Evening star., 1952-12-18
Group
Submits Plan
On Medical Care
Joint FederuI-Stute
Program Proposed;
ANA Chief Critical
BY the Associated Press

PreSlQenC IrumanS special
health commission came up today
with new proposal for solving
one of the country's hottest issues
how to pay the doctors bill.
The commission called for a
broad program Of Federal and
State support to make voluntary
prepayment insurance plans avail
able to cover the cost of medical
care for every one.
Federal and State funds total
ing SIS billion annually would be
provided to pay all or part of
the costs for those who can't
afford to pay their share. Others
would pay their own premiums.
The plan differs both from a
system unsuccessfully espoused by
President Truman and rival pro-
posal of the American Medical
Association. The president of the
ANA Immediately tabled one
phase of the new plan as "com-
pulsory health insurance"-some-
thing the ANA has always fought.
Free Choice of Doctors.
The commission said people
should be able to choose their own
doctor and the doctor should work
without Government interference.
Emphasis would be placed on Or
ganizing groups of doctors to pro-
vice complete medical care in close
conjunction with medical centers
and hospitals.
The commission proposed that
Federal Social Security funds for
Old Age and Survivors Insurance
be used to pay for prepayment
medical plans for those receiving
Social Security benefits, without
regard to their own ability to pay.
Thus some three million persons
already receiving OASI checks au-
tomatically would be brought un-
der the program without any fur
ther contribution of their own.
Millions Of others would receive
prepaid medical care from Federal
funds as they reach IS.
OASI funds are collected from a
payroll tax on employers and en-
ployes under the Social Security
system.
ANA Head Hits Plan.
1t was the OASI proposal which
drew the fire of DR.. Louis H..
Bauer of Hampstead. N. Y, presi-
dent of the ANA. In Chicago. he
said this would mean that "the
Federal Government, through
payroll deductions, would pay
for the medical care of a
large segment Of the population.
This is compulsory health insur-
ance."
officials Of the commission told
a reporter that the OASI pro-
posal was aimed at providing
coverage for people who are now
taken care Of by other means by
the Government or "by charity"
when they are sick. These Of
ficials said it might be that costs
of such coverage would be no new
expense to the Nation.
The commission also proposed
that F'ederal-State welfare funds
be used to pay medical insurance
costs for persons on welfare rolls
the needy aged, blind, depend
ent children, etc.
Truman Hopes for Action.
President Truman issued a.
statement saying he hoped it will
mot be just a dead report" that
he was hoping it would be "fol-
lived up and that the recon-
would be carried out"
He said the report discloses facts
and conditions about the Nations
health that the majority of the
public knew nothing about. and
he emphasized, too. that it was
done without any executive in
reference from me-
In apparent reference to-
charges he has advocated social
lied medicine" Mr.. Truman said:
II, of course. cannot say what
the next administration will do
in carrying on the work we have
undertaken in the health field.
1t is my hope that careful con-
sideration will be given to the
commissions findings and recon-
mendations. This report deserves
the attention of every American.
1T would be most unfortunate
if the same emotionaliSIn which
has prevented open-minded study
of major health proposals ad-
vanced during the last few years
were to hinder the proper evalua-
tion which this report merits"
President Truman. since 1945.
has yainly plugged for a Federal
system of prepaid sickness insur-
ance for 125 million wage-earning
Continued on Page "A, Col. 81