Evening star., 1948-07-01
Farley on Reimbursing
Hospitals for |ndigents
To Continue Today

Additional discussions between |
Health Department and hospital
officials were scheduled today on
operating policies under the new
system of reimbursement by the
District of nine private hospitals
here for the care of INDECENT
patients.
The 1949 District supply bill in
cluded an appropriation Of s735, 900
for the purpose, of which $45,000 is
reserved for the Washington Home |
for incurables. While the plan is
effective today, contracts remain to
be worked out with the nine hos
pitfalls.
At a meeting called yesterday by
DR.. George c. Rutland, ADistrlct
Health Officer, John P. Sanderson,
director of the Hospital Permit Bu-
reau, presented a tentative outline
of policies as a basis for discussion.
In general, he explained, agree
ments between the hospitals and
the District will embody under
standings for providing clinic care
to patients who have lived IN the
District at least year, who are
unable to contribute toward re-
ouired hospital care and who re-
ouire immediate disqualification.
Some Rates Protested.
The proposed rates contemplated
a $9-a-day allowance for ln-pa-
tient cases, 50 for emergency room
treatments, 81 for "out-patlent'
clinic visits, 80 cents for redress
ings, s1.5O for X-rays and 1925 for
ambulance runs.
Hospital officials voiced objec-
tions to several of these items, par
ticularly the 81 rate for clinic
visits. J. G. Capossela, administra-
tor of Emergency Hospital, asserted
the rate should remain at the S2
previously set for contract hos
pitals.
Several of the officials, including
DR.. J. r. Young of Casualty, pro-
tested also that the "redressing"
item should be deleted. since 1t &C
tually amounts to clinic or In
patient care.
Another provision which drew
objection to the tentative schedule
was that the ambulance run fee
would be for patients "for whose
care the District has accepted re-
sponsibility."
Col. N. L. McDiarmid of Colum-
bia Hospital said the provision for
ambulances in emergency cases Is
the Districts responsibility.
al q.
sistant health officer. agreed this
and several other points will have
to be clarified.
Tentative ALLEGATION Of Funds.
The tentative ALLEGATIONS of the
funds for the fiscal year beginning
today was given as follows: Emerg-
ency, $128,971; Casualty, s136,071;
Children's, s199 ,099; Episcopal, $34,-
500; Georgetown, S56,828; George
Washington, 1854; Providence,
s75,s49, and Garfield. $47,9l8.
The funds are to be allocated
quarterly, and those hospitals which
do not use up their quarterly allo-
cations will have priority on the
amounts left, If they use more than
their quotas in the next quarter.
Funds left over at the end OF the
year will revert to the general fund.
Until now hospitals have been
subsidized for INDECENT care in fiat
sums, with no accounting kept. Only
three hospitals previously have had
contracts with the Health Depart
ment for reimbursement for care OF
Internationally, Emergency and
Children's.
In virtually all of the institutions
the actual costs exceed the SO a day
provided in the appropriation bill.
An adult days care of non-tax-ell-
gible patients in the II private hos
pitfalls in this area has been est1mat-
ed to cost S14.48.
We've got to administer a limited
amount of money" DR.. Rutland
told the officials, land you must CO.
operate to the fullest so we can meet
Congress on the examination we will
be subjected to. If it appears the de-
mand is greater than the money,
xL>- r,~ will eJ,ou, fhof -