Evening star., 1938-08-09

in their effects, and so costly in treat
ment that individuals. without public
aid. cannot secure the necessary care.
The health Of industrial workers In
their workplaces, and the mental
health Of the general population are
two other fields of service for which
additional facilities were recon-
mended.
Under the Social Security Act, many
localities. formerly without maternal
and child welfare programs, have been
able to establish clinics for the pre-
natal care Of expectant mothers. But
the committees studies revealed that
in 1896 nearly quarter of a million
women did not have the advantage
of a physicians care at the time 81
delivery; that many thousands OF
mothers and their newborn babies die
annually because Of inadequate medi-
cal care. It was therefore recon-
mended that facilities be provided for
the medical and nursing care of moth
ers at delivery and of their newborn
'infants-either in the home or in the
hospital.
Incomes Too Small.
1t is estimated that some 10000 900
children in this country go without
adequate medical care during that
period Of life when the foundation of
healthy or sickly adulthood Is laid.
They do not get the proper care be-
cause the income Of their families is
too small to provide it. The proposed
program included provisions for medi-
cal care Of the older infants and chill
dren in families who cannot pay for
these services.
The second recommendation pro-
posed Federal-State program of hos
pital construction which would add
100000 beds to our present facilities.
A special study made by the Tech
nical Committee revealed the facts
that there are not enough free or low
cost beds in general hospitals to serve
people Of no income or limited re-
sources; that 10 per cent Of our coun-
ties, containing some 100000 peo-
pie. have no registered general hos
pitals. and that practically all Of the
"out-patient clinics" or hospital dis
pensaries are located in our i've larg-
est cities. In many States, hospital
facilities for the tuberculous and men,
tally Ill are inadequate. Under the
proposed program, the hospital, pro-
Wded with out-patient clinic and
modern equipment for diagnosis and
treatment, would become a center for
the health conservation of the COM
munity.
The third recommendation embraced
plan OF medical care for medically
needy persons. Almost one-third Of
our population probably 10000, 900
people - fall into the medically
needy" category. About half of the
group are in families .for whom Fed
eral, State and local governments
have assumed some responsibility,
through various forms of relief or
public assistance. The remaining TO-
100000 are in self-supporting families
Of very meager income. These fami-
lies can meet their needs for food and
shelter. but the margin left for medical
care Is too slender to permit prompt,
adequate care When sickness strikes,
these marginal income families often
become dependent.
Cost Of SO Per Capita.
It is in this group of 10000, 900
people that the heaviest burden of
illness, both in amount and severity,
falls. For the relief of this grave
situation, it was recommended that
essential medical, nursing and dental
care be provided for these needy per-
sons at an annual cost Of $40 per
capita.
The fourth recommendation was for
general program Of medical care to
meet the needs of self-supporting FAM
lilies Of small means-families who are
able to meet doctors bills for minor
illnesses, but find the costs of medical
care in serious illness a financial
catastrophe. Most Of the radio audi
ence have probably had personal
experience with the burden Of doctors
and hospital bills.
The committee recommended that
we all get together before we're sick
and provide money to meet our medi-
cal bills, either by group payment
through health insurance or through
general taxation. These methods,
which have been successfully used in
many countries, spread the cost OF
illness over the whole population in
stead of making the sick man pay for
1t when he is least able to do so. Many
Of you are familiar with the insurance
principle applied to group plans for
hospital care. which are in operation
in many cities.
Disability Compensation.
The nth recommendation submitted
by the Technical Committee was to
propose Federal action toward the
development Of programs Of disability
compensation. When illness strikes
the breadwinner, not only the costs Of
medical care, but loss of wages, dis
rupt the family budget. Under the
workmen's compensation laws, most
workers are protected against accident
or injury on the job. The committee
recommended that similar protection
be provided against wage loss resulting
from non-industrial sickness or acci-
dent.
After brief presentation of these
various phases Of the program by the
Technical Committee, members of the
conference came to the platform to
give their views. There was no dis
senting voice against the need for
action. As Miss Roche said tn her
closing address, there were differences
Of opinion as to how the costs Of the
national health program should b
appegtSo0a6 aale0g yod9al 0tato end