Evening star., 1938-09-18
HAWAII HEALTH
PLAN EXPLAINED
Director, Here on Visit, Says
Program Is Much
Like G. H. A.

A group health program that Is op-
Grating in Honolulu with the full Co
operation of the organized medical
profession there was described yester-
day to officials Of Group Health As
sociation, Inc, whose activities have
been opposed vigorously by the Dis
trict Medical Society.
As explained by Miss Margaret
M. L. Cation. a director of the Hawaii
Medical Service Association, Inc, Its
organization was worked out in col
laboration with the Honolulu County
Medical Society so as to meet prac-
tically the same objectives as sought
by G. H. A.
The principal differences between
the Hawaii and the local associations
is that the former does not employ
physicians on a salary to treat its
members. as does G. H. A., but allows
!, Its members a free choice of physi-
clans among members Of the county
medical society, Miss Cation said.
Confers With G. H. A. Heads.
Here on a personal visit, Miss Cat
ton took advantage of the opportunity
to confer on mutual problems with
DR.. Raymond E. Selders. G. H. A.
medical director, and Perry r. Tay-
lor, G.. H. A. administrator.
She withheld comment on the con-
troversy between G. H. A. and the
local medical society, which has re-
suited in court action by the society
attacking the associations legality
and Justice Department threats of
grand jury investigation OF alleged
nonopolistic practices by the society
in its opposition to G. H. A.
The Hawaii Medical Service Asso-
citation began operations in July after
three years had been spent in work
ing out the details Of its program in
collaboration with physicians, Miss
Cation said.
Our objective was a program to
budget for medical and hospital care
in the middle economic group" she
explained. I'VE did not strive to in
clude the INDECENT or the rich, because
they already we're we'll taken care of.
SOuSnL 10 SdIcSuAIu LtHiCS.
1.-THE doctors. as represented by the
Honolulu County Medical Society (af-
filiated with the A. M. A. like the Dis
trict society, wanted to safeguard
medical ethics and keep the program
30 that no one would come between
she doctor and his patient. They
wanted to guard against cheap med
icine' and to preserve the free choice
OF = physician by patients.
"As finally worked out, a member
pays dues of 50 per month for which
he is entitled to medical and hospital
care up to $500 per year. If he does
not use more than $40 worth of service
the first year, the limit is raised to
$3.50 the next year.
When i'll, the patient may call on
any doctor of his choice among men,
bers Of the Honolulu County Medical
Society. The relations between the
doctor and patient are just as they
would be If the patient did not belong
to the association, except that the doc
tors bill is paid by the association.
"A schedule of fees was drawn up
with the doctors which amount to
practically the same as the doctor
would charge the patient normally.
The fees are graduated according to
the income Of the patient.
Membership in the association is
limited to employed persons earning
$500 a month or less. The fee schedule
provides that the association pay less
for services to member with a $3.50
income than one earning more-much
a. . physician would graduate his in
dividual fees"
Services Are More Limited.
The Hawaii association services are
more limited than those provided by
G. H. A., which has no limit on the
amount of medical service to a men,
bsr. except that it will pay hospital
expenses for only 81 days for any one
illness.
The Hawaii service does not include
obstetrical care, on the theory that
it should strive to help its members
meet only the unexpected medical and
. hospital expenses. 1t does not operate
a clinic.
While G. H. A. membership is linn
tied to employees OF Government de-
partments, the Hawaii association may
include all employed persons in the
$500 per month or less income group
The Hawaii association guards
against "chiselers' by requiring men,
bers who use more than $40 worth
OF service in home and Office calls
during the first six months to pay
half the amount Of such service in
the last six months of their years
membership.
Miss Cation emphasized that the
association began operations "very con-
servatively." 1t operates under the
supervision of the territorial insurance
commissioner and its charter requires
maintenance of an adequate reserve
This was built up at first by loans
from interested individuals.
A member away from the islands
is entitled to $3.50 worth of hospital
care anywhere in the world, although
the free medical service does not ex-
tend beyond Hawaii.
Miss Cation, who also is director
of social service in Queens Hospital
at Honolulu. left Washington last
might for a visit to Norfolk.
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