Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-30
HeoIth Insurance
Pro
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1QGs IONtNE NpA&sG i@EA& fE2a va
tents lust as he does nov. In
stead Of sending bills 10 them. re
would bill their insurance fund
say proponents Of the insurance
plan.
Your doctor would have q VOICE
in setting ratessias should De paid
for services in your area. Physi-
clan groups would have q direc;
part In controlilns and directing
health insurance BENEFITS.
Your doctor could accept you as
a patient or refuse TO treat you
He could. II he chose, stay out Of
the program entirely. anu treat
patients in private practice.
Three Payment Methods.
/ Those who participated could
choose one OF these three ways
TO be paid:
l. Fee basiS-A special rate Of
pay for each visit or specific
service.
! >. Capitation A specified
amount OF money year for the
care Of each patient on his list,
3. Salary.
These rates would be graded in
accordance with ability. expert
ence and with full recognition OF
his right to an income in line
with his long training and ability
Specialist fees. for example. would
necessarily be higher than rates
for visits to general practition-
er's office.
In a recent report from Eng
land, a correspondent declared
that, while some doctors have
taken a considerable drop in earn
ings, incomes of the profession
as a whole have increased by
over go per cent. compared with
before the war
There have been charges that
this plan would involve a massive
amount of administrative red tape.
But. proponents point out. a large
amount of most doctors bills now
is written of as uncollectable.
Doctors already maintain time
consuming billing systems and
often have to turn bills over TO
collection agencies.
Ends Fee Adjustment.
Under this plan. they would be
assured of receiving payments at
rates they helped set. They could
disregard investigators to deter
mine what their patients can af-
ford to pay before they adjust
fees accordingly.
The plan provides specifically
that the family doctor. the general
practitioner, have easy access to the
services of consulting specialists,
Without having to worry about his
patients ability to pay for these
expensive services. he would be
more likely to call on them when
they are needed. This plan would
give doctors opportunities they
never have had before to prevent,
as we'll as cure. sickness.
For the community hospital.
health insurance would mean the
end of unpaid patients bills and
frustrating negotiations for reim-
bursement from local governments
and charity groups for treating
patients who are unable TO pay
their own expenses. These prob
lens have been high lighted in
Washington deflcit-ridden hos
pitfalls during the last few years.
No longer would hospitals have
to worry about whether voluntary
Iplans were paying adequately for
the ever-changing costs Of opera
ton. because these would be de-
cided by fair. standard rates which
assuredly would be paid.
Would Cover Nearly All.
There would be no more worry
about payments from Community
Chest and other charity groups.
because nearly all Of the recipients
would be covered by the plan.
There would be no more inadequate
payments from Government be-
cause public welfare groups could
buy" eligibility cards for persons
on welfare rolls.
The program stresses develop
ment Of outpatient clinics--a basis
for preventive medicine - where
thousands Of persons are ex-
amined and treated every day.
Persons covered who desired to
keep going to these clinics could
designate them as their private
doctors to take advantage Of the
combined medical knowledge Of
the doctors manning them.
Until the plan covers the entire
population. public hospitals. such
as Gallinger. could continue TO
serve some citizens Of the COM
munity. When complete coverage
comes, the facilities of these hos
pitfalls could be operated privately
to help meet the great need for
hospital bed care.
Could Get Private Room.
You or any dependent member
Of your family could 60 TO the
hospital on your doctors refer
ence.. just as you do now. In adj
dition. you would not have to
worry about getting skimpy treat
ment. Doctors would not be
forced to keep In mind your finan-
cial condition when they prescribe
expensive drugs. laboratory tests,
special nurses or any Of the other
costly services.
A new administration bill pro-
vides that you would be cared for
In q minimum priced accommo-
dalton. This would mean q ward
bed. But II you desired a semi
private room or q private one. you
could pay the difference between
rates established for the ward
beds and your own choice.
You would have the same free
choice Of hospitals you have now.
There would be no drop In quality
of service and care that has been
n -