Evening star., 1947-11-27
Area Hospital Council
To Get Fu|I-Thne Paid
Executive and Office

The National Capital Area Hos
pital Council, established last year
to bring long-sought Coordination
of hospital activities In this area,
will have a full-time paid execu-
tive and a permanent office as soon
as a special committee can select
them.
Authority to proceed with per-
manent organization plans, delayed
until now by lack of funoS, was
granted at a council meeting yes
terday, when IA of the 16 member
hospitals agreed to contribute to a
$4,000 fund for salaries and office
costs.
The 10000 is a slender budget on
which to obtain an executive secre-
tary and a stenographer, as we'll as
rent an Office, Council President
William r. Castle conceded.
He said the council has directed
Arthur G. Lambert, chairman of
the committee on permanent Or
ganization, to try to make salts
factory arrangement for Office space
with the Health Security Admins
tration or one Of the city hospitsls,
before choosing any expensive loca-
ton. ~, d ,,-s.4
The health and hospital survey Of
Metropolitan washington, sponsored
last year by the Metropolitan WASH
ington Health Council, whose rec
concentrations were largely respon-
siNe for setting up the Hospital
Council, urged that the hospital CO.
ordinating body have q capable, full
time. high-salaried executive.
Daniel w. ODonoghue, jr., chair.
man of q council committee on In
digent care, brought other council
members up to date on his commit
tees negotiations with the District
Health Department to obtain pay
ment from public funds for indig.
ent patients treated in private hos
pitfalls.
He said the committee has sub.
mitted a detailed report showing .
loss of more than $l50,0O0 during The
first six months or this, year or
patients eligible for public support ir
the city's private hospitals. The re.
port was submitted late Monday
afternoon. but Health Ofhcer George
C. Ruhland had not had time tt
study it by yesterday afternoon. MIR
EODonoghue said his committee l.
awaiting DR.. Ruhland's reply before
taking further action.
Maj. Gen. Philip 3. Fleming
Federal Works Administrator, tole
the council his agency will ash
Congress to restore authority tt
spend the unused balance Of its $685.
600, 900 appropriation for the new
l.50O-bed Hospital Center on i'm
provements at other hospitals which
will not take part in that medica
center.
The original bill authorizing erec'
ticn of the giant Hospital Cente,
included added funds for ether Dis
trict hospitals, bringing the tota
authorization to- $35, 100000. Con.
gress struck out the provision fol
other hospitals. but left the tota
funds intact-a sum well above thu
expected cost of the Hospital Center
The Hospital Council was in.
formed that Group disqualification
Inc, the hospital prepayment or
ganization, has completed its sur
vey of operating costs at hospital:
With which it has contracts.
The hospitals complained severa
months ago they we're not Lreakine
even on CHI patients, since tn.
agency was paying them at rate;
based on lower expenses last fall.
CHI will consider d proposal or
December 3 to repay any hospita
for losses incurred this year on it;
patients owing to the rise i'll ope'
rating eynenseS