Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-14

ton bills with the double aim of
out injustices.
The survey will go into the
abeth's Hospital, the Veterans
curity Administration and insur-
ance companies.
1t looks toward a complete
reorganization of billing meth
DDS, possibly through a new col
lection unit.
One of the targets Of the
study are the parents of de-
jlinquent children who can afforc
to pay for their care at the
Children's Center.
Courts Power Stressed
The Juvenile Court, according
to the Corporation Counsel;
office, can order parents to pay
but SO far has not done so. Wei.
fare Director Gerald M. Shea
said he proposed making parents
pay part of the cost of institu.
tionalizing delinquent children
after he saw the fancy cars thai
come to Laurel on Sunday visit.
ing days.
Billing and collections or
patients charged to the Distric
at st. Elizabeths Hospital, Dis.
trict General Hospital and Glenr
Dale Hospital are a major par
of the survey.
The Star focused on these col
lectionS in a series of articles
in April in which it was brough
out that the Districts presen
methods are forcing some pa
tients and their relatives ontt
relief rolls while others who cal
afford to pay full rates ar,
suspected of getting off easy.
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin, at a Commissioner
meeting today attended by rep
resentativeS of the affected Dis
trict agencies, referred to TIL,
Stars investigation in urging hi
colleagues to approve the survey
Broad Study Ordered
The Commissioners ordere,
that studies be made of all bill
ling and collection activities re
lating to reimbursements TO
medical and welfare service
rendered or financed by the Dis
trict Government, said studies +
include such negotiations will
Federal agencies. legal research
evaluation of presently appl
cable policies and organizations
and procedural studies as may b
necessary to resolve problem
that exist"
The studies and "appropriat
remedial actions" were assignee
to the Health and Welfare De
Ipartments, corporation counst
and Department of General Ad
ministration with the latter il
charge of co-ordinating and di
recting the survey.
I General Administration Direc
tor Schuyler Lowe told the Com
miSsionerS it would take ST
months to complete it all al
though some problems could b
resolved earlier.
Management Officer w. X
Holl presented the Commission
ers with a statement of IA diff
ferent problems in the collectio.
business which he referred to a
1.-THE most urgent ones" To tn
extent these problems are re
solved, he said. Significant fl
Inancial benefits" to the Distric
should result. He did not esti
mate how much.
Social Security Payments
Here are some of the area
listed for the investigation:
/. Getting a slice of the soci;
, security payments made
, patients in st. Elizabeths Hos
,, pital. The District, it was es
planned, gets part of social Sc
!. curity payments in some case
, but at present this is a hit {
miss proposition. 1t is now "es
tremely difficult" to get informs
ton from Social Security or S
Elizabeths.
1t was explained that the Dis
trict would not try to tap tn
= funds of patients who have &C
cumulated only a little none
and are expected to be release
from the hospital shortly. b.
the District wants to collect fror
long-hospitalized patients VIII
have a substantial amount
their personal accounts at TIL
. hospital.
The Commissioners were toll
that the difficulties in gettin
information about these patient
imposes a burden of double tax
alton on District taxpayers: the
pay taxes for a social securit
program which provides fund
for care and maintenance of tn
aged. and they pay taxes fc
care and maintenance Of tn
same aged in st. Elizabeths.
Financial Eligibility
2. Setting a more adequat
scale for determining financis
eligibility and rates Of reimburse
ment both in welfare institution
! and at st. Elizabeths. Also in
volved is the question Of adjust
: ing the rate Of Reimbursement
; from patients or their relative
: where such questions as out
: standing debts and other obliga
tions arise. The Star brough
: out that the financial needs {
(. dependent relatives of patient
5 are not being considered in al
irving at these rates.
E 3. Clarifying the Welfare Dc
2 partment's authority TO see
: court orders for Reimbursement
? from parents of juvenile delir
quents committed TO welfare In
stitutions. The Commissioner
} we're told that while some peopl