Evening star., 1962-05-22
ANA
Doctors Contend Kerr-MiIIs Law
. Will Work if Given Fair Chance
Continued From Page Al

spoke before a live audience of
1880, the two ANA Spokes-
men sat alone in the vast arena
an arrangement that they
said may help us get across
to the American people the
grossly unfair disadvantage
under which We doctors are
laboring to make our voices
and our reasons heard"
A Boston station, WBZ-TV,
refused to carry the program.
and this brought a complaint
from the association that it
had been "blacked out in
the Presidents home town"
The station said that its de-
ciSion was based on a policy Of
not selling time Ito organiza-
tions or individuals for dis
cusSion of controversial issues
in which such organizations or
individuals are involved"
The station carried Presi-
dent Kennedy's address on
medical problems from Mad
ison Square Garden last Sum-
day night.
Says Fees Not Involved
DR.. Edward r. Annis of Miami,
Fla, the main ANA speaker,
said the relationship between
q doctor and his patient is one
of the few things which touch
so close to God E" and he
urged viewers to consult their
doctors about the measure.
"Our fees are not involved"
he declared. Our practice of
quality medicine is. Your
health is"
DR.. Annis, chairman of the
AMA's national speakers bu-
reau, said the administration
backed plan "wastefully covers
millions who do not need it"
and ignores millions who do.
He added.
-eIt will undercut and destroy
the wholesome growth of pri-
vate, voluntary insurance and
prepayment health programs
for the aged which offer flexi-
BILE benefits in the full range Of
individual needs.
-"It will lower the quality and
availability of hospital services
throughout our country. 1t will
stand between the patient and
his doctor. And it will serve as
the -forerunner of a different
system of medicine for all
Americans"
Don't mistake it," DR.. Annis
declared. "England's national !
lied medical program is the
kind of thing they have in mind !
for US eventually {
ANA Chief Speaks I
DR.. Leonard w. Larson of !
Bismarck, N. OAK. president of
the 185, ,000-member ANA, said {
the program would deprive {
older people of "the American ,
system of medicine, based upon
the private doctor treating the
private patient"
In the last 20 years alone,
he said. this system has added
10 years to the life of every
American. 4
Under the King-Anderson
proposal, social security recipi- ,
ents would be eligible for med
ical aid financed through a
social security payroll tax in
crease of one-fourth of / per
cent on employees and employers.
The ANA favors the present
Kerr Mills law, which provides
for Federal assistance to States
but leaves administration Of a.
program Of medical care for
the needy over IS to the States
themselves. |
DR.. Annis said the Kerr-Mills
plan already has been imple-
mented in 38 States and that
the law will work if given a
chance. He said the Presidents
plan would not cover 3 mil /
lion persons over 65 not eligible
for social security benefits.
Private Systems Praised
He described the Kerr-Mills
law as a desirable supplement
to zone Of the greatest social
advances of our generation-t
the spectacular growth of priv
ate, voluntary health inSur-
ance systems to which millions
of Americans already belong"
I He said more than SO per
cent-a total of 8 million-of
Americans over IS carry health
insurance-three times more
than were covered 10 years ago.
A Lansing (Mich.) widow,
Mrs. Helen Cole, who received
aid under the Kerr-MillS law,
was interviewed on the pro-
gram. She said provisions of
the law, as implemented in her
state. took care Of a $4,000 hos
pital bill involving skin graft
ing and a prolonged hospital
stay. l.
Noting that Mr.. Kennedy had
questioned whether many ply
sicianS had actually read the
King-AnderSon measure, DR..
Annis reviewed sections of the
bill.
Then he repeated a plea that
Mr.. Kennedy and adminiStra-
tion officials made at more :
than a score of rallies across
the country on Sunday-that
citizens write their Congress-
men and express themselves on
the measure.
An association spokesman
estimated the cost of the half
hour program, carried by the
National Broadcasting Co., at
$4,000. There also was a cost
of $4,000 for rental OF the
garden.
DR.. Annis said it was unfair
to the doctors, and to the pub