Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-23
Asks D. c. Heads
Why INDECENT
Aid Was Pared

vate hospitals in the medical
charities program.
The Rhode Island Senator
noted that the District recog-
nizes the daily cost per patient
at its own city hospital is at
least $3.50 but still refused to
include an increase for the pri-
vate hospitals caring for indig-
ents UP from $14 a day.
Interrupting testimony by DR..
William P. Herbst, representing
the Medical Society, Senator
Pastort declared that "I'd like
TO know this for the record. I'd
like 70 have the Commissioners
give us a statement on this
either refuting or answering the
problem.
DIR. Herbst told the subcom-
mittee that as long as the pri-
vate hospitals continue to lose
vast sums Of money under the
INDECENT care program "the in
digents and all Of the rest of us
will receive substandard medical
service"
Points to Original Request
He pointed out that the Health
Department had asked in its
original budget proposal for in
creases in rates payable to the
private hospitals but that the
Commissioners slashed these
from the final budget sent to the
President.
He declared that the physi-
clans and others closely con-
nected with medical services
have not had the opportunity to
make their needs known to Con-
gress.
I'm not critical Of the Com
missioners." DR.. Herbst added.
why not?" asked Senator
Pastore.
The Senator declared that the
Commissioners did not ask for
q raise from the $l4 figure, that
the House recently raised it by
81 and now the Senate is being
asked to raise it $3.50 more.
1 Commenting on the past lack
OF communication between the
medical groups and Congress.
the Senator declared that "As
long as Congress remains in a
position Of deciding how to
spend the taxpayers money
and we only give 10 per cent-we
should listen to everybody who
has something to say.
Hopes for Home Rule
i Il hope the day viii come
when we have some semblance
of home rule here whereby YOU
will raise your own taxes and
help solve your own needs"
! DR.. Herbst declared that the
actual daily patient cost in a
hospital is at least $26 and that
even the $3.50 figure shown for
District General Hospital is in
accurate. not rejecting many
hidden factors.
The physician, who is also
chairman of the Medical
Society's advisory committee to
the Director of Health on the
budget referred to surveys made
OF the Health Department and
the local medical scene in the
past and declared: I'VE here
know what we need. We don't
need outsiders from New York or
elsewhere to tell us. If we didn't
know. We shouldn't be in the
job"
Yesterday James H. Lemon, Of
the Board Of Trustees of Chill
dren's . Hospital. told the sub
committee that the plight of. the
private hospitals under the medi-
cal charities program "is de-
plorable and demands correc-
ton"
Survey Shows Huge Loss
A survey by The Star showed
that the eight private hospitals
with contracts to care for in
digents have lost over SIS mil
lion in the last seven years
because District payments are
too low.
DR.. Herbst told the subcom-
mittee that the care Of indigents
by private hospitals Is essential
to their training programs,
which in turn attract the neces-
sary interns and residents neces-
sary for the 24-hour watch over
all patients.
The hospitals are asking for
at least payments Of $3.50 a
day for in-patients and $3.50
per day for clinic visits, approx
imately the same as stated costs
at the city hospital.
Mrs. Alexander Hagner. presi-
dent Of the Board Of Regents Of
Childrens Convalescent Hospi-
tai. pleaded with the subcom-
mittee to raise their rates from
the "unrealistic figure" Of $500
per day to So per day and to
make enough funds available for
the year around care Of an av.
erage to 20 children daily.
In the past she pointed out
the institutions contract with
the District was such that losses
could be made up at the end Of
the year. The present contract.
however, prohibits asking for de.
Ificiency appropriations and "un-
less something is done we will
be faced with serious financial
troubles"