Evening star., 1949-04-24
Details Of Health Plan
To Be Given Senate
In Bill tomorrow
By George Beveridse

4IlS Qetduo Oi fTeSlQe0t lIu-
mans controversial compulsory
health insurance plan will be un-
folded to Congress tomorrow in
an omnibus bill that will complete
the anticipated lineup Of major
health legislation.
Chief sponsor in the Senate OF
the long-awaited measure will be
Chairman Thomas Of the Senate
Labor and Public Welfare, Com
mittee. it was learned last night.
The Utah Democrat, who has not
actively proposed previous COM
pulsory health insurance moves
at the Capitol. said he was spon-
soring the bill ION behalf OF the
committee"
Early Hearings Expected.
Introduction Of the bill will
clear the way for early hearings
in the Senate. 1t Is not expected
to change essential points OF ear
lier administration demands for q
compulsory tax-financed plan to
pay the costs of illness or poor
health.
Meanwhile, the Committee for
the Nations Health-an active
advocate of the insurance pro-
gram-last night sent Congress a
study estimating cost Of the Ma
tional plan at $5,5oo.ooo 1000 a
year. i.
In his message to Congress Fri
day, Mr.. Truman used only gen.
eral terms to reiterate his appeal
for the compulsory program, also
urging more Federal aid for the
expansion Of medical schools. hos
pital construction. public health
services and medical research.
Similar to Earlier Proposals.
All these elements are expected
to be in the bulky bill ready tc
be thrown into the hopper tomor
row. The compulsory insuranc
sections are reported to be sim
liar to those in a measure alread:
introduced in the Senate by
group headed by Senator Murra.'
Democrat. Of Montana.
Briefly. the earlier propose
provide for a III per cent ia
a employees salaries UP to $4,000
with employers contributing equal
amounts. The funds would pay
hospital and doctor bills, includ-
ing provisions for dental care,
home nursing and special ap-I
plianees. such as eyeglasses and
hearing aids.
Mr.. Truman said In his mes
sage the coverage should follow
that Of social security benefits.
Officials have estimated 85,000,-
900 people could be covered at
once In the program.
Economist Estimates Cost.
The $500. .o00. 900 cost estimate
was made by George Soule. econo-
mist and author. in a report spon-
sored. by the Committee on Re-
search In Medical Economics and
the Public Affairs Institute. Il
1t said the estimate was based
on the premise that the present
corps Of doctors would provide
about Is per cent more medical
care under national health insur-I
ance than at present, by using full
time of the doctors. chiefly the
younger ones. whose time is not
now fully occupied"
This is the way Mr.. Soule broke
down the cost estimate:
Doctors services, $2,459, ,000, BOO Z
hospital care, $l.S04 900. 900: dem
tai care, $531 900. 900; home nurs-
ing, $50. 100000 laboratory. medi-
cines and appliances. $500. .000. 900,
and research and education. $19.-
100000.
Actually, he said, net cost OF the,
insurance program would be ST.
100000 a year, representing
the difference between the S.
soc, 100000 and the amount al
ready being spent for medical
care.
A statement accompanying the
report said Mr.. Soule gave no
serious study to the recent esti-
mates by the American Medical
Association that the plan might
cost up to $4,000. .000. 900 a year.
He dismissed such estimates with
the brief statement that any such
cost would mean an average in
come for doctors of about $50, 900
4 year"
Cost May Rise in Future.
The report said in future years,
however, the cost Of the insurance
plan might increase by about IS
per cent, as the number of doctors
and hospitals was increased. Mr.,
Soule based his estimates on those
made by the Social Security Adj
ministration in 1945, revising them
to account for increased prices
since that time.
An administration health bill
also will be introduced in the
House, but there have been no In
dications when hearings will begin
there on the voluminous stockpile
. Of health legislation.
Senator Murray. chairman OF
: the Health subcommittee Of the
: Senate Labor Committee, said his
/: group would meet Wednesday to
/: plan hearings. which may get
. under way the following week.
/. The chances are, committee