Evening star., 1949-05-25
Dentists Oppose Plan
For Health Insurance;
Political Unit Backs Il
Dy mo AsseeisssS Press

By me Asss<isssd Press
The American Dental Associa-
ton opposed compulsory health
insurance today on the ground
that it would tend to shift empha.
sis away from preventive proce-
dures to q mass repair program
Such q shift, said q spokesman
for the dentists. would fail u
bring about any improvement ir
the Nations dental health"
Also today, another group with
the initials ADA-the American.
for Democratic Action-came ou'
strongly for President Truman.
plan for national health insurance
based on payroll taxes.
DR.. Carl o. Flagstad of Min.
neapolis presented the dentists
anti-compulsory health insurance
arguments. He drew them up foi
submission first to a House SUBJ
committee and then to a Senate
Labor subcommittee. both oi
which are considering health bills
To Hear Arguments.
The views of the Americans
for Democratic Action were set
forth In a paper prepared for the
Senate subcommittee by Seymour
e. Harris. Harvard economies pro-
fessor. This association describes
itself as nom Communist organ
ization of liberals.
The Senate subcommittee also
was scheduled to hear today the
arguments Of the American Med
ical Association against the ad-
ministration's insurance program
Actually, so far as immediate
results are concerned, the days
arguments were merely for the
record. Truman administration
leaders have given up hope OF
enacting his health insurance pro-
gram this year.
That program would be financed
by a 3 per cent payroll tax. split
between worker and employer. or
income up to $4,000. There also
would be a Federal contribution
out Of general tax receipts. Spon-
sors of the administration bill
estimate 1t would cover about i20,-
o00. 900 Americans at an annual
cost Of around $4,000, 900 900 In
paying their doctor bills.
Prefer Truman Plan.
Americans for Democratic Ac-
ton. said Mr.. Harris, think the
Truman program is much to be
preferred" to alternate programs
backed by Senators Taft, Republi-
can. Of Ohio and Hill. Democrat. OF
Alabama.
The Taft and Hill plans, in
separate bills. both provide for
Federal grants to States to ex-
pand medical and hospital facili-
ties and personnel. and to pay
for the case Of those who can't
afford 1t themselves.
Senator Taft's measure would
authorize grants exceeding ST.
250. .o0o. 900 over a fiye-year period
Senator Hills bill does not specify
any particular sum.
Both measures-Senator Hills
to q greater extent than Senator
Taft's-caH for utilizing the serv-
ices Of existing voluntary health
insurance programs.
In indorsing the administration
bill, Mr.. Harris said 1t Is better
than the Taft and Hill measures
because:
1T offers close to complete
coverage, deals adequately with the
crucial problem Of expansion Of
facilities and personnel. and pro-
poses much needed orsanizational
Improvement. The control rests,
moreover with the public, and
not with those who sell the serv-
ices.
Expanded Research Urged.
1.-THE crucial ISSUE" Mr.. Harris
added, "Is whether we are to have
systems under which the 80 per
cent with incomes of less than
5000 are to be protected against
the accidents Of sickness by
|'contributory insurance plan, Of
whether-as under the Taft and
Hill bills-the money Is to be spent
on q charitable basis for the benefit
Of those who claim need"
Speaking for the dental associa-
tion. DR.. Flagstad urged Congress
to discard compulsory health in
surance scheme In favor Of the
associations program calling for
expanded research In an effort
to discover new means Of pre-
venting and controlling dental
diseases which afiict approxi-
mately e5 per cent Of the popu-
flation."
He urged. too. support Of pro-
grams designed to intensity
dental health education for both
children and adults and the es-
tablishment Of community pro-
grams to make dental care avail
able to all children"
DIR. Flagstad added that the
plan advanced by the Truman
administration "is not insurance
but actually Is only q method for
collecting additional taxes