Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-22
ANA 10 Meet Here;
'SociaIized' Health
Issue Called Dead

AeduSTS Oh CIe american MeQ"
icaf Association looked today
toward a special meeting here
March IA. confident they will
have no more trouble from the
Federal Government on anything
even remotely resembling social
ICED medicine"
DR.. Louis A. Bauer of Hemp
stead. N. Y. ANA national presi-
dent. dismissed the matter in a
telephone interview with The
Star as mo problem now"
He said he feels compulsory
health insurance plans similar to
those proposed by former Presi-
dent Truman and former Federal
Security Administrator Oscar w.
Ewing are definitely out the
window"
DR.. Bauer and Mrs. Oveta Culp
Hobby, FSA head in the EiSen-
hover Administration, met with
President Truman on February S.
At that time DR.. Bauer told re-
porterS it was general" dis
cuSsion which did not touch on
possible Government health
plans. tTs
Cabinet Plan on Agenda.
He said yesterday. however.
that the ANA expects nothing
of that nature to be proposed by
the. present Administration"
The special meeting Of the as
sociation's governing body. the
House Of Delegates, was an
nounced Friday at ANA head
quarters in Chicago. 1t will be
the fourth special meeting in the
ORGANIZATIONS 106-year history
and the first outside Chicago.
It's stated purpose is to consider
Administration plans to make
the FSA a Federal Department
with Cabinet rank for Mrs.
Hobby-but the announcement
stressed that the association is
"yitally interested in many OF
the health activities Of the FSA."
Meanwhile, the White House
said yesterday President Eisen-
hover will drop in" on the
meeting.
It was indicated the Presi-
dent might have a few remarks
to make to the ANA policy
making body, but no extended
speech.
BIueprintS Available.
Holding it's meeting in Wash
ington, the House Of Delegates
would conceivably be in q posi-
ton to carry its case directly to
the White House and Congress
should the Administration give
any signs Of reviving the inter-
est in Federally controlled health
plans which caused the ANA to
raise a 100000 war chest
against the Truman AdminiStra-
ton
If there should be any such
desire on the part Of the new
Administration. its leaders would
not have far to look to discover
several ready made blueprints
left behind by the Democrats.
The most controversial Of
these was proposed by Mr.. Tru-
man in 1945. It's basic provision
was a compulsory health insur-
ance payroll tax similar to social
security, which would be levied
against both employers and en-
ployes at the rate of / u per cent.
Benefits from this plan would
include disqualification, medical
and dental services. home nurs-
ing. drugs and special appli-
anceS.
Taft Offered Substitute. /
To offset this. Senator Taft,
Republican of Ohio, introduced a
substitute measure in 1947 which
would authorize a Federal appro-
priation of 81, 250. 100000 over q
f1ve-year period to be matched
by State funds. This would pro-
vide medical, dental and hospital
facilities. but recipients would be
sharply limited to low-income
families only.
Encouraged by Mr.. Ewing, Mr..
Truman continued to insist upon
his plan for compulsory health
insurance for everyone up to the
day he left Office, and Congress
just as steadfastly refused to
consider it. On December 18.
1852, the Presidents special
health commission came up with
a last legacy for the Republicans
"a modified form Of the original
Truman plan which proposed
program Of Federal and State
support to make voluntary pre-
payment insurance coverage
available to everyone. Those who
Wished IA do "A would make THAR