Evening star., 1939-01-05
Doctors Vote
Prepayment
|CareP|an
D. C.. Medical Society
May Soon Set Up
Marginal System

Mutual Health Service, q pre-
payment medical care plan, may be
established within two or three
months by the Medical Society Of
the District of Columbia.
This was predicted today follow
ing announcement to the society
last night that 81 per cent of its
members who acted on the proposal
to establish M. H. S. had voted in
its favor.
The ballot, which was taken by
mail, was disclosed to the society
by DR.. Arch L. Riddick, chairman
of the Committee on Medical Eco
nomics. He said SIT physicians
voted, 473 favored the project and
only "A voted against it. Not all
of the physicians on the active list
replied to the QUESTIONABLE, it was
explained, but this could not be
taken as meaning that they opposed
the plan or favored it.
For Marginal Incomes"
Basic principles of the proposed
program were made public in detail
December 10. 1t is designed to fur
nish limited medical service to a
certain group of the so-called mar
ginal income population. 1t Is avail
able to employed persons under go
with incomes of $4,000 a year or
less if single; $4,000 or less for hus-
band and wife combined income)
with 5000 additional being allowed
for each dependent. Subscribers
must join in groups of not less
than 10.
In an announcement issued after
the meeting last night, the Com
mittee on Medical Economics
pointed out that returns from a
QUESTIONABLE submitted to the
society last July showed an over
whelming majority of those reply
ing to the QUESTIONABLE favored
better methods for providing medi-
cal care for the low income group"
On october 5, the society adopted
the basic principles of a proposed
prepayment medical service pro-
gram for low income groups, adopt
ing at the same time resolution
which stated that no such plan
could be considered adequate until
better means were found for getting
care to the INDECENT and the medi-
cally INDECENT groups. At that time
the society authorized the commit
tee to perfect the present prepay
ment plan in detail and to submit
it to the membership for ballot by
mail.
The plan was mailed to the men,
bership December 9. The commit
tee further announced that "medi-
cal care for the INDECENT and the
so-called marginal income group is
now receiving the attention of the
committee. which hopes to make
recommendations relative to Their
care at an early date"
Difficulties Forecast.
The committee further stated
that it had mo illusions about
obstacles to the successful opera
ton of its program. Difficulties and
perplexing problems are expected"
The committee further pledged it.
self to perfect the organization de-
tails of the Mutual Health Service
as early as possible. A new report
on details will be presented to the
society. The report was signed by
all members of the Committee or
Medical Economics.
Lauding the "unselfish purpose
prodigious industry and business
ability" of DR.. Coursen Baxter
Conklln, who until last year was
secretary treasurer of the society
and managing editor of its "Medica
Annals" the society rendered hin
resolutions of gratitude and appre.
citation. A beautifully engrossec
parchment containing the resolu.
tions was presented to DR.. Conklir
at the conclusion of an address by
DR.. E. Y. Davidson, one of the senior
members.
DR.. Fred o. Coo was named a!
the society's nominee for vice pres.
ident of the Washington Academy
of Science.