue Shield. We would estimate that another 5 percent have some other kind of health insurance. The costs of our BC-BS are not great-Blue Shield costs less than $2 per month for an individual. Our Blue Shield provides for payments to doctors for office, hospital, and home calls as well as for surgery, X-ray, etc.

We sincerely believe that the people in Vermont (and New Hampshire) have a better plan of health insurance available to them now on a private basis than they would have under the Forand bill (as we understand it), making that type of legislation unnecessary.

Half our people are already taking advantage of it and more and more people are being enrolled every month. We will never cover everyone, neither would the Forand bill. There will always be those who don't believe in insurance; those who have sufficient funds to make insurance unnecessary; those on relief; etc.

It is sincerely hoped that your committee will give thorough consideration to all aspects of this situation, including those plans already in effect on a voluntary, private, and nonprofit basis, before rushing into a governmental do-good program which may not do as much good as hoped and with the usual (necessary, but usual) redtape and administrative expense.

Very sincerely yours,

GETTY PAGE.

WASHINGTON STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,
Seattle, Wash., June 30, 1959.

Hon. W. D. MILLS,

Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: Because the Forand bill, H.R. 4700, is a farreaching step toward total socialization of medical care, the Washington State Medical Association respectfully recommends against passage of the measure. Free choice of hospital and physician would be definitely restricted if the bill should become law; the Federal Government would inject itself into the principle of fixing physician fees and hospital charges, which would result in a regimented economy.

The Forand plan would mean higher taxes and reduced take-home pay, and the entire social security program would be jeopardized.

The Federal Government would be placed in competition with private health insurance plans, which are well on the way toward solving the problem of health care for the aged. Eventually, these plans would be destroyed, and free enterprise would be badly handicapped.

Other segments of the population would insist upon similar treatment, leading us definitely toward total socialization of medical care.

The bill would result in Government control of hospitals, thus discouraging their support and control by the communities.

Inasmuch as free enterprise is making progress in taking care of the aged, the Federal Government should offer encouragement and its blessings to the effort, instead of lending discouragement by passage of the Forand bill. Therefore, Congress is urged to defeat the measure.

Sincerely yours,

E. L. CALHOUN, M.D., President.

Mr. LEO H. ERWIN,

THE WYOMING STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY,
Cheyenne, Wyo., July 16, 1959.

Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. IRWIN: This is a statement for the Wyoming State Medical Society regarding H.R. 4700, by Hon. Aime J. Forand.

In Wyoming nearly all of the aged are receiving excellent medical and hospital care paid for by themselves, by Blue Cross-Blue Shield or insurance coverage, or by the welfare departments.

If the Congress feels that for political reasons some kind of health legislation should be passed to appeal to the increasing numbers of aged in the United States, the Forand bill is not the answer. It will make the situation worse in Wyoming and not better.

There are other ways Federal money could be spent which might be helpful to the aged, such as they suggested in the letter date June 25, 1959 to Senator Pat McNamara, chairman, Subcommittee on Problems of the Aged and Aging, expressing the views of most of the doctors of Wyoming.

However, the Wyoming State Medical Society is opposed to the Forand bill because it is unnecessary, it costs too much, and it will not do the job.

There is no health problem or social problem or economic problem in Wyoming which this bill would solve and we think that the Forand bill makes a purely political issue.

The reasons for opposition have been well stated by Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Arthur S. Flemming, and representatives of the American Medical Association.

Yours truly,

BYRON HIRST.

JEFFERSON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY,
Birmingham, Ala., July 1, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR MILLS,

Chairman, Ways and Means Committee,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: The Jefferson County Medical Society, comprised of 648 physicians, has gone on record in opposition to the Forand bill (H.R. 4700) which we understand will be the subject of hearings before the House Ways and Means Committee this month.

We feel this legislation is not in the best interests of democratic government nor of our citizens it purports to serve.

As you well know, most of our sick-poor are not covered by the social security system and, therefore, would not be benefited under the Forand proposal. The physicians of this State traditionally provide free service to the indigent and will continue to do so.

In our judgment, this measure would be a dangerous step toward a socialistic form of government which we feel certain no thinking member of your committee would favor. This measure undoubtedly would undermine, if not destroy, our voluntary health insurance programs which now protect 75 percent of our older population.

We see in this measure a political approach to a health problem controlled and administered by persons not specifically trained in the health fields and, therefore, liable to political abuses and administrative wastes such as now are glaringly evident in certain other programs.

We strongly urge that this committee report adversely on this measure, and further, will take positive action to end foolish Government spending and waste which someday will wreck our Nation.

Respectfully yours,

S. JOSEPH CAMPBELL, M.D., President.

SALEM, N.J., July 16, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR MILLS,

Chairman, Ways and Means Committee,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.:

The Salem County Medical Society wishes that it be recorded in strenuous opposition to the Forand bill, H.R. 4700. We believe that Federal financing of hospital, surgical, and nursing home treatment of the aged will inevitably lead to Federal control and regulation of such treatment to which we are firmly opposed.

SALEM COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY,
WILLIAM L. SPROUT, M.D., Secretary.
GEORGE A. NITSHE, Jr., M.D., President.

RESOLUTION

Whereas the Congress of the United States is now considering H.R. 4700, popularly known as the Forand bill, proposed legislation which would provide for the purchase of health care services by the Federal Government for those persons entitled to social security benefits; and

Whereas in the absence of an authoritative survey, the need for this program has not been clearly established; and

Whereas this program would result in the Federal Government assuming a function of private health insurance industry, a function now being competently handled with increasing scope and efficiency; and

Whereas the financing of this proposed program would result in prohibitive public taxation additional to present high levies; and

Whereas the program as proposed denies the patient the basic right to select his own physician, limiting him to those doctors under contract to the Federal Government; and

Whereas such a program would result in a staggering overutilization of hospital and clinical facilities, resulting in lowered standards of medical and hospital care to those actually ill; and

Whereas the program does not provide for a large segment of the destitute aged who are ineligible for such benefits; and

Whereas the proposed legislation is a political approach to a health problem which will unquestionably result in an extension of bureaucratic practices, inhibition of private initiation and industry, and political abuses and administrative waste: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Tulsa County Medical Society hereby opposes the enactment of H.R. 4700 introduced in the 86th Congress by Representative A. J. Forand, of Rhode Island; and be it further

Resolved, That this expression of opinion be communicated to the Members of the Congress for their careful examination and consideration.

JAMES W. KELLEY, M.D., President, Tulsa (Okla.) Medical Society.

Approved this 1st day of July, 1959.

DAUPHIN COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY,
Harrisburg, Pa., July 16, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The executive committee of the Dauphin County Medical Society, a nonprofit organization consisting of approximately 350 physicians licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania, recently adopted the attached resolution pertaining to H.R. 4700, the Forand bill. As president of the county medical society, I am directing a copy of it to you as well as copies to the Honorable Messrs. Richard M. Simpson, William J. Green, and Walter M. Mumma.

I know that you and members of your committee will give it every consideration.

Respectifully yours,

FRED B. HOOPER, M.D., President.

RESOLUTION

Whereas the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States is currently holding hearings on H.R. 4700, the Forand bill which proposes to pay for hospital, nursing, and surgical expenses incurred by the recipients of the old-age and survivors insurance programs; and

Whereas this measure is inflationary in nature and will require an increase in social security payments on the part of the American public, including the employer; and

Whereas the President of the United States, in his address to the house of delegates of the American Medical Association in Atlantic City, in June 1959, called upon the physician members of the association, of which this society is a constituent, to assist in halting inflation by accepting lower fees for professional services rendered to the Nation's older citizens; and

Whereas this society does not believe it advisable to accept lower fees if, in turn, the Congress of the United States, through passage of the Forand bill demands more money from the physician employer for the expansion of the society security program benefits; and

Whereas more importantly, medical care for our Nation's older citizens necessitates flexibility of medical approach and technique which do not appear possible in the proposed Forand program; and

Whereas a nationalized program of this magnitude would weaken the doctorpatient relationship: Therefore be it

Resolved, That the executive committee of the Dauphin County Medical Society does hereby go on record recommending that the committee does not take favorable action on H.R. 4700 or any other similar legislation.

U.S. SENATE,

COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE,

July 29, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, Ways and Means Committee,

House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is enclosed a copy of a self-explanatory telegram in opposition to the Forand bill, H.R. 4700, from Dr. William R. McCune, Martinsburg, W. Va., in behalf of the 40 members of the Eastern Panhandle Medical Society.

I shall appreciate it very much if you will give consideration to Dr. McCune and the other members of the medical society and make the telegram a part of your official records on this legislation.

With kind regards, I am
Sincerely,

JENNINGS RANDOLPH.

MARTINSBURG, W. Va., July 28, 1959.

Senator JENNINGS RANDOLPH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, DC.:

We the 40 members of the Eastern Panhandle Medical Society wish to voice our opposition to the Forand measure (H.R. 4700).

Dr. WILLIAM R. MCCUNE, President, Eastern Panhandle Medical Society.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

ARIZONA STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION,
Phoenix, Ariz., July 17, 1959.

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: On behalf of the 350 members of the Arizona State Dental Association, we wish to go on record as being opposed to H.R. 4700, the Forand bill.

May we ask that you insert this letter in the printed record of the hearings on this bill.

Thanks kindly for your cooperation in this matter.

Yours very truly,

WILLIAM G. BURKE, D.D.S., Secretary.

CALIFORNIA STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION,
San Francisco, Calif., July 13, 1959.

WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means,
House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN MILLS: This association, by vote of its board of directors and of its house of delegates, is opposed to H.R. 4700, the so-called Forand bill. It is believed that health-care problems of the aged can be met without resort to the type plan provided in H.R. 4700.

We urge you and other members of the House Ways and Means Committee to vote in opposition to H.R. 4700. We also request that this association's opposition be recorded in the official transcript of the committee's hearing.

Very truly yours,

G. THOMAS QUIGG, D.D.S., President.

TAMPA, FLA., July 14, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.:

This society, a component of the Florida State Dental Society, is vitally opposed to H.R. 4700. A bill that could lead eventually to Government-sponsored health care for the general population, and requests you and your committee note this opposition in the written record of hearings on July 15.

F. A. FINLEY,

President, West Coast District Dental Society, St. Petersburg, Fla.

NEW ORLEANS, La., July 14, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.:

Our association strongly opposes bill H.R. 4700 before your committee. Urgently request for and on behalf of membership that this legislation be unfavorably reported. Further respectfully ask that this request be noted in the written record of the committee hearings.

STANLEY S. LEVY, D.D.S., President, Louisiana Dental Association.

VIRGINIA STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION,
Roanoke, Va., July 31, 1959.

Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The Virginia State Dental Association wishes to register its opposition to H.R. 4700, the Forand bill.

It is felt, by our association, that the enactment of this bill into law would increase the burden of the Federal Government and ultimately lead to Government-sponsored health care for the general population.

Further, the benefits received under H.R. 4700 should rightly be the responsibility of local or State health agencies.

Your careful consideration of our views concerning this bill will be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully yours,

MYRON E. HENDERSON, D.M.D.,
Secretary-Treasurer.

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