Evening star., 1938-03-30
FIGHT OVERG.H.A.
GROWING HEATED
Scott and Shafer Agree Only
That Inquiry Should
Be Held.


tice waxed hotter today as Represent
ative Scott, Democrat, Of California,
champion of Group Health Association,
Inc, and Representative Shafer, Re-
publican, Of Illinois, defender Of the
District Medical Society. hurled
charges and counter charges and dif-
fered sharply on the nature Of q pro-
posed investigation.
The two agreed on only one point
that there should be an investigation
Representative Scott insisted on an in
quiry national in scope by select
committee Of the House so as to involve
the American Medical Association
Representative Shafer. praising the
doctors. favors turning the proposed
investigation over to the subcommit-
tee on hospitals and welfare Of the
House District Committee.
Meanwhile Senator Capper, Repub-
lican, OF Kansas was receiving replies
from all hospitals in the District in re-
sponse to his request for information
Senator Capper said he would not dis
close the nature Of these replies until he
had all Of them. He asked for the by
laws OF the hospitals and "other infor-
nation" to determine whether the hos
pitals in the current controversy were
living up to their public trust"
Called National Issue.
Mr.. Scott continued his series OF
attacks on the medical society in q
radio address last night.
This is not a District fight" he
asserted, ut is a serious national issue
1t involves millions of men, women
and children who are financially un-
able. under the present method OF
compensating doctors and paying fol-
hospital service, to purchase adequate
medical care"
The Scott resolution for a House
committee investigation now is before
the House Rules Committee.
On the other hand, Representative
Shafer charged in nine-page state
ment in the Congressional Record that
G. H. A. physicians are engaged In
illegal practice. and hospitals which
have professional relations with them
are equally guilty.
As q member Of the subcommittee
on hospitals and charities of the Dis
trict committee. Mr.. Shafer said he
had made a cursory investigation of
the controversy and believes it should
be entered into thoroughly by that
subcommittee.
Says Society Wants Inquiry.
Prom my findings" he said, Il have
no doubt but that an investigation into
the activities Of the Medical Society of
the District would vindicate that Or
ganization and its members of unethi-
cal conduct. In fact. I have learned
that members Of the District Medical
Society are anxious that this investi-
CATION be held in order that the loose
accusations and the implanting in the
public mind Of doubts as to the high
morals and ethics of the members OF
the society may be disproved."
Mr.. Shafer declared the "fallacy" OF
the G. H. A. program is that its 5000
members must depend on six physi.
clans.
He said he would support the resolu-
tion Of Representative Scott calling for
an investigation national in scope, but
believes the existing dispute is local
in character and the inquiry should be
conducted by the District Subcomn1it-
tee.
Approves Scandiffio Action.
In addition Mr. Che !.
recent dismissal from the Medical So
clety OF DR.. Mario Scandifho, a G. H
A. physician, and declared the present
controversy started when a G. H. A.
member was denied admittance to
Garfield Hospital when it was ascer-
tanned by hospital authorities that
emergency surgery was not needed. >
The patient, he said, later underwen,
an operation at Columbia Hospital.
In his radio speech, Representative
Scott charged "a small dominan,
group of the American Medical Asso.
citation" has sought for years to OBJ.
struct the spread of cooperative pre-.
payment medical service plans.
Their hostility reached white heat.
he said. when it became known tina,
Federal employees were seeking to bud.
get sickness bills for themselves ane
thelr dependents in the Capital"
1he movement for Group Health As.
soclation really started, Mr.. Scott OK.
planned. in the credit union serving tn.
Federal Home Loan Bank Board ane
its agencies when this union noticed
that a large percentage OF loans wa.
granted to pay bills for hospital ex.
penses and physicians services.
Another aspect of the question. EEK.
ceedlngly important to taxpayers. :" h,
said, was brought to light when it wa
found that under Federal legislation
sick leave in the Home Owners Loa1
Corp. alone costs nearly $50O00O an
nually.
Reduces Pay Roll Costs.
Records of scores OF oil companies
railroads and other business Arm
SHOW" he explained. that adeouat,
hospital and medical care is the frs
eHectiVe step in reducing pay rol
costs due to sickness. It was or
this basis that the organization knowr
as Group Health Association, Inc,
received, aid from the Federal HON,
Lo<n Bank Board"
Turning to the hospital situation
Mr.. Scott said he had evidence tt
SHOW the hospitals ''in denying ad.
mission to members of Group Health
Association, have been forced by thu
controlling group of the medical so.
clety to take position diametricall,
opposed to their previous splendie
record Of public service"