Evening star., 1959-06-28
HOSPITALS
Continued From First Page

Capitol physicians and the
surgeons general Of the Army
and Navy were authorized by
an executive order Of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt to refer
their patients to Government
| facilities.
MY job" DR.. Calver said,
"is to keep them well and to
get them back on the floor as
soon as possible"
One patient recently admitted
/ 10 Walter Reed was James c.
Hagerty. White House press
secretary. who is recovering
from surgery for removal Of an
inflamed appendix.
Young Raps Hagerty
Early last week, Senator
Young. Democrat Of Ohio. sin
Igled out Mr.. Hagerty for criti-
cism. The Senator accused Mr..
Hagerty Of receiving "socialized
medicine on . preferential ba-
Isis"
The hospital is primarily in.
tended for use by military per-
sonnet and their families, Sem
ator Young said.
According TO q Washington
surgeon and one Of the city's
major hospitals, a well-heeled
patient would probably pay
about $72 a day for q relatively
minor operation and treatment
under private care-moge than
three times the price at Walter
Reed.
The private average would in
clude the cost Of q plush pri-
vate room (S29.50 q day.: the
doctors fee (about 5000: and
other services such as the use
Iof the operating room and
anesthesia $1,000 for a week In
the hospital.
DR.. calver said he refers
more than half Of his con-
lgressional patients to private
hospitals. Even those who enter
Government facilities must
foot their own bills. q service
spokesman said, although It Is
only S2i q day.
/ VIP Treatment
Spokesmen for both the
Army and Navy admitted that
tmost Government VIPs are ac-
corded semiprivate and private
rooms "in line with their po-
sition." But regardless Of
whether he enters for a
checkup or an operation,
whether he is Representative.
or a cabinet member and
whether he enters a ward or
a private room. he pays a fiat
$2l a day. the services reported.
The late Secretary Of State
Dulles, for example. paid that
amount for q three-room suite
and a series Of long and COM
1plicated operations for cancer.
Other civilians who enjoy the
advantages Of the areas mill
tary hospitals. according to law.
are State Department foreign
service ofncers and veterans.
Most veterans-mainly those
still suffering from service
aggravated disabilities - are
treated at Mount Alto Veterans
Hospital.
Few high Government ON
cials are treated at Mount Alto,
according to the Veterans Ad-
ministration. apparently be-
cause they prefer facilities at
Bethesda and Walter Reed.
Some veterans are admitted for
Iaon-service- e-connected disorders
II they swear on oath that they
are unable to pay for such
treatment. the VA said.
Also Foreigners
Even some high-ranking for
eigners are occasionally ad-
to the Army and Navy hospitals
upon request to the service
secretaries by the Secretary of
State. Young Prince Mashur
Of Saudi Arabia was treated for
paralysis at Walter Reed under
such an arrangement. Such
patients generally pay the $2l
rate. according to the State
Department.
Anybody. though. may be adI
mitted for humanitarian rea-
sons II he is critically injured
in the vicinity Of either military
hospital. He, too, must pay
$2l q day.
That price Is an average
which the Budget Bureau has
established. On July /. how
ever. the charge is being raised
to $21.25 q day.
I'VE recognize" q Budget
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