Evening star., 1938-12-19
Roosevelt 10 Send
Message on Health
To New Congress
Report Urging Wide
National Program
To Be Transmitted

message an inter departmental
committees report calling for estab-
lishment of comprehensive ma
tional health program, it was an
nounced today.
The announcement was made by
Miss Josephine Roche. former AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury,
who is chairman of the Presidents
Committee to Coordinate Health
and Welfare Activities. after she
conferred with Mr.. Roosevelt.
This means a lot to the 10000, 900
people who have inadequate or no
medical care Miss Roche said. The
report contemplates a $4,000 900 to
$65 .0O0, 900 program the first year,
with States being required to
match some Of the Federal funds,
she added. -,
The report recommends general
extension of public health activities,
maternal and child health services,
medical and hospital care for reclpl-
ents OF public assistance. and insur-
ance against wage losses.
$3.50, ,00O, 900 Annual Cost.
1t was developed following last
summers National Health Confer
ence here, called by the committee
at the suggestion of President
Roosevelt to discuss proposed ways
and means of putting a compre-
hensive national program into ef-
feet.
Oscar L. Chapman. Assistant Sec
retary of the Interior and a men,
ber of the committee. explained in
radio address following the con-
ference that 10-year program was
projected on the principle that
about one-half of the cost would be
met by the Federal Government
Starting with relatively small ex-
penditures. he estimated annual cost
of the contemplated program to
Federal, State and local govern
ments would reach $3.50, 900, 900.
Cities where insurance plans are
considered are New York, Kansas
City. Buffalo. Detroit and Mil
waukee The California Medical
Association approved a plan yester-
day.
In addition. the Dental Society Of
New York State soon will begin a
year of experiment in furnishing
dental care on a prepayment basis
Meanwhile. the additional grand
jury investigating organized medi-
cine here resumed its sessions with
prospects that it may come to a
conclusion soon.
The jurors have been looking into
charges by the Department of JUS
tice that the American Medical AS
sociation and the District Medical
Society of the District of Columbia
have violated the Sherman Anti
Trust Act through "coercive and
boycott tactics against Group
Health Association, Inc. of this city.
Mass of Documents.
Beginning its hearings October II,
the jury this morning went into its
10th week with no witnesses. but
with a mass of documents before it..
The jury is faced with the re-
sponsibility of doing one of two
things-returning criminal indict-
ments for violation of the law or
voting an 'ignoramus," an official
document that would clear organ
lied medicine of the charges.
Justice James M. Proctor in Dis
tr1ct Court specifically charged the
jury that it must do one of these
two things and that 1t could not
leave the matter with neither an
indictment nor an "ignoramus."
Virtually all the health insurance
plans are similar to that proposed
by the Washington Medical Society.
DR.. William j. Mallory, president Of
the organization. said it will guar
antee members free choice of ply
sicians and will cooperate with the
present group disqualification plans.
Only single persons earning less
than $4,000 a year or married per-
sons earning less than $2.500 year
with $500 added for each dependent.
are eligible. A single person will
pay $1.50 month. husband and
wife $50, and a family $3.50. The
Medical Society vote is to be re-
turned December "a on whether to
go ahead to establish M. H. S.