Evening star., 1939-10-06
Mutual Health
Service Rules
Are Libera|ized
Group Of 10 or
More Subscribers
Now Accepted


Liberalization of rules for sub
scribers to Mutual Health Service
was announced last night by the
District Medical Society, after its
first official meeting for the fall at
the society headquarters.
The previous requirement that so
per cent Of eligible persons in any
group must enroll before the group
Is accepted has been eliminated,
and instead it has been provided
That groups can be made up of 10
or more subscribers.
Mutual Health Service is the doc
tors own plan for prepayment med
lcal care on limited basis.
Age Limit Changed.
Ihe age limit of persons applying
to participate in the service has been
changed from 60 to IS years, and a
provision has been made for an in
dlvidual subscriber and one de-
pendent, other than a spouse, to be
accepted at the rate of $3.50 per
month. Previously only a subscriber
ana spouse were so accepted, with
different provisions for dependents.
consideration has been given
other notifications" it was said in
formal statement. This was said
to be in line with the announcement
made when the plan first was
adopted.
DR.. John Hugh Lyons, president
OF the society, presided, at his initial
appearance in that capacity.
The report of the Committee on
Automobile Accidents, was read to
the society and its recommendation
which had been approved by the
Executive Board were officially
adopted by the society as a whole.
Outstanding among these recon-
mendatlons, which had been made
public, were proposals that applicants
Tor renewal Of drivers licenses be
required to have their eyes re.
examined, and that laboratory tests
now used in some of the larger cities
to determine whether or not a driver
is intoxicated be approved, pro-
viding that they are deyeloped
scientifically by qualified persons
and used only to prove contributorJ
negligence"
An educational program on first
aid IN automobile accidents is to be
inaugurated.
Award Announced.
DR.. Walter Freeman was an
nounced as having received this
years award by the society under
the Davidson Lecture Fund. ThiA
was established in 1929 in COM
memoration of the services rendered
the profession by DR.. Edward Young
Davidson. The subject of DR.. Free
mans lecture for this year Is THE
Surgery Of Mental Disorders" He
will deliver it next Wednesday
night before the society.
The society last night paid tributA
to the late DR. Charles Lincoln
Bliss, who died last January. He
was described as the beloved type
OF family doctor, who was not ONLY
medical adviser to his patients, but
was spiritual adviser as we'll"
1t was announced that 25l men,
bers Of the society had enrolled in
Group disqualification, Inc, this be-
ing a sufficient number to permit
participation by the society.
Radio Education Committee,
A special committee on radio edu-
cation was created to devote itself
entirely to health education on the
radio. The medical society has con-
Quoted radio program over local
station for a number of years. 1t
| celebrated its sixth anniversary
Tuesday over Station WMAL with
the presentation of brief excerpts
from programs broadcast during the
past several years, and a talk by DR..
Lyons.
A medical program similar to that
which the Medical Society has spon.
sored at the Washington Self Help
Exchange has been inaugurated at
the Goodwill Industries. The ar.
rangement where volunteer physi.
clans known as medical guides, su-
pervise the treatment of persons at
the exchange, directing them when
necessary to various clinics, was said
TO have meen most successful" A
request was received by the society
from the Goodwill Industries ask
Ing that similar program be estab-
llshed at its headquarters.
Classification Nears Completion.
The classification of medical So
ciety members according to type Of
practice is about completed. The
executive board of the society re.
Gently authorized a canvass of the
society requesting that each men,
ber complete a form stating tho
type Of practice in which he is en-
gagged. The majority of the mem.
bers have already responded. The
forms returned by physicians are
to be reviewed by committee of
the society, every effort to be made
to make the list of physicians both
complete and reliable. The list will
be used at the medical societys
office in responding to inquiries
from the public.
The establishment of telephone
secretarial bureau by the society is
being considered. No definite action
was taken, however, on this project
last evening. The Executive Board
advised the society that it will study
the matter further and take action
in January.
The purpose of the bureau will be
to relay calls from patients to their
physicians. 1t will be operated on
a 24-hour basis and will handle not
only regular calls for physicians but
emergency calls as well. It will also
provide information regarding phy-
sicians, hospitals and other mat.
ters pertaining to the medical pro-
fession of general public interest.