The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-12-01
Health Care for Aged
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would be a financially impossible
burden. The contention was made
that putting KIM into effect would
increase those receiving medical
hospital care under Welfare star be-
yond the $500 people presently re-
ceiving old-age assistance"
!. 1t was obvious, she pointed out,
that in the minds of opponents, "the
extent of the need Gin Montana)
appears too enormous to be at
tempted through a tax-supported
program, even with federal CO.
operation"
HEALTH CARE WITH DIGNITY
The other major proposal to meet
the health needs of the aged, she told
her audience, is to utilize the success
full Social Security insurance sys-
tenn. Under this program, whereby
the older person would pay for health
care out of his working years wages,
he would be entitled to health care
as matter of right. There would be
no "means" test. He would not have
to demean himself by proving finan-
cial inability or take what would
amount to a pauper's oath. Prepay
ment during working years, she said,
would be of major import in pre-
serving the dignity of the elderly.
Expanding on the established fact
that there is need for more salts
factory health care program for the
aged, Mrs. Billings quoted briefly
from statistics recently released by
u. S. Surgeon General DIR. Luth
Terry. These figures show:
1. Between 1850 and 1860 the
population growth in the over-65 age
bracket increased almost three per
cent; ~ 3 no
2. There has been change in the
pattern of disease in this period.
While we have been conquering bac-
terial diseases there has been a rise
in chronic diseases as the cause of
death and as the cause of prolonged
disability:
8. II per cent of the people IS and
over have one or more chronic all
ments. Not all are disabling condi-
tions. About six million of these peo-
pie who are not in institutions areI
restricted in their activities by the
chronic disease. About two million
are in chronic i'll health and disabled |
as far as active life is concerned;
A. There are approximately one
half million older people in nursing
homes and similar institutions, and
another one quarter of million are
in mental hospitals.
'sThe core of the problem accord
ing to DR.. Terry" she continued, sis
lack of facilities, lack of personnel
and lack of effective organization for
of medical science to hui
man needs.''
Because of inadequate financial
backing and inadequate institutions
such as rest homes, the Every old and
very SICK" DR.. Terry reports, are
receivings inferior service and very
little medical care
"The American people have FL
nanced much of the scientific re-
search that makes possible the best
medical care for our people. Now
we must find ways to pay the price"
that "our citizens can take adj
vantage of these advances"
FOSTERS FREEDOM?
Noting that the American Medical
Association favors Kerr-Mills, and
contends that the Social Security pay
nent method would be "socialized
and would deprive the pa
,ient of freedom of choice, Mrs. Bill
ngs asked how any program could ,
De more under the dictate of political
than unsupported programs :
such as Kerr-Mills.
Under such "tax-supported pro- :
Grams the State is neck deep in :
he finances of the recipient and has
.bsolute determination over whatever
medical aid is given out. An applicant r
or aid from tax-programs has to
ubject his personal and financial /
condition to searching scrutiny by :
he State The applicant because
# laws making his name available )
O the public, "has to make shame t
ul public confession of his failures I