Evening star., 1949-10-30
j. ). Allotment
For Hospitals
HereDoubIed
D. c. to Get $780, SIS
For Health Facilities;
Will Aid Privote Units
By George Beveridqe

~ SSS'SS SS'S'saSS
The District this year will get
s490.555 in Federal funds-nearly
twice the amount available in past
years-to help build and improve
hospitals and health facilities
here.
The $490.555, it was learned, is
the Districts new allotment under
the expanded Hill-Burton Act,
signed into law by President Tru-
man last week. The expansion
doubled the Federal funds per year
to S150,000,000. and extended the
program until June 30, 1855.
Under the program, the District
already has been allotted $573,378
during the last two years. and the
Health Department has earmarked
virtually all of that amount to-
ward construction of the pedia-
trics-crippled children's building
under way at Gallinger Hospital.
Private Hospitals May Benefit.
The Commissioners also have
approved ALLEGATION of $598,000
against future grants to Children's S
Hospital for its new main hos
pital building.
The vastly increased District al
lotment. however. opens new pos
sibilities to private non-profit
hospitals which long have planned
new construction or improve
ments to their buildings.
Harry Almond, Casualty Hos
pital secretary, said architects
now are at work on plans for a
new building. and that the in
stitution has made inquiries about
possible aid through the Hill-Bur-
ton funds. While fund raising
means for the proposed new Provi-
dence Hospital near Catholic Uni
versity have not been decided, Of
ficials said they also are Inter
ested" in the Hill-Burton allot-
ment.
The expanded act also allows
a larger percentage of Federal
funds to be used in approved Hill
Burton projects. Formerly, the
law required that every 81 of Fed
eral funds had to be matched
with 50 on hand for the project
in all cases.
May Ask New Health Center.
The new formula permits the
Federal share to range up to two
thirds OF the total construction
cost in some States of low per
capita income. District officials
said the highest Federal percent
age authorized here is 1897 of
the cost. remaining near the IL
matching level. ..~.-.
OF the s573,378 allocated here
during the last two years, the
District has allotted $525,914 for
the Gallinger project. This leaves
balance of $47,464, which can
be applied with this years alloca-
ton and future grants for other
approved projects.
Henry S. Gavens, Health De-
partment administrative officer,
said the department may apply
for grant to help build a new
health center in the central
Northwest area, to replace the old
Polk Health Center at Seventh
and P streets NV.
Other Bill May Aid d. C.
Children's Hospital will match
its S598,000 grant with $1,316,O00
raised in a public fund drive.
James H. Lemon, president of the
hospitals board of directors, said
he hoped ground could be broken
on the project next spring.
Meanwhile, the District also
may be eligible for funds to plan
better coordination and improve
ment Of hospital services under
another bill signed by the Presi-
dent. An amendment to the Pub
lie Health Act, the measure pro-
vides for Federal grants totalling
$l,200,0OO a year for five years.
Grants under this program, Of
flcials said, will be approved for
community groups which sponsor
projects aimed at better co-ordina-
ton of hospitals.
Federal Security Administrator
Oscar r. Ewing said that as of
this month, 954 hospital projects
have been approved under the
Hill-Burton hospital construction
act. About 400 of them are under
construction throughout the coun-
try, he said. and so have been
cOmpletpd