Evening star., 1948-12-02
Physicians Forum
To Hear Rutland on
Indiqent Care Plans

District Health Omcer George G.
Rutland will discuss proposed plans
for treatment of medically INDECENT
patients at a meeting sponsored by
the District Chapter of the Physi-
clans Forum at 8:l5 o'clock tonight
at the Federal Security Agency
Auditorium.
On the same program, DR.. Francis
Schwenkter, professor Of pediatrics
at Johns Hopkins University Medi-
cal School, will outline a new Bal
timore plan for pediatric care.
| Leaders of nearly every health and
hospital group in the city, mean
while, will discuss the city's hospi-
talization needs at session at 8
o'clock tonight of the Community
Chest Federation's disqualification
Fund Committee. The group will
meet in a closed session at the
American Security & Trust Co.
Seek General Approach.
Chester Morrill,, chairman, said
attempts would be made at the
meeting to outline an approach the
group can make to health and hos
! pital problems of the city as whole
rather than to center their atten-
tion at once on problems of specific
agencies or groups.
/ DR.. Rutland has proposed that
the Commissioners agree to pay nine
private hospitals here for treating
patients eligible for treatment-as
long as they are emergency resident
cases-on the same basis on which
they would be eligible for treatment
at Gallinger Hospital. This, in ef-
feet. would allow the city to accept
responsibility for patients who are
able to pay some part Of their own
hospital expenses.
Since July, the city has refused
to reimburse the hospitals for treat
ing any patients able to pay any
thing.
Providence Signs Contract.
The proposal now is under study
by the corporation counsels office.
Providence Hospital, meanwhile,
has signed contract with the Dis
trict for such payments. But the
signing was with the understand
ing that the Commissioners would
change their present policy of de-
termining eligibility for payment
and to pay for medically INDECENT
persons-who are able to pay some
thing toward their hospital bills.
Daniel w. O'Donoghue, jr., at
torrey representing the hospital,
urged the city heads in a letter this
week to bring the policy of medical
indigency Into line with present
day economic facts and with the
spirit and intent Of the Congress
sional appropriation here involved"
Ready to Appear Before Board.
Congress gave the city $500, 900 to
pay the private hospitals for such
care. Under present policies, hos
pital leaders do not believe they
could claim that amount.
Il think 1t is now generally real
lied" Mr.. O'Donoghue wrote. that
an employed person, making enough
to pay rent and provide food and
clothes for his family, may, when
illness strikes, be just as INDECENT
80" as the public assistance case.
II think you will agree that the
community has an equal interest in
seeing that such a patient gets the
hospital services he needs whether
he goes to Gallinger or is brought
to voluntary hospital as an emer-
gency case"
The attorney proposed that If the
Commissioners have any doubt as
to the wisdom and necessity" Of
such action, he and other members
Of the Providence board would
deeply appreciate the opportunity
of appearing before Commissioner
Mason or the entire Board of Com
missioners and presenting our views
in person"
I'VE feel the Importance of this
matter" he concluded, would justify
an informal conference at your con-
venience