Evening star., 1948-02-27
CHA Members BaIk
At Rise in Dues, Call
For Alternative Plan

Members of Group Health Associa-
ton, at a mass meeting last night,
baked at the recommendation OF
their Board of Trustees for gen.
eral increase in monthly dues.
Subscribers to the health insur-
ance cooperative, who gathered in
the Federal Security Agency audi
torium to discuss the rate increase.
were to have voted on the proposal
in a mail referendum by March IA.
Instead, members attending. the
meeting voted to ask their board to
reconsider the necessity of higher
rates, offer a detailed alternative
budget t-balancing plan, and let the
membership choose between the
proposals.
Some subscribers suggested 1t
might be better to curtair the medi-
cal and hospital service in some re-
spects, rather than to attempt to
finance an expanding program.
Dental Clinic Planned.
Earlier, it had been announced
that recent membership poll
showed heavy majority in favor OF
adding dental service to the present
health program. The agency will
seek to open its dental clinic by July
l. Charges will be made, at cost, for
the service each member gets.
The meeting was Group Health
Associations annual report confer
ence with its members. AT its out
set, President william E. Warne
presented the reasons for the, rate
increase proposal, which would lit
adult dues from 50 to $3.50 month
and childrenS dues from 50 to $2.25.
It also would curtail discounts for
advance payment and would force
members to pay an extra 500, in
stead of the present $50. for preg-
nancy cars @@
Rate Factors Listed.
He listed among the causes of
the request for higher rates:
A general increase in the costs of
medical supplies and Office material
during the last year.
Doctors pay raises, based on
length of service, have been overdue
since July. The agency must offer
it's staff enough pay to offset the
increased earning opportunities in
private practice.
Extra nurses and Office workers
are needed to reduce the delays in
filling clinic appointments.
A contingency fund of S per cent
of operating expenses must be main
tanned to avoid the necessity of bor-
rowing money for unexpected ex-
penses.
A retirement plan for employees
should be set up.
Member Gain Reported.
Melvin Dollar, executive secre-
tary, announced that, despite the
withdrawal of 2,917 subscribers,
most of whom were discharged Gov
ernment workers who left the city
membership increased about 1000
last year. 1t now stands at 14,200
When discussion of the financial
situation was thrown open to the
floor, member expressed dissatis-
faction with the Board of Trustees
for failing to keep subscribers suffi-
GENTLY informed of the agency's
financial needs. He moved that a
rank and file" committee be ap-
pointed Immediately to study the
rate increase proposal. The mo-
tion was decisively defeated.
When another member asked that
the board itself reconsider its
recommendation, however, and give
the subscribers a chance to study
alternative proposals, his motion
was carried almost without oppo-
sition.
Because of the acknowledged
urgency of Group Health's flnan-
cial needs, it was decided to hold
another meeting at an early date,
consider any solutions that may be
offered and then let the entire
membership decide the issue by