Evening star., 1938-04-06
G.H.A.|S0PPOSED
/. TO WITHDRAWING
|. CHEST DONATIONS
Officials of Association
Advise Members to
Continue Aid.
STATEMENT IS ISSUED
BY WELFARE AGENCY
It Emphasizes That Reduction in
Funds Would Curtail Service
to Needy.
Spokesman for Group Health Asso-

Spokesmen for Group Health Asso-
citation, Inc, today re-emphasized
their stand that G. H. A. members
should not withdraw their contribu-
tions to the Community Chest, follow
ing the first official statement Of the
Chest on its position in the contro-
versy between G. H. A. and the Dis
trict Medical Society.
officials Of Group Health pointed
out that they believe the Chest is far
more important and that they had
advised their members not to discon-
tlnue their support. Last week, groups
OF Federal employees sent the Chest
petition demanding refunds of money
already subscribed in protest against
exclusion of G. H. A. doctors by hos
pltal members of the Chest.
The Chest statement. issued yester-
day by the Executive Committee. did
not refer to the petition, but empha-
sized that any reduction in subscribed
funds would mean curtailment of serv-
ices to needy persons. The statement
was devoted chiefly to an explanation
OF the exact relationship of the Chest
and its nine member hospitals.
Hospital Relationship Different.
While the hospitals are Chest af-
flllates, the statement pointed out,
they stand in a different relationship
than the other agencies in that thev
are paid strictly on a service basis,
receiving a certain amount per ma
tlent IN SO far as the funds allocated
TO the care of the sick and injured
sufnce 1t to pay. The other SIS agen-
cles receive specified sum based on a
STUDY OF their needs by the Budget
Committee and divided into monthly
payments.
Pointing out the Chest does not
make any appropriation to hospitals
lof maintenance or current expenses,
out only pays for services rendered to
individuals, sick and injured people.
the statement added:
The Community Chest approves
the character and scope of the services
10 be rendered by all member agencies
and also the financial operations of the
% oudgeted agencies. But it does not
assume any jurisdiction over the ad.
mlnlstrative policies of any agency,
those policies being under the iuris-
dlction of competent volunteer boards
OF directors, who serve without pay"
Statistics Presented.
The Executive Committee explained
that in 1887 the Chest was able to paw
for only 7l.77 per cent of services rem
dered by hospitals to needy sick and
injured people who were Chest clients.
For the calendar year 1888 the amount
appropriated for the purchase of hos
pital services is S277,771,79, the state
| ment said, adding that not one cent
OF Chest money is for medical services.
which are given free by the doctors
to the needy sick sent to the hospitals
by the Community Chest.
1T is clear from the foregoing" the
committee declared. that Cd all
monies paid by the Community Chest
to the hospitals is for benefit Of indi-
vlduals and families who need hos
pital and clinic services; (2) hospital
services can be paid for only in pro-
portion as pledges to the Chest are
made and paid.
The essential place Of the Com
munity Chest in Washington has been
definitely established and is clearly
recognized by community leaders of
all shades of opinion. The Commun-
ity Chest will steadfastly continue to
use the gifts of generous people for
the utmost benefit of those in need.
Any reduction in the pledged funds
means a definite curtailment in the
services of all member agencies and
consequent loss of those services By
the people who need them"