Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-09
ANA Approves Plans
For National Health
Conference This Year
By George Beverage
Stor Staff Corrsspondenf

Stor Ssoft Correspondent
ATLANTIC CITY, June s.-The
American Medical Association to-
day approved plans for a national
health conference later this year
and indorse expansion moves by
voluntary medical-care plans.
The policy-making House of
Delegates also unanimously con-
firmed action by the ANA Board
of Trustees to cut most activities
of DR.. Morris Fishbein. long re-
garded by the public as the fore
most spokesman for American
medicine.
The 60-year-old editor Of the
ANA journal sat with his son
smiling. as the House voted with
out discussion on his future. The
board, announcing plans for his
retirement at a future date. had
said DR.. Fishbein henceforth will
make no public appearances on
behalf of ANA, hold no interviews,
and restrict sharply his editorial
duties.
Monument to Genius"
The resolution said the or
ganization. together with the
whole civilized world. owes DR..
Fishbein a debt of gratitude" for
his past service and that the
journal Is IAN enduring monu-
ment to his genius and devotion"
The House, voting support for
Blue Shield - the network OF
voluntary medical care prepay
ment plans--left up to officials
of the plans the formation OF a
national insurance company,
through which the Blue Shield
hopes to be able to offer medical
care contracts to employees OF in
dustry on a Nationwide basis.
After the national plan is set ur,
1t will be considered by the AMA's
Council on Medical Service.
In another action. the House
voted separation Of ANA from the
Blue Shield commission so the
group can function more ad-
equately as an autonomous body"
The ANA now names six of the
commission 10 members.
; The House also shelved a pro-
posal for a Nationwide survey OF
doctors to learn their feelings on
the best approach to high cost Of
medical care, referring it to the
board for further study In view Of
the "enormity and cost" of such a
project.
To Seek Program Support.
The national health conference
Is aimed at drawing support for
the AMA's approach to the coun-
try's health and medical needs.
All interested groups" includ-
ing proponents of a compulsory
health insurance program. will be
invited to the meeting. announced
in a surprise move late yesterday
by the ANA Board of Trustees.
Location of the conference to be
held late this summer or in early
fall, has not been decided.
ANA officials, questioned about
the conference. were hazy about
what they thought it would &C
complish. .4- ,.
H. L. Henderson, chairman of
the, Board of Trustees, told q re-
porter the conference will be held
to try to iron out some of the
differences" that exist to gain sup
port for the program.
The great obstacles to wide
spread agreement. still at the root
of the health problem. however, is
the issue of compulsory health
insurance.
Attendance Not n Record.
Attendance at the AMA's 98th
annual convention apparently will
miss the all-time mark predicted
by officials before the sessions.
with only a slight chance of
matching the physician enroll
ment of nearly 10000 here two
years ago. AS of Tuesday night,
1888 doctors had registered, al
though more have been pouring in
steadily during the last two days
to attend 18 separate scientific
sections which are hearing papers
on all phases of medical special
ties.
DR.. Oswald T. Avery of New
York last night received the an
nual $4,000 Passano Foundation
award for his extensive investiga-
tons of pneumococci, developing
their classification. analysis and
immunological relationships. DR..
Ernest e. Irons. newly-installed
ANA president, spoke at the pres
entation.