Evening star., 1955-02-28
syth. A..oeiossd Pres.

the GSQcIdI SOfCAAliAtCAAt . s0o'
medical services, the Hoover
Commission has told Congress.
Huge wastes" Of money. man.
power, and duplication Of effort
are unnecessarily overlapping
the taxpayers pocketbooks, said
the Commission on Organization
of the Executive Branch Of the
Government. It is headed by
former President Hoover.
The commission contendec
that excessive" Federal hospital
construction, the assumption o1
responsibility for full or partial
care Of many people. and inef.
ficient use Of certain facilities
have added up to "a great deal
Of waste which could be pre-
vented"
At present, the commission
said, Uncle Sam has taken on
responsibility for complete or
partial health care of approxi-
mately 30 million people, with
last years bill for such services
amounting to $4,149. 600, 900.
$249 Million Saving Seen.
The commission itself gave nc
estimate Of what could be shaved
of, but its 16-man task force, in
a separate report. estimated that
an average Of almost 1924 mil
lion in net savings could be
achieved annually, even with the
inauguration of certain new pro-
grams.
The commission clearly indi-
Gated that it favors medical care
! for veterans with service-con-
nected disabilities and for mer
with non-service-connected dis.
abilities who are really indi-
gent" but 1t said of the second
category:
| "It is difficult to believe thai
all Of the approximately $4,000
such veterans given care last veal
were actually unable to pay fol
at least part of their hospita
and inpatient medical care.
The various national veterans
organizations have denounced
and are opposed to gold brick
ing"
Recommendations on Veterans.
Among its recommendation,
dealing with veterans. the com
mission proposed:
/. That a statement of inabil'
lty to pay should be subject tt
verif1cation. and that the Veter'
ans Administration be author
lied to collect in case such {
statement is not substantiated.
2. That the veteran "shoule
assume a liability to pay i
he can do so at some reasonable
time in the future"
3. That veterans having serv'
ice connected disabilities bu
making application for treatmen
of non-service-connected dis
abilities be required to sign !,
statement of inability to pay
At present, they don't have to
Other Major Proposals,
| Among other major recon
mendations by the commission
were these:
! /. Creation OF a Federal Ad'
visory Council Of Health" to CO.
ordinate the work of the 66 unit
of Government agencies having
medical functions. Such al
agency. the commission said
would be the beginning of tht
end Of the present chaos"
2. Elimination Of hospital ant
medical care Of merchant sea
men at public expense presen
function of the United State
Public Health Service.
3. Consideration by the Vet
erans' Administration Of tn
closing of 10 VA hospitals. ant
coordination of administration
of military hospitals.
4. Development of q system o
Government aided voluntar.
health insurance for all civilian
employees of the Federal Govern
ment, and another for depend
ents of military personnel IL
the continental United States.
Too Many Patients Charged.
The commissions report, con
tanning 20 specific recommends
tions. was based on study mad'
by it's medical services task fore
composed of is leaders in al
branches Of the medical profes
sion, and studies by the stat
and members of the commission
The task force, in a separatl
lengthy report. said net annua
savings of approximately 500
million dollars could be achieved
\ by curtailments and reorganiza
tions it recommended even will
the inauguration of certain nev
programs. In some instances
however. the task forces recon
mendations went beyond thos'
finally made by the commission
which put no dollar estimate OF
projected savings.
In effect, the commission tolt
Congress that:
Cd Too many persons are re
ceiving medical, especially hos
pital, care at Federal expense
! (2) many are receiving NOR
care than is necessary; and g
the Federal Government /
maintaining more facilities thai
are needed to take care Of tn
present patient load.
Long dissenter on the 12-mal
INSIST ON
wbasSn fGlaee snnss