Evening star., 1938-07-28
FULL PRIVILEGES
OF H0SP|TALSARE
ASKED BY c. H. A.
Appeal Is Made in Behalf
of Organizations Medical
Director.
DR.. SELDERS CLAIMS
VIRTUAL BLACKLISTING
Monopoly Probe Decision Expected
to Be Made Soon, but Officials
Maintain Silence.

District Court yesterday, Group Health
Association. Inc, today formally re-
quested all Washington hospitals to
extend full courtesy privileges" to its
surgeon and medical director, DR..
Raymond e. Selders, who claims he
has been virtually blacklisted because
Of his Group Health affiliation.
At the same time, there were indi-
cations that the Justice Departments
investigation Of monopoly" COM
plants against the American Medical
Association and several afIiliated So
cieties is approaching climax. Some
of the complaints were the outgrowth
of the fight waged by the American
Medical Association and the District
Medical Society against Group Health
Association.
Department of1icials declined to dis
close details Of the inquiry, or to COM
ment officially on yesterdays court
ruling, upholding validity Of the g.
H. A., but they said the two matters
were wholly unrelated"
Faces Clinic Congestion.
The g. H. A., meanwhile. faced 4
problem Of clinic congestion, due TO
rapid growth Of the organization.
Yesterdays decision served to increase
the flood Of applications for member
ship, officials said. The associations
facilities are near capacity use now,
with 1900 actual members on the rolls
and 5000 potential patients depend
ing on the clinic at 1928 I street NV.
There are seven physicians on duty
there, but three more will Be added
August / and another in September.
Despite Justice Jennings Bailey's
opinion that Group Health Is operat-
ing legally, it remained discretionary
with local hospitals as to whether
Dr.. Selders or other Group Health
physicians would be admitted to full
privileges. At present. DR.. Selders Is
prevented from treating patients IN
several hospitals except in extreme
emergencies. @ - r
ArnoId 70 Make Statement.
Assistant Attorney General Thur
man Arnold, in charge Of the jus
tice Departments antitrust division,
said he would issue Z formal state
ment when and II definite course
of action Is determined" In connec-
ton with numerous complaints re-
ceived against medical associations in
various parts Of the country.
One of the complaints filed with
the department, it is understood, ac-
cused the local society and the ma
tional association Of attempting to
interfere with operation of G. H. A.
Reference apparently was had to ac-
ton Of the District Medical Society
in expelling from membership q physi-
clan who joined G. H. A.
Mr.. Arnold, in refusing to give out
any details Of the Justice Department
case, disclaimed any intention Of
being mysterious" about the depart
ment's inquiry and explained that ali
the facts" would be given "at the
proper time In 4 formal statement
Of policy
There are two courses open to the
department under established pro-
cedure In antitrust cases-criminal
action through grand jury proceedings
and civil action through . suit in
Federal court. In . recent public
statement Mr.. Arnold said q . gen.
eral policy he favors criminal rather
than civil procedure q . preventive
of illegal practices" and declared
it is necessary that business men
realize that when they indulge In 4
doubtful practice they are taking the
chance Of something more than m
injunction"
The gtst Of the complaints being
investigated by the department Is
that certain medical associations are
sitting competition ands attempting
to prevent the public frSnn seceivinE
benefits Of lower medical costs offered
by group health plans.
Two Phases to Problem
The problem Of disqualification Of
G. H. A. patients presents two phases
First, If Group Heath can eet Co,
operation from local hospitals It
might not have to build neu hoe.
pital OF its own. Second, II . new
hospital Of its own becomes necess
sary, q much enlarged membershin
OF 6. H. A. probably would be neces.
sary to support the enlarged facilities,
In either case. William c. KiEk.
patrick, president OF @. H. A., today
was makings plans to 60 forward.
Since the court decision, he said, he
had received many new offer6 Of sites
for . q. H. A. hospital. The first
I2AA q IT, RAAA