Evening star., 1946-06-30
Health Bureau
Plans 10 Tighten
Agency Controls
Privote institutions
Law Revision
Studied by Group
By Harold B. Rooers

regulations under the local hospit,
licensing law of 1908, it was learne
last night, In order to extend tn
city's authority over such agencie
as private nursing homes, res
homes and convalescent centers.
Such licensing and inspection wa
strongly recommended in the recen
Metropolitan health and hospita
survey. Study of the problem ha
been under way at the Health De
partment, however, for a long tim,
prior to the survey, a department
spokesman said.
DIR. George c. Rutland, Distric
health ohicer, who now is on vaca
tion, was represented by an as
sociate as feeling that the old law
which has penalty teeth in it, coul,
be better implemented by revise,
regulations to meet modern condi
tions.
DR.. Oppenheimer Participating.
Among officials understood to b,
making the study are: DR.. Ell;
Oppenheimer, director OF the Bu
reau OF Maternal and Child Wei
fare, and Col. William H. Carey, jr.
director of the Bureau of Sanitation
Tentative drafts of new regula
tions already have been drawn, i
was explained. and when approved
by the health officer, will be submit.
ted to the District Commissioner
for consideration and promulgation
Details of the pending new regula.
tions were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, the newly organized
Hospital Council Of the Nationa
Capital Area has tackled the sew.
eral problems presented by the re.
cent hospital survey and is develop.
ing q program Of action to be laie
before the entire council at its mex
meeting July II at Emergency Hos.
pital. One of the purposes of the
council, as outlined in its bylaws
is to Improve standards" of hos.
pitals.
One Of the problems still under
considerable discussion and con.
troversy as an outgrowth of the hos.
pital survey, is what to do with
Health Security Administration, 6
private agency operating an admis.
sions bureau for hospitals. This or.
ganization was reported last nigh
to be still gaining defenders in dis.
cussions throughout the city by
those who may determine its fate
In the hospital survey HSA was ont
of the most severely criticized of any
agency In this area.
Tighter Regulations Sought.
The hospital survey recently rec.
broadening the law" hers
on licensing. But in the meantime
with Congress 5ammed with q rasi
of legislation, It Is believed by Healtf
ofncials. and by other.
conversant with the law of 1908
that much can be accomplished b,
simply tightening the regulation,
under the legislation already in ef.
feet.
Hospitals here now are required tt
be licensed, DR.. Claude w. Munger
Of New York pointed out in his hos.
pital survey. The District Commits.
sioners are empowered to make de.
tailed rules and regulations, and tn,
health department is expected to in.
spect the hospitals and enforce reg.
ulations.
But, DR.. Munger added: There /!
a distinct impression that the health
department goes little further thar
to concern itself with sanitation ant
the department of public building!
with fire hazards.
Governmental concern with hos.
pital standards in the medical anc
physical care of the patients is not
In evidence"
Many Institutions Excluded.
The present District licensing law
DR.. Munger asserted, docs not in.
clude private nursing homes, private
homes for the aged or independent
clinics" He recommended That the
Metropolitan Health Council, which
sponsored the recent survey with
funds from the Community Wal
Fund, study this problem to the
end of broadening the law, securing
the formulation of careful sets oi
standards and work for the estab.
lishment of an inspection service
which will enforce the whole plan.
The present District hospital Law
was said by health department Off
cials to be strong enough to author
ize additional action by officials here
This legislation, it was pointed
out by experts familiar with it, has
much the same objectives as the new
model hospital licensing law now be.
ing developed by the American Hos.
pital Association.
Four Fundamentals Cited.
This District private hospital anc
asylum act" embodies four funda.
mentals:
l. It forbids the establishment OF
maintenance of any private hospita
or asylum unless licensed by the Dis.
trict Commissioners.
2. It authorizes the Commission
ers to promulgate such regulation
as in their judgment public inter
ests require to govern the establish
ment and maintenance of privat,
hospitals or asylums, and to regu
late the issue, suspension, and revo
cation Of licenses for them.
3. 1t requires the health officer t,
enforce the provisions of the act.
4. It authorizes fine or impris
onment, or both:a fine and impris
onment, for violating or aiding il
violating any of the provisions O.
the act, or Of the regulations pro.
mulgated by its authority.
Some lawyers who recently hav,
made q careful analysis of the hos.
pital law Of 1908 believe there i!
ample authority for the Distr1c
Commissioners to extend their IL
censing and inspection powers ovel
private nursing homes and privat,
homes for the aged.
As precedent they point to {
decision by the Court OF Appeals
here; which defined specifically tn,
meaning of the terms hospital
and asylum" as they are used II
the 1908 Act.