Evening star., 1938-08-03
MEDICAL SOCIETY
STUDYING PLANS
Special Committee Reviews
Limited Indemnity Type
of Health Insurance.

In the midst of the current contro-
versy over medical care the Medical
Society Of the District Of Columbia is
making q careful study of the posi-
bility of recommending a limited in
demnity type of health insurance" 1t
was learned today.
The study is in the hands of a
special committee of the society.
known as the Committee on Medical
Economics" headed by DR.. Arch l..
Riddick.
The new issue Of Medical Annals Of
the District of Columbia, oflcial organ
of the medical society, carries a
lengthy discussion of the question,
who Is Responsible for Medical Care
of the People?" 1t was written by DR..
Arthur c. Christie. member OF the
Medical Economics Committee. The
answer to his question, DR.. Christie
said, is the medical profession.
Without mentioning Group Health
Association, Inc, which now is the
center of a national controversy over
socialized medicine. DR.. Christie point
ed out difficulties" which surround
such plans of voluntary health insur-
ance, but praised Group Hospitaliza-
ton, Inc. of this city, which he said
offers limited" and specified hospital
services under an insurance plan.
Constructive Course Sought.
DR.. Christie called on the Medical
Society to pursue constructive
course" which would mot interfere
with medical progress or lower the
quality of medical care" His article
was read at meeting of the society,
but published today for the first time.
Details of the new limited indem-
nifty type of health insurance" under
consideration we're not disclosed, but
the fact that the society at this time
is making a careful study OF such a
subject assumed major Importance IN
the light of the controversy in which
organized medicine now is involved.
The Committee on Medical Eco
nomics includes. besides DR.. Riddick
and DR.. Christie, the following: DR..
Charles S. White, vice chairman; DR..
e. Hiram Reede, DR.. Harry S. Bern
ton. Dr. Russell j. Jansen. DR.. Thomas
z. Mattingly, DR.. Howard P. Parker
and DR.. Jesse T. Mann.
Meantime, the Washington League
for Cooperative Medical Service
planned to lay before Acting United
States Attorney Harry L. Underwood
this afternoon its request that the
Government institute "quo warranto''
proceedings against the Medical So
ciety charging that the organization
was acting in restraint of trade in its
efforts to hamper the operations of
G. H. A. Among those heading the
delegation from the league were ex-
pected to be John M. Carmody, admin
istrator of the Rural Electrification
Administration, Mary Anderson, head
of the Women's Bureau of the Depart
ment of Labor; Jacob Baker, president
of the United Federal Workers of
America; Col Henry T. Hunt, former
general counsel of the Public Works
Administration, and A. c. Edwards,
secretary treasurer of the league.
Department Pushes Plans.
At the Department of Justice, plans
went forward on the proposed grand
jury investigation of alleged monopoly
practices of both the District Medical
Society and the American Medical As
sociation. The Government, however.
still held open the offer of a consent
decree" in the courts, if organized
medicine would desist from alleged ill
legal practices. The Presidents In
terdepartmental Committee to Co
ordinate Health and Welfare Activi-
ties is developing a program of pro-
posed legislation to lay before Con-
gress.
In his discussion of the proposed
constructive course" recommended to
the medical profession, DR.. Christie
declared that medical care of the
great middle class of the population
which is the backbone of American
citizenship was "the most important
obligation of the medical profession.
Expressing the belief that sound
methods of insurance can be applied
with proper limitations to the problems
of medical care" DR.. Christie declared,
however, that lit is our conviction that
the value of health insurance has been
greatly exaggerated and it's potential
evils minimized''
AT its best he said. "it offers only
very limited help in the total problem
of medical care and prevention of dis
ease"
Education Held Sure Path.
The surest path to future progress" ="
predicted DR.. Christie, lis to continue
70 improve our system of medical edu-
cation, to develop the means for pre-
vention of disease, to cement the rela-
tions of the medical profession and
the public, to devise systematic plans
for the care Of the poor, and finally
to adopt such insurance plans as will
not interfere with medical progress or
lower the quality of medical care
Apparently referring to growth of
health organizations throughout the
country such as Group Health Asso-
citation here, Dr. Christie said that
recently a small number of people
have carried on a campaign for radi-
cal changes in our system of medical
practice and especially for the estab-
lishment of different types of health
insurance. They are not agreed among
themselves" he said, "as to which
type of health insurance is the best,
the voluntary or compulsory type
Undoubtedly, the amount of argument
for either type has been far out of pro-
portion to its importance or possible
value"
R, |, |NSkO RITES