Evening star., 1924-10-30
DOCTORS HERE FIX
FEE SCALE RANGING
FROM g TO $1,000
Maximum and Minimum
Prices Adopted for Cases
of All Types.
ENTIRE PRACTICE RANGE
COVERED BY SCHEDULE
Charity Cases Permitted-Higher
Charges Limited-Better Busi-
ness Is Aim.

II you become i'll you are going to
pay a fixed price for medical atten-
tion in Washington
The Medical Society of the District
of Columbia, 4 professional organiza-
ton whose membership includes a
majority of the physicians and sur
geons Of Washington, has adopted a
scale of maximum and minimum fees
covering the entire range of medical
practice.
This scale is contained in the latest
edition of the constitution and by
laws of the society, as recently
amended. copies of which have just
been received by the members.
This scale is made practically OBJ
on member physicians by the
terms of the bylaws, which prohibit
any decrease from the minimum un-
less the case is to be copsidered par
TALLY charitable-that iSInless a pa
tient is found unable to pay and suf-
fering would result without treat
ment. The scale can be extended up
ward in accordance with the judg-
ment of the individual physician, but
any increase must be justified by un-
usual responsibility or time. Thus a
rich man could not be charged more
than the maximum scale for treat
ment of an ordinarytcold which did
not require more effort and skill or
the part of the doctor than would te
applied in any other similar case.
Two Scales Approved.
The minimum scale ranges from 5
to $500 and the maximum from $40 TO
$1,000. Practically every case which
would require the services of a ply
sician is covered
The price for such an operation as
appendix removal is fixed between
800 and $1,000. Attendance at child
birth is fixed between $50 and $1,000
Removal of tonsils or adenoids is priced
between s25 and $500.
A minimum charge of So is fixed
for office consultations, and these can
not run over $40. For visits of the
ply to the home there is a min
imum charge of IS and a maximum
of s25.
Besides the scale of prices the lat
est edition of the bylaws lays down
a number of rules of medical practice
applying particularly to Washington
with the sick leaves regulations in
force in the Government service. In
making out a certificate for such sick
leave a physician is forbidden to men,
tion the nature Of the disease caus-
ing the disability.
Basis For Fees Given.
The scale is based on the fees
usually charged patients by reputa-
BILE Washington physicians for the
services mentioned. They are in
tended to make medical and surgical
attention by the best masters of the
profession open to rich as well as
poor at reasonable prices and at the
same time place the entire profess
sion on a more businesslike basis.
Unbusinesslike practises of doctors
which work to their own injury and
often result in leaving their families
pennyleSS are notorious in the pro-
fession, Washington physicians claim,
and the new regulations are designed
to correct this condition as well as
to curb the few grasping individuals
who may look upon their work pure
ly from a financial point of view.
The adoption of the scale is looked
upon by members of the society as
a protection both to themselves and
the public.
Many Prices Quoted.
The majority of the prices are
quoted below. In addition the scale
covers considerable number of
services of a strictly confidential ma
ture between doctor and patient.
General fees-Frst visit, So to SIS;
each subsequent visit, So to $40: Office
So to $40: each consulta-
ton visit, IS to $50; special examina-
ton. not elsewhere provided for, and
opinion, IS to 500; visit at night
(night is understood to begin at
pm and end at a.m.), IS to $25;
advise at night at physicians house.
SIS to $40; advice over telephone, 81
to $40; for letter of advice, 81 to $40;
written opinion. $40 to $500; visiting
at hour specified by patient, IS to $50;
visiting out of the city at the dis
cretion of the physician and for serv-
ices to distant patients, in addition
to the expense of travel, per day, $50
to $1,000; detention in any case at
patients house, IS to 800; all cases
Of smallpox, diphtheria, and scarlet
fever. for each visit, IS to $40: all
certificates of life insurance. s5 to
s25: all certificates of insanity. SIS
to $50; for attendance in court in
civil cases. per day. $50 to $500; for
an examination involving a question
of law in case in which a physician
will be subpoenaed. $50 to $500:
antitoxins, IS to $25;
protein sensitization diagnosis, $40 to
500: venesection, $40 to $50; intra-
venous injections, $40 to 5000; SUBJ
cutaneous or ntra-muscular injec-
tions. 50 to $40; smallpox vaccination,
So to $25.
Blood Test Fees.
Blood examinations-Enum
Of corpuscles. SIS to $40; differential
count of. leucocytes. IS to SIS: vidal
test, IS to SIS; malarial examination,
IS to $25; blood culture, SO to $50:
test, S. to SIS; chemical
$40 to 5100.
Microscopic examination of tissue
k10 to 800; lumbar puncture, $40 to
800; autopsies, $25 to 5000; prepara-
ion Of vaccine, SIS to $50; matabolism.
10 to $50.
X-ray examinations in laboratory:
of skull for injury, $40
to 800; nasal accessory sinuses, $40
to $50; mastoids, $40 to $50; sella tur-
rica, SIS to $50; ventriculogram, SIS
TO SIS; examination of teeth, IS to
$50; examination of lower jaw for
disease or injury. SIS to $50; other
,xami nations Of face or skull not
specified above, SIS to SIS; examina-
ton of chest, SIS to 800; examina-
ton of shoulder or arms, SIS to $50;
of elbow, SO to $50; ex-
animation of hand. wrist or forearm,
80 to $50; spine. $40 to 5000; pelvis,
s25 to $3.50; hip or thigh. $50 to 800;
Inee or leg, SIS to $50; foot or ankle,