Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-06-01
Here's Whof
Mediocre Bill
Will, Won't Dc

Inc Dill winch proposes to pro-
vide medical care for the aged is
presently before the House Ways
and Means committee while a
storm RACES over its merits.
1t is strongly supported by Pres
ident Kennedy and a spokesman
for the National Medical Associa.
ton, the nationwide organization
of Negro physicians, has approved
it.
Strongest opposition comes from
the American Medical Association
the nations largest organized
group of doctors.
Here are some questions and
answers which might help to make
clear to the public just what II
proposes to do:
Q. Who would be eligible?
A. Anyone covered by Social
Security who is 65 or over.
Q. When would benefits be avail
able if Congress approves the
measure this session.?
A. On Oct. 1, 1862, for all
benefits except nursing home
care which would begin on July
1, 1868.
Q. What would the bill provide
A. 1. A maximum of 80 days
hospital care for each illness.
However, the patient would pay
$40 toward the cost for each of
the first nine days Of hospital
care and no less than $50. Sup
pose a person went to the hos
pital for 20 days at a cost of
$40. He would pay 800, and
the Social Security would pay
the remaining $3.50.
2. Up to $50 days of nursing
home care for each illness. Social
Security would pay the total cost.
3. The entire cost of 24O visits
a year by home health service
officials.
4. The expenses connected with
hospital diagnosis of an illness.
The patient, however, would pay
$50 toward the cost of each dag
nosis.
Q. Would a patient get 80 days
hospital care, plus $50 days nurs-
ing home care?
A. No. Each person would get
$50 units" of care for each ILL
ness. One unit would equal one
day in a hospital or two days
in a nursing home. For example,
If a person received 80 days of
hospital care, he would be elig-
ibIe for only 14O days of nurs-
ing home care.
Q. Suppose person uses up all
his disqualification units?
A. The benefits would stop and
he would have to wait 80 days
before he again became eligible.
Q. What hospital services would
be covered?
A. Bed, board, drugs, and other
services and supplies regularly
furnished by a hospital.
Q. What nursing home services
would be provided?
A. Bed, board, drugs, nursing,
care, and other services custom
ariIy furnished by a nursing
home.
Q. What would home health
services include?
A. Nursing care; physical, Oc-
cupatiOnal, and speech therapy;
medical supplies other than
drugs; appliances for temporary
use, and part-time homemakers
services.
Q. Would the medical care plan
pay doctors fees?
A. No. The patient would pay
his own doctor, and for medical
and surgical services supplied in
the hospital. Certain doctors serv-
ices customarily supplied by the
hospital would be covered by the
plan - pathology, radiology, and
unsatisfactory, for example.
@. How would a person obtain
medical care benefits?
A. He would have to file a writ
ten request with the Government,
A doctor would have to certify
that the patient received medical
services. Payment would be made
directly to the hospital or nursing
home.
@. How would the medical care
plan be financed?
A. The Social Security tax on
employees and employers would
be raised one-fourth Of one per-
cent each; the tax on self-em-
ployed people would be increased
by three-eighths Of one per cent.
The Social Security tax base
also would be increased from
$4,000 q year to $500.