Evening star., 1949-12-09
ANA Plans 10 Reveal
Data on Collection
OF Dues Next Week
By George Beveridge

: The American Medical AsSocia-
ton plans to inform the District
Medical Society and other doctor
groups throughout the Nation
early next week how it will COL
lect the first compulsory men,
bership dues to be levied in ANA
history.
DR.. E. L. Henderson, ANA presi-
dent-elect. told The Star the
physicians local societies are due
to receive immediate kilograms
advising them of the $25-a-year
dues, voted unanimously yesterday
by the ANA House of Delegates.
The dues, part of which will
finance the ANIA's all-out fight
against President Truman's COM
pulsory health insurance plan, will
bring an estimated 100000 into
the ANA treasury next year. They
were set as the house completed
business at a four-day clinical
session here. Scientific meetings
today in the District National
Guard Armory were to wind up
the meeting.
Few Expected to Quit.
Most important question aris-
ing from the meeting is.how many
doctors will elect to forfeit their
ANA membership because of the
dues. Officials had no estimates
of that number. but said they
thought it will prove small.
Early next week, DR.. Henderson
said, the ANA board of trustees
"hopes to get out letters" to the
medical societies, outlining pro-
cedures for collecting the 1850 as
sessment.
DR.. Louis H. Bauer. chairman
of the board, told newsmen the
ANA has mo desire to collect dues
from doctors whom their local
societies would not charge dues" :"
Such members, he said, include in
terms and residents and doctors
who are retired, i'll or financially
unable to afford the assessment.
Some Exceptions Seen.
His explanation came after
members of the house instructed
the board to work out some way
to exempt such doctors. Other off,
cials said they felt certain that,
in general, only those doctors who
pay active membership dues to
their local societies will be asked
to pay the ANA dues.
DR.. Bauer estimated this will
amount to about IS per cent of
the 5000 current ANA members.
ANA membership at present is
automatic, arising from member
ship In the smaller county or state
societies.
Active members who become
delinquent in payment of dues
for as long as a year will be
dropped from ANA membership,
If they fail to pay within 80 days
after the notices of delinquency
are mailed by ANA officials.
DR.. Bauer told reporters allo-
cation of funds next. year to the
AdA's vast educational cam
paign" will depend on "how the
fight develops" but that expenses
would probably be at least as large
as this years. Campaign officials
said budget of about 100000
probably would be set up, to in
clude a substantial program OF ma
tional advertising.
,GI Treatment Study.
In another important action
yesterday, the house voted to form
a committee to study proposals
for the treatment of veterans
with non service connected ILL
ness in civilian hospitals. Com
mittee members, after conferring |
with American Hospital Associ- |
alton, Veterans Administration.
and other officials, will report to
the house at its convention next
summer.
In opposing a Senate-passed bill
providing Federal funds to assist
medical schools, the ANA house
approved a report declaring that
it sets up Federal controls which
make. it potentially dangerous to
the continued academic freedom
of the medical schools
George N. Craig, American Le-I
eion national commander, mean
while, told the ANA his organiza-
ton stands squarely behind the
AMA's fight on compulsory health
insurance and said the "local
physician has no greater ally than
the nearest American Legion post.
The ANA also announced plans
for a comprehensive study Of the
Nations blood banks, aimed at the
coordination of community blood
programs operated by the Ameri-
can Red Cross and private banks.
IT, rlL L. LII Cr,s>e