Evening star., 1949-02-27
6. May Use
Diagnostic Plan
In Medical Bill
Mognuson Program
Ties in Closely With
Tuft-Smith Measure
By George Beveridqe

weakest link" in medical care
by setting up public diagnostic
centerS throughout the Nation
may become a part of the Repub-
lican legislative answer to Presi-
dent Trumans compulsory health
proposals, it was reported last
night.
This week, Republican Sena-
tors Taft of Ohio and Smith of
New Jersey are expected to in
troduce bill calling for Federal
aid to State-controlled health pro-
grams.
One Capitol Hill source said the
Magnuson plan got a favorable
reception" and there is no queS-
ton" that it will be considered
seriously by Republican policy
leaders because it's philosophy ties
in so closely with the Taft-Smith
measure.
The new measure is expected
to contain most provisions of
bill sponsored by the two Senators
last year. which stressed develop
ment of voluntary health in
surance plans and Federal aid
to approved State programs.
Hearings have not yet been
scheduled on health legislation.
but heaviest emphasis probably
will be placed on the administra-
tion-sponsored compulsory insur-
ance plan.
Is Individual Effort.
DR.. Magnuson. who sent his
plan to several members of the
Senate Labor Committee last
week. stressed it was his work
as an individual and that it
carries no other sponsorship or
support
The medical director and Dr..
Paul R. Hawley, his predecessor,
are largely responsible for de-
veloping the often-praised VA
medical program and enlisting
support of the medical profess
sion. DR.. Magnuson has said he
would stay with the program only
as long as he had a free hand
to assure good medical care.
DR.. Magnuson said in an inter-
view that he had full approval"
Informally from many prominent
doctors. but that he does not
intend to crusade" for his pro-
posal. I'm just throwing it out"
he added. for whatever it's
worth"
Plan Avoids Extremes.
Attacking both compulsory
health insurance and failure to
develop active health programs,
however, he said he feels his plan
offers a solution that avoids the
extreme alternatives s'of 'do-noth-
ingism' on the one hand and of
bureaucratic futility on the other
1T seems to me-" he declared,
that the proponents of both ex-
tremes miss the point-the heart
of the problem is the lack of
diagnostic and public health facil-
tiles"
Maintaining health, DR.. Mag
nuson said. depends on regular
examination of a patient from
the roots of his hair to the ends of
his toenails."
Pointing to expense of complete
diagnostic examinations, he said
most people don't get diagnosed
until they get sick enough to go
to the hospital" His plan. he
said, would enable every one to
get complete examinations and
pay what they can afford. In
addition, the plan aims at elimi-
mating deficits in private hospitals
and training medical personnel.
Based on State Control.
The plan, based entirely on
community and State control,
would work this way:
A Community Board, composed
of doctors, civilians and public
health officials, would decide to
set up a clinic. In a large city. a
hospital-with the most up-to-
date equipment-would be used
In a small town, the county
health building, or even travelling
units, could be used. Doctors,
nurses and laboratory technicians
would be recruited by medical
schools in the area, whose officials
would supervise the professional
service.
Federal appropriations to local
government funds and contribu-
tions would be available to estab-
lish the clinics and begin to pay
personnel serving in them.
Then. any individual could ap-
ply for examination, and make
full, partial or no payment, ac-
cording to his ability to pay as
determined by the Community
Board.
Would Aid Military Units.
Family doctors, who often are
unable to make full diagnostic
tests in their own Offices. could
refer patients to the clinics, and
results would be returned to them.
Military units which do not have
such services and veterans could
use the clinics, with payments
made to the clinics by the armed
forces and VA. In the same way,
small hospitals could refer pa
tients for complete diagnosis be-
fore admitting them for treat
ment.
Biggest problem in the plan, Dr.
Magnuson declared, would be staf-
f1ng the clinics in the face of
doctor and nurse shortages.
But in addition to part time
specialists recruited, he said, VA
could send many young doctors to
the clinics for special training
Under the proposed National
Science Foundation, he added
doctors educated at Federal ex-
pense also could be assigned to