Evening star., 1948-11-21
HOSPITALS Watch Alexandria S
Community Answer on Funds
By GEORGE Beveridqe

By George Beveridee
The plight of Alexandria Hos
pital-which has threatened to close
its doors on January 81 unless it
gets immediate financial helps
an extreme example of problems
facing most private, nonprof1t- max
ing hospitals. Mostly these dilemmas
have grown out of the inability OF
patients to meet the high costs OF
hospital care.
The problem has forced Garfield
Hospital to limit admissions OF
many INDECENT and semiindigent pa
tients. The hospital had handled
large number of such patients, for
whom it was reimbursed at rates
far below the cost of caring for
them.
The problem at Alexandria, off,
cials believe, is not as much one OF
caring for the very low-income pa
tients as it is caring for persons
who can look to no agency for ade-
quate financial help. but who still
cannot meet their hospital bills.
Hospitals Credit Curbed.
Alexandria Hospital has taken
it's crisis directly to the community.
The situation is so serious that
few food suppliers already have re-
fused to deliver goods to the insti-
tuition on credit. And when checks
were written few days ago for half
of the hospitals monthly $39. 700
payroll, an official said there wasn't
enough money in the bank to cover
them. Sufficient funds would be
deposited. he said, before the checks
reached the bank.
The serious lack Of operating
funds and dwindling credit consti-
tute one reason the hospital has told
the city it must help. Anovi1er is a
large accumulation of old debts.
which still are mounting.
But the question of whether a
community is willing to suhsidize-
and accept as it's own responsibility
the financial crisis OF privately
operated hospital, is probably the
issue of most widespread importance
in the threatened closing January 81.
10000 Grant Sought.
David S. Haddock, president of the
hospital. wrote to special commit
tee of the Council that I'VE see no
alternative" but to ask the Council
for a 100000 grant. and to increase
its rate of payment for the care OF
INDECENT patients on welfare rolls.
The councils Hospital Committee
hopes to report on the request at a
council meeting Tuesday. r. Sam
uel Luckett, committee chairman.
said the request involves a legal
question.
He also indicated that 4 survey
of the hospitals personnel and
financial operations may be re-
quested of State or Federal officials.
Mr.. Haddock pointed out that the
council gave the hospital $4,000
grant two years ago. Last year the
hospital asked for $4,000, but this
was challenged because Of law
forbidding such grants to groups
controlled in whole or in part by
religious interests. The challenge
was based on the fact that the 35-
member hospital corporation in
cludes rs members appointed from
religious denominations in the city.
State Law Authorizes Grants.
While no legal decision on the
current request has been requested
by the council, it was learned, the
Virginia Legislature this year spe-
cifically authorized governing bodies
of cities, towns and counties to make
such donations. either for construc-
ton or operating expenses, to any
organization conducting a hos
pital."
None of the requested grant would
be earmarked for any special group
of patients. The hospital already
receives payments for patients
through Group disqualification, Inc,
and other prepayment plans, well
fare departments and the Com
-munity Chests of Alexandria and
Washington.
Van C. Adams. the hospital ad-
ministrator. said it would help make
up losses from those patients who
cannot pay all of their bills. About
33 per cent of all patients. he said,
leave the hospital with some amount
of their bills unpaid.
For the last 80 days alone, the
administrator said, the hospital has
S67 $50 outstanding in uncollected
bills from 805 patients. An addi-
tional s76,165 is owed by 3.488 other
patients, whose accounts are more
than three months old.
Az Pay in Full.
About Al per cent of the patients
pay their entire bills, Mr.. Adams
said, while about Is per cent are
covered by prepayment plans. Only
6 per cent of the patient load is
paid for by welfare funds. at rate
of 1870 a day, and for 4 per cent
the Chest agencies pay less than
81, he said.
Some critics Of the hospitals
plight, unfamiliar with the many
drains on medical institutions
revenue, have asked why room ana
board at better hotels costs in some
cases less than similar accommoda-
tions at the hospital. Others have
criticized what they feel is the hos
pitfalls unsympathetic demands for
a down payment" before admitting
a patient.
While both the latter groups rep
resent losses to the hbspital. the
313.7e Is considerably above the -