Evening star., 1961-01-09
AGING
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their controversial character"
Even If agreement cannot be
reached, Mr.. Flemming hopes
chances for action on the
problems Of aging won't end
on dead center.
Let's present to the people
the views Of the minority and
the majority. Sometimes the
most effective leadership con-
sists in outlining two programs
for achieving objects for citi.
zens' consideration" Mr.. Flem-
ming noted.
The conference is not a leg.
islative body but was designed
ito provide leadership" the
Secretary observed.
Earlier, Senator Mcnamara,
Democrat Of Michigan, told the
opening session that the Ameri-
can Medical Association, with
a 18th century philosophy" is
trying to block conferences in
dorsement Of medical insurance
for the aged tied to Social Sc
curity.
Senator Mcnamara. chair
man Of the Senate Subcommit-
tee on Problems Of the Aged
and Aging. said, To-day, there
is one overriding problem which
will be a dominant theme of
this conference-it. is advanc-
ing medical care to the aged"
He expressed his concern
that the ANA has publicly
stated that it will devote all its
resources to block any attempts
by this conference to indorse
medical insurance for the aged
tied to Social Security"
The AMA's resources for
propaganda campaigns, he said.
appear to be considerable, and
inexhaustible."
Apparently one tactic Of the
campaign in this conference Is
the placement of AMA-oriented
delegates in sufficient strength
In certain work groups, to give
the Nation the impression that
the conference does not favor
such medical insurance"
Cites Figurea'
According to q breakdown
Of available figures from the
Department of Health, Educa-
ton and Welfare. 90 per cent
Of the doctors and dentists
in Group / Of this conference
have been assigned to the work
group "a sub-group) on financ-
ing medical costs.
I'm this work group alone,
one out Of every three delegates
the medical or dem
tai or insurance professions"
He said it is unfortunate
that the ANA continues to de-
vote such massive efforts to
promotion Of its 10Th Century
philosophy rather than concen-
trating on the needs Of today
and tomorrow"
The ANA has indorsed q
medical care program only out
Of necessity, he implied.
Even the; timid, token well
fare medical care proposals it
now advances would certainly
have remained buried had it
not been for a dramatic ma
tional awakening to. the need
for a genuine, workable pro-
gram"
Senator Mcnamara called on
the delegates not to allow
themselves to be hustled or
stampeded into action not in
keeping with the purpose Of
the conference.
II believe that the problems
you are dealing with here are
far too important for this con-
ference or any part Of it to be
used for propaganda shock ef-
fects." he said.
Senator Mcnamara reintro-
duced in the Senate last week
a bill tying in medical care for
the aged with Social Security.
Eight concurrent sessions to-
night on various aspects Of
aging. and plenary sessions
Wednesday night and Thursday
complete the agenda
Va AdA &c uICCtAlASo.
Split Up Tomorrow
The 2,575 delegates will get
down to study and preparation
Of recommendations tomorrow
in work groups. They will vote
in their sections Wednesday on
recommendations related to the
various section subjects-popu-
lation trends and social and
economic implications; income
maintenance; health and medi-
cal care: free-time activities;
biological and medical
research in gerontology, and so
forth.
There will be no overall
vote on recommen-
dations or the broader policy
that will be develop.
d in the sections.