Evening star., 1954-01-19
The Political Mill

OiSIiOIC IlSOIttI INSGOS
Presidents Plan Proves His
Concern for Peoples Welfare
By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower's "recommen-
dations to improve the health of the
American people" are proof of the
Presidents concern for their welfare
and Of the dynamic and progressive"
nature of the program he promised
and Is now unfolding in q series of
messages to Congress. Here are pro-
posals, definite and realistic, with
which only the most hard-boiled adj
vocate of socialtzed medicine could
take exception, and then only be-
cause these proposals If carried into
effect will be an effective block in the
path of the supporters of free medical
treatment or medical treatment wholly
under control of the Federal Govern
ment.
The President recognizes frankly the
high costs of medical treatment and
the terrific burden they impose on a
large part Of the population. It is, in
his opinion, problem that must be
solved in a manner which will make
the means for achieving good health
:. accessible to ALL"
The second part of the health prob
lem outlined by the President is de-
signed to make the results "of our vast
scientific research" applicable for the
benefit of all the citizens.
Startling Figures.
Statistics presented by the President
are startling. The total annual private
medical bill of the Nation he estimated
at 50 billion. an average of nearly 5000
a family. Ten per cent of the families
are spending more than $500 year for
medical care. OF people reporting in
comes under $4,000, 6 per cent are
spending almost fifth of their gross
income for medical and dental care.
And the President added, these costs
are rising.
Voluntary health insurance. plans.
aided by reinsurance by the Federal
Government. is the best way to attack
this serious problem, the President said.
Without Government assistance, VOL
untary health insurance, he pointed
out, already meets approximately 40
per cent of all private expenditures for
hospital care, large part of the total
cost OF medical care. To encourage the
extension Of this insurance and other
forms of health insurance, the Presi-
dent has recommended the establish
ment of a limited Federal reinsurance
service" to be launched by the Federal
Government with capital of $25 mill
hon. In this way, the President said.
better health protection for more peo-
pie VIII be provided. He is firmly
against having the Government 90 first
hand into the health insurance busi-
ness. His plan is to have the Govern
meht work with the private health
insurance organizations to study and
oeVlse better insurance protection to
meet the needs of the people.
More Hospitals.
Two other important recommends
tions OF the President are to exnand
the denomination of the disabled and
10 go forward with wider Federal
AID IN the construction of non-prof1t
hospitals and nursing and convalescent
homes. The Nation needs 10000 adj
dltlonal hospital beds in all categories
OF non-Federal hospital services and
hospital construction is tagging. The
total number of acceptable" beds in
these non-profit. non-Federal hospitals
is now about 100000. The President
wishes to expand the program of
matching State and local tax funds in
the construction of both public and
voluntary non-profit hospitals. He
pointed out that during the last six
years. nearly $500 million in Federal
funds have been allocated to almost
1900 hospital projects in the States and
territories. This sum has been matched
by more than quarter billion dollars
of State and local funds. In addition,
construction of hospitals without this
Federal aid. costing in excess Of 81
billion, has been completed in similar
period.
Senator Smith of New Jersey, chair
man of the Senate Labor and Public
Welfare Committee, was prompt to de-
clare his support of the health pro-
gram outlined by the President He
will introduce the legislation to carry
it out. Here, indeed. is program that
members of Congress, no matter what
their political affiliation. can afford to
support. Failure Of support would be
a black eye, not to the program but
to the Congressman who deny support.
Under the Eisenhower administration
already a new department of Govern
ment. the Department of Health. Edu-
cation and Welfare, has already been
established, with health given empha-
sis.