Evening star., 1937-12-02
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.

AA&hAsoAO IL ANOoInSs
Headed by DR.. Paul M. Pearson,
former Governor of the Virgin Islands,
a group of Government experts from
several departments and establish
ments plan to meet late this afternoon
to consider preliminary plans to
establish a "co-operative association
for medical care" which might build
up membership of 10000 or $4,000
persons.
1t would be separate from the en-
battled Group Health Association of
the Federal Home Loan Bank Board,
now under fire from the District Med
ical Society, but, according to one Of
the leaders of the movement, would
be built along the general lines of
G. H. A.
The group to meet this afternoon is
mittee for Cooperative Medical Serv-
ice for Federal Employees" 1t was
formally organized last May as an
outgrowth of several separate groups
OF Government people in different
parts of the Federal service Some
of these groups including that from
the Department of Agriculture, have
been studying the problem for years.
Enters Controversial Field.
Coming in the midst of hot battle
over Group Health Association, the
new project entered today a contro-
versial field which appeared bound
to stir both strong support and strong
opposition.
Group Health Association is the SUBJ
5ect of an inquiry now on at the Office
of Corporation Counsel Elwood H.
Seal. Briefs have been submitted by
the Medical Society. in opposition to
G.. H. A. and by officials of the Federal
Home Loan Bank Board in its support.
Mr.. Seal has indicated that he is
studying these briefs, with view to
deciding whether G. H. A. is corpor-
alton engaged in the insurance busi-
ness, in which case it should be lie
ensed as an insurance company, or
whether it is a corporation engaging
in the practice of medicine If he de-
cides it is the latter, Mr. Seal has
indicated he will turn the problem over
to District Attorney Leslie H. Gar
nett. G. H. A. officials deny both
charges, insisting that G. H. A. is a
corporation licensed by the District
of Columbia government engaged in
selling Service" Use of taxpayers
money to finance G. H. A. has been
attacked by both Senator McCarran
Of Nevada and Chairman King of the
Senate District Committee.
Several preliminary problems in
volved in the prospective set-up of a
new interdepartmental association for
medical care were to be surveyed by
the subcommittee of Government ex-
perts late today. The question of
finances appears to be one of the up
permoSt problems faced by the new
movement, according to A. c. Ed
wards, who is secretary of the COM
mittee.
Finances Discussed.
Several important persons have been
consulted on this question of finance,
Mr.. Edwards explained, and there are
encouraging indications for establish
ment Of the new association and its
clinic. Individual subscriptions to
build up substantial fund to launch
the program may be one of the items
considered.
Generally. however, Mr.. Edwards
predicted: II think we will work out
a cooperative association for medical
care along the lines of Group Health
Association. 1t may take some time
to do it," i"
When it sits down to its task
shortly after close of the Government
business day, the subcommittee will
have before it mass of data, COL
lected from many sources, including
the Department Of Agriculture Com
mittee, which has been studying the
problem for about two years.
The Agricultural group, Mr.. Ed
wards explained, has an official re-
port, prepared by en- expert hired by
it some time ago. The expert made
q study Of the operation of the largest
and most successful group clinics in
the country.
Another Meeting Soon Likely.
II the special committee makes suf-
hcient progress in its consideration Of
the problem today, it was indicated
by Mr.. Edwards, meeting of the
whole Committee for Cooperative
Medical Service for Federal Employees
may be called some time In the near
future, probably Saturday.
In this group Ut the whole commit
tee there are about 30 people, includ-
ing personnel directors of several Gov
ernment departments and establish
ments. A few of them are: Miss Mary
Anderson, director of the Woman's
Bureau, Department of Labor: DR..
Warner w. Stockberger, personnel d.
rector Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture: Theodore S. Wilson, jr, person.
mel director of the Farm Credit Ad-
ministration; Morris Copeland, execu-
tive secretary of the Central Statistical
Board; Otto S. Boyer, National Medi-
alton Board; John Carmody, rural
electrification administrator, and
many others. .
This is not the first time that the
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