The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-12-13


 relief purposes is the reason given by the Board of Public Welfare for further curtailmentS of services to residents in Alaska in need Of medical and disqualification care, ," through an announcement made public today by R. G. Maynard, Director of the Department
 No new additional medical or hospital cases may be authorized for payment by the Department after December 31, l947, under the General Relief program due to lack of funds provided for the 1947- 49 biennium. Such order is to remain in effect until such time as the cost for those currently un- der care is reducted to within the monthly average of funds avail able from the relief appropria- ticn" was the text of a policy statement issued by the Board in the form of instructions to the Department.
 Daily Cost
 Such action was taken, said Dl- rector Maynard, alter careful review of those cases now receiv- ing attention. It was determined there were 43 cases in hospitals throughout Alaska composed of permanently bedridden, paralytics, hopelessly, physically crippled in dividuals and others ill the last stages of disease, or made bed ridden through amputation due to frozen limbs. The cost per day for these cases totals $2l0. At this rate approximately S75000 a year would be expended. Available from budgeted funds on biennial ba sis are only S73,OO0,p he stated. It was also revealed that approXi- mately 50 percent of the cases were permanently and completely bedridden, and .the other 50 per cent were classified as emergency cases entered in hospitals ill order to save life.
 The Department was instructed by the Board to acquaint the hos pitals with the new policy and seek every cooperation ill rendering emergency care for those in need.
 Freeze Order"
 It was further announced the Department would attempt to CO., operate with the hospitals and doctors in the Territory toward maintaining list of eligible cases which otherwise would have been certified but for lack of funds. In- cluded in the freeze order on General Relief funds was the prob lem of furnishing dental care to dependent children under place ment and supervision of the De- partment, said Maynard. He also revealed that there were many other types of services normally provided for which would be affect ed by the new restrictions.
 With only $200,000 available for the biennium, the minimum budget of $500 per month was established last April for items of general character available to unemployable persons and others in need, leav- ing only S73000 available for the two years to cover medical and hospital care The Department has no other recourse but to deny qualifications for payment for any new cases until such time as the costs have been reduced to within the monthly average of funds available it's was stated.
 900 Denied Assistance
 During the past eight months said the Director more than 900 persons have been denied assistance under the relief program due to in sufficient funds. This program which was financed solely from Territorial funds, provided for granting assistance to individuals in need of food, clothing, fuel, shelter, utilities, child care, board ing care, medical service, hospital ization, and pays for cost of bur ial for indigent persons"
 Many of the local fraternal and civic organizations throughout the Territory have been accepting cases and rendering assistance in large CT small degree Where public well fare funds became unavailable af- ter current allotments were ex- hausted,' the. Director stated.
 Juvenile Delinquency
 The Board after reviewing spec fife information from many cen ters in the Territory with respect to juvenile delinquency and paren- tai neglect was compelled to re- affirm it's position of last April with responsibility to the place. ment of children committed un-