Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-24
VeteransHit
Bills
Inconsistent Plan
Makes Guesswork
In Mental Cases
BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG

BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG
Hundreds of District veterans
whose mental illness is not serv-
ice-connected are among the
victims of inconsistencies in
lin present methods of collecting
hospital bills. it was learned to-
day.
Take three veterans in the
same financial circumstances.
All are eligible for whatever
treatment the Veterans Admin
istration can underwrite for vet
Grams with non-service-connec-
ted disability.
One may be charged nothing
for his disqualification. The Sec
ond may be billed for part of
his hospital expenses. The third
may get a whopping bill after
he leaves the hospital.
Range Up to $4,000
Norman j. Koontz. head of
the special financial unit in the
District tax collectors Office.
said that veterans fall into one
of the categories where no
monthly payments are arranged
in advance and where a bill for
the entire hospital stay may
descend on the patient after his
discharge. Mr.. Koontz said
these bills range from $1,000
to $4,000. depending on how
long the veteran was hospital
lied at District expense.
There are other inconsistent
cies affecting payment for vet
Grams hospitalized for mental
illness. When the Veterans ADJ
ministration is billed for the pay
ment, the cost per day at st.
Elizabeths is less than when the
District is billed. Further, the
Veterans Administration does
not seek reimbursement from the
recipient of its care. The Dis
trict does try to collect.
Although this inconsistency
has been true for years. the
commissioners = as far as any,
one can recall = have made no
request to the Veterans Admin
iStration or the Department of
Health. Education and Welfare
to consider a change.
Will Seek Larger Quota
The change would consist of
increasing the number of Dis
trict veterans for whom v. A.
would pay at st. Elizabeths. If
granted. 1t could save the Dis
trict between $780, 900 and $780,.
600 annually and spare veterans
Just recovering from mental ill
ness from the shock of big bills.
st. Elizabeths Hospital Super
intendent Winfred Overholser
said today he would propose an
increase in the v. A. quota.
Here is how the current in
equities have come about:
VA has quota of $50 beds at
st. ElizabethS to which it can
send. District veterans. Those
with service-connected mental
illness are admitted under the
quota without waiting and VA
pays the bills.
Veterans whose mental illness
is not service-connected are put
on a waiting list. If they need
immediate commitment and go
to st. Elizabeths, the District
pays the bills-and tries to COL
Ilect from the veterans-until the
VA quota gets below the annual
daily average of $50. For most
OF last year. none were taken
off the waiting list and picked
up by VA.
Charges Are Uncertain
Since it is not certain when
they will switch from District to
VA rolls. the Mental Health
Commission usually recommends
no rate of monthly payment by
the patient or his relatives.
That leaves the veteran in this
position; the court order for
his commitment says the District
will bear the expense, reserving
the right to reimbursement. The
veteran and his family are told
he is eligible for VA treatment.
They get no monthly bills. In the
course of his disqualification, the
bookkeeping to switch him from
District care to VA may tram
spire. Or he may be released be-
fore he can be switched. Thus,
the bill may be for part of the
amount-the period when the
District was paying for him-or
for the full amount.
Last year the number of Dis
trict veterans with nonService
connected mental illness on the
VA waiting list at st. Eliza
beths averaged about 80 at a
time. Currently. there are 81
on the list, of whom AZ are ac-
tually in the hospital now. An
other 81. already hospitalized,
are in process Of being declared
eligible,