Evening star., 1949-05-19
House Hearings Open
On Compulsory Health
Insurance Tomorrow
By George Beveridoe

ing f1rSt Capltol Hill hearings on
President Truman's proposal for
a Nation wide compulsory health
insurance program. financed by
payroll deductions.
Chairman Priest of the Public
Health, Science and Commerce
subcommittee of the House Inter-
2 state and Foreign Commerce Com
rmittee, said it is his personal
feeling" however, that the group
will not attempt to report out the
controversial plan during this
session.
House sponsors and Govern
ment leaders will begin the parade
of witnesses before the commit
tee tomorrow. Federal Security
Administrator Oscar r. Ewing
foremost spokesman for Mr.. Tru-
mans plan, is expected to testify
next Wednesday.
A Senate Labor Subcommittee.
meanwhile, is due to open long
series OF hearings on the heatedly
argued compulsory plan and alter
nate measures on Monday, with
some of the same witnesses tes-
tifying.
COP Drafts New Alternatives.
Meanwhile, House and Senate
Republicans are preparing an
other major health bill, probably
for introduction next week. to
join long line of measures al
ready introduced as feasible al
ternatives" to the administration
program.
Mr.. Priest, Democrat. Of Ten
nessee gave this lineup for his
committees health hearings:
Sessions tomorrow and next
Tuesday and Wednesday will deal
with the omnibus administration
bill, covering aid to medical edu-
cation and hospital construction,
medical research and public
health expansion, as well as the
compulsory insurance program.
From June 7 through 10, hear
ings will be held on each provi-
sion of the overall program ex-
cept compulsory insurance. Other
bills on the same subjects will
be taken up simultaneously. This,
spokesmen said. will delay de-
tailed studies of the insurance
plan until the latter part Of June.
Mr.. Priest said he hopes the
arrangement will allow the COM
mittee to report out during this
session, many of the health pro-
posals On which there is almost
unanimous agreement.
Senate Groups Desks Cleared.
The Senate Labor Subcommit-
tee, meanwhile, already has held
hearings on these noncontrover-
sial measures. clearing the way
for immediate consideration of
Mr.. Truman's answer to high
medical and hospital costs facing
the Nation.
The health insurance plan calls
for per cent payroll tax-split
equally between employers and
employes-to pay the cost of hos
pital and doctor bills. The $6,000.-
900 ,000-a-year program would in
clude payment for some dental
care, prescriptions and such pros
thetics as glasses and hearing
aids. Proponents argue, however,
that the other portions of the
Truman program, to increase the
supply of medical personnel and
facilities, are necessary to bring
full benefits under the insurance
plan.
Republican Senators Taft Of
Ohio, Smith of New Jersey and
Donnell of Missouri have spon-
sored a bill to provide grants-in-
aid to States that develop their
ewn health plans.
Senator Hill. Democrat. OF Ala
bama, heads another group behind
a measure to give protection
against high medical costs through
voluntary, nonprof1t, prepayment
insurance plans. with Federal aid
to help pay premiums for persons
unable to afford them.
Provisions Being Developed.
Representative Javits, Repub-
iican, of New York. a likely House
sponsor of the new COP bill, said
It's provisions still are being de-
veloped. The measure. however.
is almost certain to rely heavily
on wider use of voluntary prepay
ment plans on a Statewide basis.
j. Donald Kingsley. MIR. Ewing's
deputy at the Federal Security
Agency, and Representative Dingell.
Democrat. of Michigan, House CO.
sponsor of the omnibus bill. will
be among witnesses when the
House subcommittee begins hear
ings tomorrow.
Members of the committee. BESIDES
Mr.. Priest, include: Represent
atives Sadowsky Of Michigan,
Stanley of Virginia, Granahan OF
Pennsylvania, Biemiller Of Wis
consin and Wilson Of Oklahoma,
Democrats, and Representatives
.O'Hara of Minnesota, Bennett OF
Michigan and Gillette and Scott
of PENNSYLVANIA. Republicans.