Evening star., 1948-05-09
Group Hospifa|izatio|
To Accept Doctors
From Nearby Areas

The prepaid surgical and obste-
trical care plan which went into
effect here April 1, blessed by the
District Medical Society and ad-
ministered by Group Hospitaliza-
ton, Inc, this week will begin
accepting doctors of nearby Mary
land and Virginia areas.
Colored doctors also may be ad-
mitted to the list from which sub
scribers may choose their physicians
and surgeons, under a bylaws
amendment of the Medical Service
OF the District of Columbia
Approximately $50 District Medi-
cal Society members now are listed
Between 1900 and $4,000 sub
scribers and dependents. were
covered by contracts effective May l
and officials estimated that q
similar number probably will be
added June /.
The plan provides surgical and
obstetrical expenses, laboratory AND
X-ray fees, and covers certain
other expenses for hospitalized sub
scribers who make monthly pay
ments ranging from 80 cents fol-
individuals to So for families.
Extension Plan Accepted.
DR.. Frank D. Costenbader, presi-
dent of Medical Service, revealed
yesterday that preparations for ex-
tension of the doctors list were in
progress after the District Medical
Society had received without ad-
verse comment" a report on the by
laws amendment.
Organization of the Medical Serv-
ice was voted in 1916 by the District
society, but action of its board OF
trustees is not subject to formal
review by the society.
DR.. Costenbader would venture nc
estimate on the number of addi-
tional doctors who may come into
the plan under the new rule. The
board of trustees decided on the ex-
tension. he said, after receiving a
great number of inquiries from both
doctors and subscribers in nearoy
areas.
The bylaws amendment provides
that in addition to members of the
District Medical Society. medical
service may 'at the discretion OF
the board of trustees, be rendered
subscribers by legally qualified doc
tors of medicine in good standing
in other medical societies affiliated
with a national medical organiza-
ton if they agree to abide by
Service rules. They will not, how
ever, have vote on matters con-
nected with the Service.
COlored Group Acceptable.
This rule, DR.. Costenbader pointed
out, will permit acceptance of men,
bers of the Medico-C Chrurgical So
ciety, Inc, of Washington, colored
physicians organization, as well as
members of nearby county medical
societies.
Group disqualification, Inc, Off
cials, pleased with progress of the
new plan, have estimated that ii
will take about nine months to offer
it to all of CHS 350,000 hospitaliza-
ton service subscribers.
To obtain the surgical and obstet-
rical plan contract, subscriber
must also be enrolled in the hospi-
talization plan.
After formation of medical service
to set up the plan, the District So
ciety and group disqualification
signed a contract irf 1916 providing
that the society would enroll doctors
and CHI would take subscribers
and administer the service. The
first contracts went into effect last
month. 1t provides full coverage
of the listed fees for individual sub
scribers with incomes below $2,50(
and families with less than S4,50(
annual income. Those with higher
incomes may be billed the difference
between the fees a doctor receives
for services under the plan and the
amount he normally would charge
patient of the subscribers income
laval