Evening star., 1946-01-25

VI dHlP0tCCC dllu tiiUcc VIII 1lAfs
lost sight or hearing in the war
the committee explained that, a.
q stop-gap measure, veterans nov
can go to any limb manufacturer
to buy a prosthetic appliance, with
the Government footing the bill.
Provides Superior Equipment.
Previously, veterans had to buy
from manufacturer under contrac
to the Veterans Administration, with
the result that the agency "arbi
trarily forced the acquisition of in.
ferior types of prosthetic appliances,
committee members told a pres
conference.
"We'd rather have the Govern.
ment lose a little money for awhile
so these veterans won't have to wait
months for their appliances" ex.
planned Aaron l.. Danzig, a New
York attorney who has had a par.
alyzed right arm since childhood.
Walter Bura, acting director o1
the Prosthetic Appliances Service
explained committe members will
meet with limb manufacturers te
make permanent arrangements fol
contracts that will keep the Gov
ernment from having to pay more
than civilians pay.
Mr.. Bura said that at a series of
with limb manufacturers
starting next week I'VE will tell them
that we will spend $1,000 900 year
on research. The benefits of this
research will be given to them if they
will agree to standardizing their
limbs, to be licensed and to give good
service. We don't want to set up
additional facilities, but unless they
agree to cooperate we will be forced
to step in to take care OF the boys"
"Charge Accounts" for Repairs.
The committee said it also had
approved system Of giving vet
Grams virtual charge accounts" to
get their artificial appliances re-
paired. Under this system, which
is now awaiting approval by the
Veterans Administrators legal de-
partment, each eligible veteran
would be given "prosthetic service
card" which he could present at any
OF the country's 484 orthopedic ap-
pliance shops for repair service.
Mrs. Rogers, ranking minority
member Of House Veterans Commit
tee, said the card would be one
method Of cutting down needless
trips to Veterans Administration
ofdces and months of waiting for
simple repairs. 1t was estimated
that approximately 100000 veterans
using some form of artificial appli-
ance would benefit.
Instead of getting prior approval
OF repairs, the limb shops would bill
the Veterans Administration, and
a board Of representatives and limb
manufacturers would review the bills
to prevent overcharging.
Other Recommend tiops.
The committee, which emphasized
that it was Independent of the Vet
Grams Administration and wanted
veterans to write in their complaints,
made these other recommendations
with the promise that it would see
they were carried out:
Licensing Of manufacturers for
the protection of veterans, employ
ment Of veteran amputees as contact
representatives throughout the Vet
erans' Administration to help other
veterans with the same problems,
Standardization Of artificial appli-
ances to include the best mechani-
:al features available, free choice
II appliances, issuance Of informa-
ion to help veterans choose the best
appliances, provision of 4 wide range
If aids, from talking book machines
20 guide dogs for blind veterans.
Other members of the committee
include Col. Robert s. Allen, who
ost an arm while serving in Europe;
John Haskell. vice president Of the
New York Stock Exchange, who lost
= leg in service; John H. Pratt,
Washington attorney, who lost an
arm while serving as a Marine cap
tain; Sergt. Harold Dixon, Mount
Rainier, Md, who lost both legs in
Europe and in now stationed at
Walter Reed Hospital, and Mr..
Danzig.