The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-11

esA and hospitals m the past nave surely received more than this ex- sapt in cases where they render SNNSlry service and in reimburs- -Ng the hospitals in full for this the capitals should in the long run, eceive slightly more than they have a the past, Mir, Kennedy declares.
 Text of the statement follows; Because recent statements In the newspapers aS 0 result of articles appearing in the September issue of the Connecticut State Medical Jour nal reardlng the increased services provided under the new contract of Connecticut Blue Cross may have created confusion in the public mind, it seems desirable to re-state the reasons why the Blue Cross Plan was organized in Connecticut, what Its present aims are, and how for 1t aaS been successful;
 The Blue Cross Plan was started seven years ago by group of men, many of whom are still on the Board of Directors, or acting as off, cers. These men have never received any remuneration for the services that they render, and they would not wish to do so. because their aim is purely that of service to the corn- munity. In order that there would be no change of policy in this respect. the enabling act passed by the Legislature of the State of Con- necticut in cooperation with these men, makes 1t illegal for them to re- ceive any payments.
 These directors, when the Blue Cross was organized, believed that unexpected illness was a heavy bur. den to all the families of Connecti- cut whose income were limited, and it was their hope that by paying hospital bills through the insurance method, this burden mikht be light ended. The public should under stand, however, that the Blue Cross is not an insurance company in the usual sense, for 1t is not operated for profit. No dividends are paid, and the only people in the organization . receiving money from the Blue Cross are the full-time office and field force required to operate the Plan. The income of the Blue Cross, when 1t exceeds the payments made to the hospitals, is put one side as an emergency fund so that no one will ever question the ability of the Blue Cross to uphold its promise to pay hospital bills for the 100000 Connecticut people who are now Blue Cross members.
 Similar Blue Cross plans have beon organized in other states, all with the approval of the American Hospital Association and through ouG the nation these plans now have fifteen million members.
 Tn planning this program of pub lie service the directors realized that the interests of its members were paramount, and should at all times receive first consideration. However, the directors believed that the in- terest of the public would not be well served unless the hospitals were adequately reimbursed for the services which they rendered, and unless every facility and freedom were given to the physicians to SS4WG bAACh CAACAAto SAAGStANGAys
 The original contract between the Blue Cross and its members offered the following services:
 l. Three weeks (21 days) of care and service for member and for EACH enrolled family member.
 2. Bed, board, and general nurs- ng care in semi-private room, re- 'ardless of cost.
 3. Use of operating room.
 {. Routine laboratory service.
 5. Basal metabolism tests.
 6. Oxygen.
 '. Serums.
 8. Drugs, dressings, plaster casts.
 g. Ambulance service.
 10. Maternity service.
 Services hich most hospitals have offered patients insured by the Blue Cross and not paid for by that or ganization, are listed on their bills as extras and had to be paid by the patient. The Blue Cross believes that the public will be better served If these extras are eliminated.
 The new Blue Cross contract, therefore, adds to the old list the following services and other pro- visions which will better meet the needs of the working people of Connecticut
 Ninety additional days of care and service at 50 per cent benefit,
 Ambulance service coverage ex- tended - up to $S for emergency cases.
 Patient no longer required to pay $l . day to hospital for maternity service.
 Anaesthesia.
 X-ray.
 Electro-cardiograms.
 Physiotherapy.
 Emergency.
 Unemployment provision.
 NC Mge limit.
 No health restrictions.
 Enrolled children automatically dropped from parents membership because of age or marriage are now permitted to continue membership as individual subscribers.
 Credit on private room accom- uodations increased. Family mem bers no longer required to pay $l c day when hospitalized All fam fly members receive equal benefits under Blue Cross.
 Credit on benefits in non-mem- Der hospitals increased.
 The hospitals, of course. should receive additional compensation for the additional services provided. and the sew Blue Gross contract prom ises our Connecticut hospitals that they win receive full cost for all their services to Blue Gross pa- tients as soon as those costs can be correctly determined by experi- enced auditors. Until thos cost can be determined. the hospitals are being paid initially for Blue Gross service, Q per cent of their charges n.aal.laa Gstaa ul..a