Evening star., 1954-01-18

signed 70 pf1ng us closer TO
these goals.
Continuation of Present
Federol Proeroms
In my budget message ap-
preparations will be requested
to carry on during the coming
fiscal year the health and re-
lated programs of the newly
established Department Of
Health, Education, and Well
fare.
These programs should be
continued because of their
past success and their present
and future usefulness. The
Public Health Service, for
example, has had a conSpicu-
Gus share in the prevention of
disease through its efforts to
control health hazards on the
farm. in industry and in the
home. Thirty years ago the
Public Health Service first
recommended a standard milk
sanitation ordinance: by last
year this ordinance had been
voluntarily adopted by 1853
municipalities with a total
population of 20 million peo-
pie. Almost 20 years ago the
Public Health Service first
recommended restaurant sani-
tation ordinances; today 685
municipalities and BAT coun-
ties. with a total population Of
80 million people. have such
ordinances. The publication of
drinking water and the pas
.teuriZation of milk have pre-
vented countless epidemics
and saved thousands of lives.
These and similar field prof.
ects of the Public Health Serv-
ice. such as technical assist
ance to the States, and indus
trial hygiene work. have great
public values and should be
maintained.
In addition, the Public
Health Service should be
strengthened in its research
activities. Through its Ma
tional Institutes of Health, it
maintains. a steady attack
against cancer. mental illness,
heart diseases. dental problems.
arthritis and metabolic dis
eases, blindness. and problems
in microbiology and neurology.
The new sanitary engineering
laboratory at Cincinnati, to be
dedicated in April. will make
possible a vigorous attack on
health problems associated
with the rapid chronological
advances in industry and agri-
culture. In such direct re-
search programs and in Public
Health Service research grants
to State and local governments
and to private research insti-
tutions lies the hope of solv-
ing many Of today's perplexing
health problems.
The activities of the Chill
dren's Bureau and its assist
ance to the States for maternal
and child nealth services are
also of vital Importance. The
programs for children with
such crippling diseases as epi-
lepsv. cerebral palsy. congenital
heart disease and rheumatic
fever should receive continued
support. "A
Meeting the Cost of
Medicol Gore
The best way for most of
our people to provide them
selves the resources to obtain
good medical care is to par
ticipate in voluntary health
insurance plans. During the
past decade private and nom
profit health insurance organ
iZations have made striking
progress in Offering such plans.
The most widely purchased
type of health insurance,
which is disqualification in
surance. already meets ap-
proximately 40 per cent of all
private expenditures for hos
pital care. This progress in
dicateS that these voluntary
organizations can reach many
more people and provide bet
ter and broader benefits. They
should be encouraged and
helped to do so.
Better health insurance
protection for more people can
be provided.
The Government need not
and should not 60 into the
insurance business to furnish
the protection which private
and non-prof1t organizations
do not now provide. But the
Government can and should
work with them to study and
devise better insurance pro-
lection to meet the public
need.
I recommend the establish
ment of a limited Federal re-
insurance service to encour-
age private and non-profit
health insurance organiza-
tions to offer broader health
protection to more families.
This service would reinSure
the special additional risks in
volyed in such broader pro-
lection. 1t can be launched
with a capital fund of $25
million provided by the Gov
ernment. to be retired from
reinsurance fees.
New Gront- in Aid Approach
My message on the state of
the Union and my special mes
sage of January IA pointed out
that Federal grants laid
have hitherto observed no uni
form pattern. Response has
been made first 20 one and
then another broad national
need. In each of the grant, /
in-aid programs. including
those dealing with health,
child welfare and rehabilita-
tim of the disabled a wide