Arizona sun., 1949-01-14

ton, censorship, or any OF the OLner
restrictions our ancestors came to
America to avoid.
/ won't go into the history OF the
bill 1t was written after years OF
study, six years of public hearings
before congressional committees.
Those who have opposed the meas
ure have made their chief argument
a contention that it would be anoth-
er step toward a socialized state,
that it would indeed ,socialize the
medical profession. On point one,
the supporters say truthfully that
argument was once raised against
the public schools, city water-works,
municipal sewage. systems, electric
light and power plants. which are
now accepted as a matter OF
course"
Under the national health insur-
ance bill, the federal government
would collect the money and man.
age it along with the social security
fund which it does now, disburse
it to the states for the services rem
dered by the doctors and approve
of the various state Set-ups.
The actual arrangements for
the services of the doctors who
would go right ON with their
private practices as well If they
wanted to, would be made be-
tween doctor and patient. The
patient, unless his family doc
tor refused to join up, would
have his services just the same,
only they would be free. The
doctor wouldn't have to accept
any patient he didn't want.
Part of the money would go to
the states for research, medical
education and various preventive
services. How much would it cost?
One and one-half per cent Of your
earnings up to $500 which your
employer would match. If you are
self-employed, you would pay three
per cent up to $500 of your own
earnings. And that, say the bills
proponents is no more than you pay
now Con the average) to voluntary
group health agency if you belong
to one and it's less than you would
pay to private physician.
Physicians rates and mode OF
payment will be established by the
vote of the majority of the physi-
clans in the given area or locality.
Since the worst shortage Of
doctors is in rural areas, 1t is
expected that with assurance of
adequate pay through the ma
tiOnal insurance fund, more
physicians will be attracted to
those areas. Also the fund will
help to expand local public
health services, rural hospital
and ambulance service.
Aside from the poorer health in
farm communities, maternal NOR
tality is higher and, as every farm
er knows, accidents are high. There
are 81 deaths per >100.0 900 population
on farms, only 20 per 100000 in in
duStry.
In the controversy over this meas
ure both sides point to the expert
ence Of other countries. They claim
the national insurance system was
inaugurated in Germany in 1883.
One American Medical association
member says medical care declined
under it. He probably knows more
about it than I. but the statement
was certainly surprise.
Similar complaints have been
made against similar plan which
has just been inaugurated in Bri-
tain. But "a recent poll taken in Eng
land says 81 per cent of the physi-
clans have joined up which would
seem to show they approved of the
way it works even if they opposed
it in the beginning. And the people
voted it the most popular measure
passed by the present government.
The British Medical association did
not oppose the bill as a whole but
fought against certain portions. par
ticularly those which they thought
might make them servants Of the
state"
These facts / have checked as
nearly as / can and i do not believe
they will be disputed. AS to the opin-
ions, they remain as such. And
you can't look into the future. From
what / can learn. the supporters of
the bill believe that it will be one of
the first introduced in the new con-
gress, that il will reach the floor
by February and that the. chances
for its passage are good.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
observation-disclosures is said
by the National Geographic Soci-
ETY. to be the longest place-name in
the world. But it's no good for a
crossword puzzle.
Coconut chips are now available
in five-ounce tins They may be used
as snacks for bridge parties, but
the red, white and blue ones still
will be preferred for poker.