Evening star., 1947-01-29
Garfield Report
Cites Losses on
CHI Contract
TotuI Deficit Is
S46, ,434 for Yea
Castle DiscIoses

pitalization patients $76,85S.89, al
though this has been reduced te
S48, ,191.46 because of two payments
- amounting, in the case of Gar
field. to $28, ,66843," Mr. Castle re-
ported to members of the Hospital
Board.
Under the contract originally
made with Group disqualification
the prices charged generally covered
expenses.
Since expenses have gone up SO
heavily, however, the contract has
proved totally unfair to the hos
pitals," he explained.
CHI Payments Prorated.
CHI has made two payments to
District hospitals recently, each of
100000, which were prorated among
the various hospitals to meet the
rising cost of disqualification.
I'VE believe" said Mr.. Castle,
that arrangements will soon be
reached, whereby Group Hospital
ization will, in the future, pay a
rate for its patients which will re-
imburse the hospitals. And we
earnestly hope, also, that it will
make further payments from it's
reserves, which will clear up the
deficit of 1916.
ut is clear that an insurance plan
should have reserve fund, but it
is also clear that hospitals as we'll
should have their reserves. You will
see that if we can make satisfac-
tory arrangements with Group Hos
pitalization this will, other things
being equal, of itself permit lis to
balance our budget"
Three weeks ago, Joseph Hines,
president of Group disqualification,
indicated he had every reason to
believe the organizations payments
to hospitals for CHI patients would
be increased very soon" He said
the group planned to write new con-
tracts with the hospitals and was
also proposing new contract to
subscribers.
Loses on Charity Patients.
The hospitals also took a $16,186
loss on charity patients, it was said
The cost Of these patients generally
is underwritten by the Community
Chest, it. was explained. But, Mr..
Castle pointed out, what the Chest
pays no longer even approximately
covers expenses.
Originally we got 81 a day from
the Chest, now $5, but this is wholly
inadequate when the cost per pa
tient day in the hospital has risen
to a $10.42 average for the year and
is even higher now," he said.
Mr.. Castle further reported that
the hospital lost $7,269 on patients
sent by Group Health Association,
Inc, which pays the same rates as
Group disqualification, and that
CHA already has been notified the
hospital must charge full billings
until new arrangement is made.
Mr.. Castle predicted difficult
year financially for the hospital, al
though certain measures will be
taken to improve the budget Situa-
ton. A per cent surcharge is now
being added to the hospital bills of
all private patients. BY revised con-
tracts with the group insurance
plans, it is hoped the hospital will
be able to operate in the black
throughout 1947.
Short of Personnel.
Mr.. Castle, also president of the
Hospital Council of the National
Capital Area, recommended the
council promptly hire an executive
to devote all his time to the work
of coordination among hospitals
with such problems as Garfield has
Experienced with Group Hospitali-
zation.
The hospital faces a serious
shortage of personnel in the nurs-
ing department, Mr. Castle said. OF
the more than 400 nurses, students
and aides for an adequate staff
there are only 80, present. In the
school of nursing, the beginners
class has only % students-scarcely
more than a third of the usual
number-and the February class so
far has only 10 applicants.
On the brighter side, Mr.. Castle
reported the obstetrical department
of Garfield has seen 1891 babies
born during 1916, and there has been
profitable and closer work with the
Warwick Clinic in cancer preven-
ton and cure.
Certainly we who are in active
daily contact with the work of the
hospital are anything but discour-
aged" he said.
The annual election of officers of
the hospital was held at the meet
ing yesterday The officers, besides
Mr.. Castle, are: G. Thomas Dunlap,
first vice-president, and David Car
rick, second vice-president. Com
mittee chairmen are: DR.. J. w
Lindsay, nursing; Fred M. Bradley
building; Y. E. Booker, finance; c.
A. Aspinwell, house, and G. Thomas
Dunlap, personnel.
Board of Directors.
The following compose the board
of directors of the incorporators
Donald Mckenzie, Mrs. Wilbur Carr
DIR. U. F. Cummings, DR.. Henry Grat-
tan Doyle, ]. c. Folger, DR.. A. Y. P
Garnett, Joseph C. Grew, Walter
P. Howe, DR.. H. C. MacAtee, Will
liam Montgomery, H. P. Spencer
Mrs. A. c. Stanley, Walter Tobriner
and H A. Willard.
4 Remaining members of the hos
pital incorporators are: Mrs. w. S
Corby, H. r. Dulaney, Jr., Mrs. H
A. willard, Mrs C. F. Burton, Mrs
Raymond Cox, Corcoran Thorn, jr.
lChristian Heurich, jr., Paul Shorb
Northcott Ely, Smith Bowman
James P. Morrison, Sam Spencer
Franklin L. Fisher, P. o. Coffin, Miss
Laura Harlan. and Lloyd B. Wilson
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