The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-06

DR. EDWARD HERR
 Speaker
 proved Medical Care is now before congress for consideration.
 At the National Health Conference called by President Roosevelt at Washington July 1920, 1888, under Chairman Josephine Roach, 1400 delegates were present, representing all different labor groups trade groups, political organizations, some representatives from hospitals and strange to say, only three delegates from the Medical Profession. Nc discussion was asked for or permit ted. It was claimed by the ad- ministration that 40000,000 people in the United States are receiving insufficient care and that there are insufficient hospitals to meet the country's needs. The result of the conference was that the administra- ton presented five recommenda- tions:
 l. Extension and expansion of
 Public Health.
 2. Expansion of Hospitals and
 Public Health Centers.
 3. Medical Care for Medical
 Needy.
 4. General programs for Med
 ical care.
 5. Indemnity for loss of wages.
 I shall discuss these five recom- mendations in order.
 Extension and expansion of Pulp lie Health proposes an increase in CD Child Welfare, CD Increase in Woman Welfare including prenatal and postnatal care, (3) Increase in care of the State Medical charges, State Tuberculosis Sanitariums and State Cancer Service.
 This is worthy recommendation and receives the approval of all con- cerned and should be developed.
 Expansion of hospitals and Pub lie Health Centers, included CD The construction of 500 new hospi- tals, (2) 500 new Health Centers to be more or less equally distributed among the various states of the country and appointments to the staffs of these hospitals and health centers to be made by @ federal board in Washington.
 Requirements Differ
 This recommendation is not who'll ly approved by the American Medi- cal Association because the require ments of each state differ. Con- necticut having only one physician to every thousand inhabitants and ample number of hospitals is well provided for. This is true of Massa- chusetts. New York, and New Jer- sey. In Kentucky however, there are two counties each having 8 popula- tion of 10000 with only two physi- clans and no hospitals. This is also true of some of the Western States. Thus it would be obvious that Con- necticut should receive no increase in physicians and no new hospitals; and Kentucky should receive more physicians and the erection of ad- ditional hospitals.
 The recommendation for increased Medical Care for the indigent pro- poses increased care for the charity cases now treated in clinics and cas- es that have no earning capacity, and to provide for the increased service from physicians and clinics. This recommendation received gen. eral approval.
 The recommendation for General Program for Medical Care would concern not the indigent, as they would be covered by the recommen- dation under Medical Needy just described above but would take in the other three classes of the coun- try; (1st) the middle class who are needy, (2nd) the middle class who are not needy, and (3rd) the Veal thy who are not needy. Thus it will be seen of these three classes, only the middle class who are needy should receive increased medical care and hospital facilities. If this worked out in this way, it will also receive approval.
 The recommendation for indemni- ty for loss of wages provides for payments during the period of sick ness. AS it stands, at present, it may conflict with the Workingman's Compensation and needs more ex- plantation and development in order to make it workable.
 Methods Of Financing
 To finance this new plan, the administration proposes three meth ods of taxation: CD Employer to pay 1-3. @ Employe 1-3 (3) gov- ernment 1-3 of the total finance needed. This of course would mean more taxes not only for the em- ployer and employe, but also for those citizens who do not need Health Insurance. The recommen- dation as it stands at present, shows no plan by which the government is to raise its share of funds.
 As a result of all these confer- ences, meetings, and messages to congress from the President and study and reports by the American Medical Association, 1t appeared to the administration that the time was opportune to present its pro- gram of increased medical care.
 Accordingly on Feb. 23, 1889, Sen- ator Wagner of New York presented before Congress the SO called Wagner Health Bill. Tn this bill Sen- ator Wagner has incorporated the essentials of the five recommenda- tions that I have just described to you and for financing this health bill the government is to raise sS0.- ooo.ooo the first nss .,s year ar increasing