Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-28
Letters to The Star
Health Insurance Without Bureaucracy

| A~I1Nx , ~
Health Insurance Without Bureaucracy
| To the Editor Of The Star:
Every doctor who wants to keep his pro-
fession free will thank The Star for its UNDER
| standing editorial, 1.-THE Doctors Dissent" We
| must keep 1t free from reactionary plots to
| fight futile cold war against worldwide de-
| mands for an enlarged social security and we
| must keep it free from bankrupting regimen
tation of bureaucratic paternalism.
| There has been some misunderstanding Of
the role played as self-appointed spokesman
| Of those opposing the method our American
Medical Association used in assessing each
| member $25 for an educational fund.-" My
action has been interpreted as leadership of
revolt against the ANA. This is not the truth
I am loyal member of the ANA. As such
I am against splinter-party rebellions. II we
want reform, it must come from within. I
believe in the collective responsibility and dis
cipline Of party regularity. recognize the
ANA as my onlcial spokesman when its rank
and file have reached a majority decision. But
insist that 1t be grass roots" majority
decision. In reaching it, dissenting minorities
should have as equal and fair chances as the
loyal opposition" to express their disagree
ment.
felt that the mere privilege of asking a
question from the floor did not constitute q
fair chance for the loyal opposition to present
their case. It is impossible to express dissent
In democratic fashion, merely by asking q
question Our chairman, DR.. John Minor ruled
that 1t was my right to speak in behalf Of
the loyal opposition. As I approached the
rostrum with his permission, he said: tom,
please limit your remarks to two minutes, so
that everyone else will have a chance"
A Matter of Tactics.
To me that was q command from q distin.
guished doctor and fine Christian gentleman.
In obeying my superior in conformity with
parliamentary law, was obliged to delete the
heart OF my prepared remarks. This was es-
sentially an appeal to General George F. Lull,
the ANA spokesman, to be realistic about the
present situation. would deeply appreciate
The Star publishing the partial text of my
prepared remarks which follows:
"As one old soldier to the other, ask the
general to review the tactical situation. This
Is critical area in this theological war A
major tactical error here may loose our fight
to keep our profession free. So General, as
two soldiers who love their country and who
are pledged to keep their profession free from
bureaucratic RECOMMENDATION, let us view the
tactical situation In this theological war. In
doing so, let us have the dispassionate OBJ
JectlVlty OF doctors serving their patients. No
matter how tough things get, General, we are
heaiers nrst, last and always. Our healing
hand Is for friend and foe alike
What are the elements of our tactical
problem, General? It is an honest attempt to
satisfy the compelling hungers of all man
kind for peace with justice and security.
These hungers are not a thing of economic
levels. Everyone everywhere wants peace,
justice and security. To secure them there
is an irresistible and universal drift toward
the collective security of the human welfare
state. This is the state with social con-
science, founded on truth and moral law.
In our field, this means a minimal basic sc.
curity by the collective action of cost-spend-
Ing and cost-sharing Of bankrupting health
risks
Our leadership in the ANA believes we can
supply such basic floor of prepayable health
security through voluntary health insurance
plans like Blue Cross and Blue Shield. But,
If we are Intellectually honest we must admit
that in their present FORM they only help the
fortunate and the solvent They make no
provision for inevitable misadventure. If one
is bad risk, If one is unemployed, If one
is over S. II the severity of the ones illness
exceeds the limited coverage of ones policy,
these plans cannot remain solvent and give
policy has been in force 10 months, there is no
coverage. One looses ones coverage in case
OF lapse and circumstances beyond ones con-
troll can make that unavoidable. Neither can
these plans give coverage while one is waiting
for acceptance Of one S application. Every doc
tor will agree that social insurance falls short
OF It's intended purpose, II 1t discriminates
against the poor risk. These are the unfortunates
In greatest need. They present the very prob
lens which remain unsolved by voluntary
health insurance. In simple language, these
plans lack solvent social suffciency
But to admit voluntary health insurance
plans lack social suficiency does not imply
approval Of President Truman's all-encom-
passing compulsory health insurance program
In presunaing to criticize it, assume that the
forthcoming edition of the Wagner Murray
Dingen bill is bureaucratic paternalism like its
predecessors This may be a very unfair as
sumption because 1t impeaches the Presidents
political sagacitY. He proved most Of US were
poor prophets In November. His state OF the
Union message and recommendations may
prove we are equally poor guessers in
January.
I'm Avoidance of Mistakes.
Suppose President Truman revises his health
insurance program so that we avoid the mis-
takes Of the British Compulsory Health Plan.
He did the impossible in November by ind
ing the weaknesses in what appeared to be
irresistible strength. And the weaknesses of
the British plan are apparent to all but the
wishful thinking.
"A few days ago heard indirectly from a
former UNRA doctor now in highlands Min
istry Of Health. This sincere idealist who is
laboring to make the plan work. had this to
say: I'VE are rushed to exhaustion. All of
us are worried and dissatisfied It is q good
idea, badly executed"
How can our President avoid the tragic mis-
takes of the British plan? He merely needs
to change his mind about giving an alien
comprising health security to preferred eco
nomic groups. Instead of this he would place
q dependable floor of social insurance under