Evening star., 1946-01-27
Group Formed Here
To Support National
Health Insurance

A new Washington civic organ
ization composed of doctors and
laymen was launched here yester-
day to build public support for
President Truman's national health
program, including compulsory
health insurance.
A name has not yet been chosen
for the organization. 1t was set up
In preliminary form following q
conference on q national health
program under auspices OF the Dis
trict of Columbia Chapter of the
Physicians Forum at Pierce Hall,
Fifteenth and Harvard streets, NV.
A temporary continuing COM
mittee," was formed consisting, of
physicians, labor and consumer
groups and several individuals.
Both AFL and CIO organizations
are behind the move. Many more
are to be asked to join this CON
tinuing committee
DR.. A. T. Rand, woman physician
who is chairman of the District
Chapter of the Physicians Forum,
called the conference and was elect
ed chairman of the Steering Com
mittee.
To'Combat Propaganda.
The new group was called by con-
ference speakers to mobilize a
counterattack against propaganda"
OF the American Medical Association.
accused by speakers of directing a
powerful lobby" against the Wag-
ner-Murray-Dingell bill for a ma
tional health program.
Mr.. Truman's program was praised
by Representative Biemiller, Demo-
crat, of Wisconsin and several others
as the best means of meeting medi-
cal care problems of the Nation.
The Steering Committee, in addi-
ton to DR.. Rand, includes: DR.. Irv-
ing Wink, DR.. Dorothy Ferebee, both
practicing physicians; Miss Mar
garet Stein, medical economist; Ben
jamin Asia of the District Chapter
OF the National Lawyers Guild, and
the Rev. Francis w. McPeek of the
Washington Federation of Churches.
DR.. Rand announced she would
call the Steering Committee within
two weeks to lay plans for further
action.
To Set Up Civic Group.
I'VE expect to set up civic or
ganization in Washington to carry
on educational work for a national
health program and to take any ac-
tive legislative steps necessary toI
help implement that program, es-
pecially for compulsory health in
surance. We are committed to sup
port President Truman's national
health program" she said.
The District Chapter of the Physi-
clans Forum, she said, has IS active
as members, and the Ma
tional Physicians Forum, with head
quarters in New York, has 1000 doc
tors supporting the national. health
program. Dr. Ernst Boas. assistant
clinical professor of medicine at the
College Of Physicians and Surgeons
of Columbia University, New York.
DR.. Rand said, is national chairman.
COverage Called Inadequate.
Voluntary prepayment hospital
and health insurance plans do not
meet the present need, several
speakers at the forum emphasized.
Mrs. Ida Merriam of the Social
Security Board reported that out
of a population now estimated at
lac, 100000 in the United States,
only about IS to 16 million people
are covered by disqualification in
surance groups, and only 5000, 900
to 100000 by voluntary medical
care plans. $3.50
Praising the program of Group
Health Association here as provid-
ing pretty complete medical care"
Mrs. Merriam charged that most
voluntary prepayment med
ical care plans were limited in their
benefits, and as to the age of mem
bers. Compulsory, Nation wide
health insurance, she said, could be
financed by social insurance.
through direct contribution of
workers through their payrolls, and
also possibly by Government con-
tribution from general reyenues.
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