Evening star., 1938-04-12
FOES PEACE OFFER
STUDIED BY c. H. A.
Mass Retaliation Against
Medical Society Beaten
in Close Vote.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
District Medical Society has led
opposition to Group Health Associa-
ton since its organization last tdll.
chiefly on grounds that its program
tor cooperative medical care of
Government ,Oorkers on small
monthly fee basis constituted illegal
practice OF medicine by corpora
ton. At the same time, it has
maintained desire to cooperate in
d program toUard same ends that
tpould meet its standards.
Group Health Association officials
studied conditional peace offer
from the District Medical Society to-
day, after G. H. A. members last night
sidetracked move to organize a
"hshting' campaign against society
members opposing the cooperative
medical care program for Govern
ment workers.
A G. H. A. spokesman said the terms
outlined by DR.. Thomas E. Nein So
ciety president, as a basis for CO.
operation appeared at first glance to
mean that the G. H A. would have
to get out of business before the So
ciety would withdraw its opposition.
DR.. Neill wrote W. C. Kirkpatrick,
G. H. A. president, that the medical
society is willing to cooperate with
any lay group including Group Health
Association. Inc, in setting up and
carrying out program" to provide
medical care for persons of low in
come, with "a system of regular
monthly payments, in the nature of
insurance premiums
Raised Same Points.
The conditions he outlined for ac-
ceptance by G. H. A. before the society
would negotiate with it, however,
raised the same points on which the
society has fought the group health
program so far. by challenging its
legality and refusing to allow it's men,
bers to work for the G. H. A. or con-
suit with its physicians.
specifically. these conditions are
that the program be legal. ethical,
economically sound, and that the serv-
ice conform to recognized medical
standards" DR.. Neill said His letter
also made it clear that the society
would insist such program under a
system of small monthly fees be con-
fined to persons of low income.
G. H. A. has no income restrictions
on its membership, which now includes
approximately $500 employees of 19
Government departments and their
families.
The society has contended the G. H.
A. program involved illegal practice of
medicine by corporation. Request by
the G. H. A. for ruling on its legality
Is pending in District Court.
Mass Retaliation.
The proposal for mass retaliation by
G. H. A. members against the medical
society physicians opposing its activ-
tiles came at the regular quarterly
meeting of the association at the Labor
Department auditorium last night.
AllC lllOliOll, NdlllllS lut
ment of a fighting fund" and for list
ing the medical society opponents. was
tabled after the first show of hands
vote among the more than 1900 at
tending the session showed near So
so split.
John Carmody, rural electrifcation
administrator, said passage of such a
motion by narrow margin would be
unsatisfactory, and declared there is
no need to retaliate, because Group
Health is gaining favor every day and
largely because it stands up despite
repeated attacks"
Meanwhile, Senator Wagner, Demo-
crat, of New York introduced a reso-
luton in the Senate calling for broad
investigation 'of the adequacy and
cost of medical care in relation to
income and ability to pay, and of
ways and means to maintain and i'm
prove the health Of the people of the
United States"
His resolution provided for specific
study OF existing health insurance or
group health systems, with particular
reference to the manner in which
they were instituted and are now
functioning, the method of financing,
the nature and extent of benefits and
the results achieved"
A three-man Senate committee
would be empowered to hold public
hearings and required to report to the
Senate by next February l the results
OF its study and recommendations for
appropriate legislation.
Senator Wagner said his action was
based on a growing demand for meas
ures to break down the economic
obstacles separating those in need of
adequate medical services and those
trained to furnish such services" He
said careful inquiry of all expert
opinion should precede the drafting
OF specific legislation to attack the
health problem on national scale.
DR.. Neill said in his letter to MIR.
kirkpatrick that the medical society
here has long recognized the need
for better medical care for persons of
low income" and is earnestly seeking
to solve the problem instead of adopt
ing "obstructionist tactics"
He said he understood the society
and the G. H. A. had a common goal
in this respect and the society has
been willing at all times to work out
with G. H. A. program to attain
this goal, and to contribute the time.
talent and facilities of the medical
profession to that end"
"The society hereby offers again its
unqualified cooperation in planning
and carrying out program to provide
proper and adequate medical care for
persons Of low income" he added.
If your organization is willing to
readjust itself to conform with these
simple requirements-ethics, legality,
economic soundness and guarantee
that standards of medical service will
be maintained-the society is ready
to negotiate with you at any time" his
1etter continued