davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
PREMIUMS TO BE CUT I'm
HALF NEXT YEAR

Premium rates at present at $12
per year for an individual, or $24
per year for a family. These pre-
miums contribute about % per cent
of the cost of the plan. The balance
is derived from general revenues of
the province, including a portion of
the sales tax, a surcharge on income
tax and a portion of the corporation
tax. AS footnote, might add that
the government has just announced
that for 1864 the premiums will be
cut in half-to Sc and $12 per year.
The services which are insured are
comprehensive, covering both gen.
eral practitioner and specialist serv-
ices; home, office and hospital calls;
surgical, obstetrical and special pro-
cedures; and diagnostic services. The
plan does not cover drugs, appliances,
examination for or provision of eye
glasses, examination at the request
of a third party, the services of spec
ial duty nurses or ambulance. 1t is
generally limited to services provided
or authorized by a licensed medical
practitioner. 1t does cover, in addi-
tion, physical therapy. The benefit
ciary's insurance is effective any
where outside the province for all
services insured in Saskatchewan,
with the single exception of psychia-
trio care. Payment for out-of-province
care is limited to the rates payable
in Saskatchewan.
The plan has no limitations with
regard to age of the beneficiary or
pre-existing conditions. There are
no waiting periods beyond the resi-
dence requirement for any specific
conditions, nor are there any dol
lar limitations on coverage.
| would also like to point out that
The act contains several specific and
positive guarantees. The patient is
guaranteed free choice of doctor,
subject to second guarantee which
assures the doctor the right to ac-
.ept or refuse patient as he sees
it. Fee-for-service is recognized by
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
EACH SIDE GAVE A LITTLE
IN SETTLEMENT

The settlement represented com
promises on the part of both govern
ment and organized medicine. The
profession agreed to work within the
framework of universal tax-sup-
ported medical care plan; the govern
ment agreed to the participation of
voluntary non-profit health insurance
agencies in handling payments from
the Commission to physicians. The
College of Physicians and Surgeons
is now officially represented by three
members on the Medical Care Insur-
ance Commission.
Now what about the plan itself?
How does it work and what are
the benefits?
One of the results of the plan is
that ninety-nine out of every hun
bred Saskatchewan residents now
have comprehensive medical care
available to them. Of the ninety
nine, ninety-three are covered d.
rectly by the Medical Care Insurance
Plan; three are covered by other
provincial programs, such as health
SerViceS Ior welfare FeclpleHCS, anu
three are covered by federal pro-
grams, including war veterans, Royal
Canadian Mounted Police and the
armed forces. In total, of Saskatche-
vans $4,000 residents, 100000 are
beneficiaries of the Saskatchewan
Medical Care Insurance Plan.
Three requirements must be full
filled in order to establish eligibility.
These are: three months residence,
and payment of the pre-
MUM.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
CENTRAL ISSUE IN 1860
PROVINCIAL ELECTION

Medical care also became the GEN.
trail issue of the 1860 provincial cleo
ton, an election which saw the gov
eminent returned to office with two
thirds of the seats in the Legislative
Assembly.
In September, 1861, the Advisory
Planning Committee on Medical Care
brought down its report on medical
care insurance. It's recommendations
called for universal, comprehensive
plan administered by a public COM
mission responsible to the Legislature
through the Minister of Public Health.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
ALL 10 PROVINCES HAVE
PREPAID HOSPITAL PLANS

These differences are not neces-
sarily peculiar to Saskatchewan. All
ten provinces in Canada, as an exam
pie, have universal, public hospital
insurance programs, supported by a
combination of provincial and fed
eral tax funds.
Saskatchewan is only one of three
provinces in Canada which are at
some stage in the implementation of
public medical care programs. Legis-
lation in Alberta has already been
passed, and that plan will be in opera
ton later this year. Ontario's plan is
midway in the legislative process,
awaiting the outcome of a provincial
election next month in which it is a
major issue. Alberta has a Social
Credit government, Ontario a Con-
sentative government
All four national political parties
in Canada propose some type of
Canada-wide medical care scheme.
Granted there is a wide divergence
in the details of the plans and per-
haps in their effectiveness; never
theless, all proposals go much
farther than your controversial
King-Anderson Bill.
Saskatchewan early took the public
road to solving many of its health
services problems. The Saskatchewan
Anti tuberculosis League, supported
by municipal and provincial contribu-
tions, pioneered free care for tuber-
cular patients as early as 1911. A
public cancer control program under
the provincial government was under
taken in 1880, and since 1914 every
resident of the province has been en-
titled to free cancer treatment.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
ID. d. TANSLEY, Chairman
Saskatchewan Medical Care
Insurance Commission

There is tradition, when speaker
crosses the 10th parallel to address:
a group on the other side, which calls
for some comment about the great
community of interest which the peo-
pie of Canada share with the people
of the United States. Like many ira
ditions, this has become trite through
overuse. Yet it contains strong ele-
ment of truth, particularly when
crossing that imaginary line between
Saskatchewan and Montana. We bow
before the same cold winds in winter
and search the same broad sky for
traces of moisture in the summer. In
the "dirty Thirties'' we even shared
our topsoI and grasshoppers, not to
mention our misery. We do indeed
have much in common.
Yet there are differences too, and
these should not be lost sight of. The
Canadian economy is underdeveloped
relative to that of the United States
and considerably more vulnerable.
Too, as one famous Canadian put it,
we suffer from too much geography.
Of all the vast surface of Canada,
only about Is per cent is at present
supporting any economic activity,
realistically defined.
And while we share with the United
States great democratic tradition,
our institutions have some significant
differences. The economic and Gull
tural influence of the United States
is admittedly pervasive in Canada,
but it is nevertheless tempered by
our ties with Great Britain and the
Commonwealth.
ALI this is by way of introducing
the suggestion that, despite our COM
munity of interest, there are some
differences in attitude north of the
border toward the provision of health
services
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
Suskutehewuns Prepaid Medicaospa| Plan Working Well

the Act as the prevailing method of
payment, although doctor who pre-
fers a fixed payment arrangement is
guaranteed the right to apply for
contract with the Medical Care In
surance Commission.
The Act stipulates that all infor-
nation concerning individual patients
and doctors which comes to the Com
missions attention in the course of
its payment for services shall remain
secret, and establishes penalties for
any violation of the secrecy provi-
sion. The Act and Regulations made
under the Act set up appeal proce-
dures for both physicians and others
who may feel aggrieved by any ac-
ton of the Commission or its staff.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
BROAD HEALTH PROGRAM
STARTED I'm 1914

LII 1914 CHe pTeSeflC government
assumed office on a platform which
included the establishment of a COM
prehensive publicly financed health
service. Some of the developments
during the following fifteen years
| include:
1. A system of health regions
to undertake preventive services
throughout the province.
2. Grants to aid municipal doctor
plans.
8. Publicly financed, comprehen-
sive health care for recipients of pub
lie assistance.
A. A province-wide public hospital
insurance plan.
5. A planned program of hospital
construction.
6. An air ambulance service to
transport rural patients to major
centers.
7. Improved and expanded mental
health facilities.
8. Extension of the two-year medi-
cal school to full four-year college
of medicine.
As early as 1916 the first health
region-Swift Current--established
tax supported medical care pro-
gram for its residents. This pro-
gram has since continuously pro-
vided satisfactory service to resi-
dents of the region.
At the same time as these events
were taking place, there was marked
expansion in the coverage of volun-
tary, cooperative and commercial
prepayment plans for medical care
which, by 1860 covered 40 per cent
of the total population.
1t was with this background that
the government announced in 1859
its intention of fulfilling it's next
commitment in the health plaza
province-wide medical care insurance
program. An Advisory Planning Com
mittee on Medical Care, broadly rep
resentative of health interests and
the public, was appointed in early
1860.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20

The municipal doctor plan was one
of the earliest Saskatchewan inven-
tons for providing health services.
(Our rural municipalities are like
your counties, except they are of
much smaller size.) In 1915 the Rural
Municipality of Sarnia originated the
municipal doctor plan by engaging a
physician on a contract basis to pro-
vide medical care without direct
charge for residents of the munich
pality.
Provincial legislation in 1919 made
this approach '1ega1' and enabled
other municipalities to follow suit.
Through the years, this became an
important method of insuring medi-
cal services for our sparse rural popu-
lation. By 1947, 25 per cent of Sas-
katchewan's people received medical
services from municipal doctors.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20

Il Ills IGpOII was OASACd ny ClSuG u
the twelve members of the commit
tee.
The remaining four, three of whom
represented organized medicine il
the province and the fourth the Sas
katchewan Chamber of Commerce
did not concur in the majority recon-
mendations and submitted minority
report. Under the minority proposal
coverage in existing commercial and
doctor-sponsored schemes would be
voluntary, with the governments role
limited to substituting premium pay
ments for certain low income groups
and for persons over IS.
AS you know, the government of
Saskatchewan rejected this proposal
and enacted plan which followed
closely the recommendations of the
majority of the Advisory Committee.
The government has since stated its
reasons for this choice as follows:
1. The government had been re-
turned in 1860 with clear man.
date to establish universal, gov
ernment-financed comprehensive
medical care program.
2. The majority of the Advisory
Committee, including three physi-
clans, rejected the alternative pro-
posed by organized medicine.
3. Voluntary coverage is inevitably
selective, with 'tgood risks" staying
out and "poor risks" coming in. Pre-
MUM rates are thus necessarily high.
a. A universal unsupported pro-
gram can achieve a much more equit-
able distribution of costs according to
ability to pay.
5. The government felt it could not
.elinquish to private agencies not
lnder direct public control the author
ty to expend the substantial tax
'unds required in the proposed sub
Idly program.
Therefore, in November, 1861,
inal approval was given to the Sas-
latchewan Medical Care Insurance
Act. This signalled the beginning of |
he final series of events which led |
o the turbulent dispute of mid-1962. |
organized medicine reiterated its
ontinued opposition to the plan as
nacted, and remained unavailable |
or consultation to the newly ap-
,oited Medical Care Insurance Com |
mission. Meetings between the gov
and the Council of the Col |
eye of Physicians and Surgeons in |
ate March and again in June were |
of any agreement.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
MEDICS TURNED DOWN
COMPROMISE PROPOSAL

to pass regulations whereby doctors
could bill their patients directly, by.
passing the Medical Care Insurance
Commission. and patients would then
be reimbursed by the Commission.
This action, College representatives
said, was not acceptable unless the
Act itself was completely rewritten.
Even though the government changed
the regulations to permit patient re-
endorsement, organized medicine
went ahead with it's plans to withdraw
services effective July 1.-The date
set for inaugurating the plan.
I don't think it would be particu-
larly useful for me to attempt to
give you a detailed account of the
events of July 1862. Nothing that
has ever happened in Saskatchewan
has been as widely publicized as this
unfortunate collision between gov
eminent and the organized medical
profession.
What was the issue? Initially, it
could be described as follows: The
profession didn't like the act. The
government said: "Give it a fair
trial; if it is unsatisfactory the peo-
pie will correct the situation at the
next election.
The profession, however, chose
to attempt to force the govern
ment to repeal the act by refusing
to provide normal services. At this
point, the fundamental issue ceased
to be a medical care program and
became the preservation of orderly
democratic government.
Law Professor E. A. Tollefson of
the University of Saskatchewan stated
the issue clearly in these words:
9" members of the medical
profession have not only given the
Act the most perverse interpreta-
tion conceivable, but have failed
to appreciate the constitutional
rights and obligations of a minor
ity group in a democratic society
-. The belief that a small seq
ment of society has the right to
impose hardship on the rest of So
ciety in order to compel the gov
eminent to legislate according to
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20

who may feel aggr1eved by any ac-
ton of the Commission or its staff.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
is NEGOTIATED
Consultation and negotiation be-
tween the Commission and the repre-
sentatives of the medical profession
with respect to rates of payment and
level of payment are established by
the Act, and provision is also made
for mediation should differences of
opinion prevail.
AS beneficiary, how do / obtain
services, and how is the doctor paid?
This is where the plan is somewhat
complex, as a result of the changes
introduced in June and July of last
year.
In any meeting between doc
tor and patient, there are four
possibilities, each of which gives
rise to a different mode of pay
ment.
First, the doctor I select may
choose to send the account directly
to the Medical Care Insurance Com
mission. In this case I, as patient,
do not receive a bill and the doctor
accepts the Commissions payment
as payment in full. About % per
cent of the accounts which the Com
mission receives are of this type.
Second, there is the method of
payment through what is called an
Approved Health Agency. These
agencies are the former doctor-spon-
sored prepayment plans, or in one
case cooperative group, which have
been authorized under the Act to
serve as Intermediates in paying
doctors.
AS beneficiary, may subscribe
to one of these agencies. The agency
is permitted to charge a subscription
fee sufficient TO cover administrative
costs but may not operate for profit.
At present the rates are $500 for
an individual for a year or $500
for family Membership is volun-
1ary, and this amount is in addition
10 the medical care insurance pre-
MUM.
For the fee the agency under
takes to perform two functions:
CD it receives bills from doctors
for services provided to subscrib-
ers and forwards them to the Com
mission, receives payment from the
Commission, and distributes pay
ments to doctors; and ca it under
takes to represent member doctors
or subscribers in any dealings with
the Commission concerning pay
ment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-20

Our complete line Of feIevision
and stereo models at special
prices. Selections limited In
some models, but overall
savings con be appreciated.
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
w. T. MERRILL. JR.

w. T. MERRILL, JR.
Executor of the Estate of
Alice A. Merrill. Deceased.
Dated October. Is 1868.
MILTON G.. ANDERSON
Post Office & Business Address
The New Sidney Drug Store
Building
Sidney. Montana
publication dates October 16, %
and 80 and November 6. 1857
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
CARD OF THANKS


We wish to express our sincere
thanks to all neighbors and friends
for kindnesses extended to us at
the time of the death of our loved
one. Our special thanks to Rev.
Zagel for his comforting words,
to Mrs. Frank Daniels and Mrs.
Ronald Zagel for their service of
music. to the Trinity Lutheran
Ladies Aid for lunch served after
the services and to all who sent
flowers and memorials and brought
food to our home.
Mrs. S. L. Foss
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Larson
and family
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Potter
and family
Carol Foss
Mrs. Lorraine Bascom and
family
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
BrOrsOn Farmhands
All Club Holds
First Meeting

The first meeting of the Bror-
son Farmhands al Club was
called to order by Judy Albin,
president, at 8 o'clock Oct. Is.
We had a discussion and de-
cided on another dance some
time during November.
The newly elected officers are
President, Mary Cundiff; Vice
President, Judy Albin; Secretary
Treasurer, Joan Redlin; Report
er, Edith Franz and Recreation
and Song Leaders, Becky Pre-
vost and Bobby Albin.
The officers will meet at Mrs.
Edith ObergfelPs in Sidney on
Nov. 4 at 7:30 for program plan
ming. The next meeting will be
Nov. Is at Midway School.
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
CARDS OF THANKS
CARD nE THANKS

I wish to take this means of
expressing my sincerest apprecia-
ton of the fine care 1 received
during my stay in the Community
Memorial Hospital, including the
services of DR.. Harper, the nurses
and aides. and the excellent food.
Also for the visits of Rev. Whan-
ger and many other friends. the
gifts of cards, flowers and other
remembrance, 1 am deeply CRATE
full.
Mrs. Pearl Hulings
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30

FOR SALE bedroom home on
oil highway. / acre of land
P .ced low. Immediate possess
sion. miles from town. Contact
HURLY CAREY, Turner ms. &
Realty. Phone 482-121O. 42-5tc
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gail Sawyer, deceased.
NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN. by
the undersigned, Marguerite Saw
yer. EXecutrix of the estate Of
Gail Sawyer, deceased, to the
creditors of, and all persons hav-
ing claims against the said de-
ceased. to exhibit them with the
necessary vouchers within four
a. months after the first pubhca-
ton of this notice to said EXecu-
triX st the offices of Cresap Z
L"londe. attorneys for EXecutriX,
at 212 Central Avenue South, Sid
ney, Montana.
Dated this 9th day of October,
AID, 1858
MARGUERITE SAWYER
EXecutrix
CRESAP & LALONDE
Business Address:
212 Central Avenue South
P.O. Address: Box 953
Sidney. Montana
Attorneys for EXecutrix
publication dates October 16, %,
30. November 6, 1861
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
FOR SALE

FOR SALE - bedroom home on
2 acres, miles from town.
Gravel road, close to bus service.
Immediate possession. Contact
HURLY CAREY, Turner Ins. &
Realty. Phone 482-1210. 42-3tc
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
LEGAL NOTICES

In The District Court OF The
seventh Judicial District OF The
state OF Montana, In And For The
County of Richland
DONALD L. PALMER AND
EUGENE PALMER, Plaintiffs,
MIDLAND COAL AND LUMBER
COMPANY, A Corporation, and
HAZEL HILT BALLARD and If
said Defendant be deceased, the
unknown heirs at law, andIor
devisees of said deceased Defen-
dsnt. and all other persons un-
known claiming or VINO m1ght
claim any right, title, estate,
or interest IL or lein or en-
cLnnberance upon, the real pro-
perty described in the Complaint
or any thereof, adverse to the
Plaintiffs ownership, or any
cloud upon Plaintiffs title thereto
whether such claim or possible
claim be present or contingent
including any claim or possible
claim Of dover, 1ncnoate, or
accrue. Defendants.
afJ SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION
The State of Montana to the
above named Defendants and to
all other persons unknown: Greet
ngs.
You and each of you are hereby
summoned to answer the Complaint
In this action which is filed in the
office of the Clerk Of this Court, a
copy of which is hereby served
upon YOU and to file your answer
and serve a copy thereof, upon
the Plaintiffs attorney within
twenty (20) days after the service
of this Summons, exclusive of the
day of service, and in case of
vour failure to appear or answer,
Judgment will be taken against
YOU BY default for the relief de-
manded in the Complaint.
This action is brought for Che
purpose of quieting title to the
land situated in Ricfland County,
Montana, more particularly decrlb-
ed as follows:
Township Twenty-Five (25l
North of Range Fifty-Six 1867
EMPM. Section Twenty
One (21); NEl4 & SiaNW14
WITNESS MY HAND and the
seal of this Court this 18th day OF
October, AID. 1868.
Alma Murphy
Clerk of the District Court
Court Seal)
y. G.. Koch
Attorney at Law
Courthouse Box 831
Sidney, Montana
Attorney for Plaintiffs
publish October 16. %, 80 ano
November 6, 1851
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
CARD OF THANKS

We wish to express our sincere
thanks for all the kindness shown
us during our recent bereavement.
A special thanks to Rev. Auslaad,
to the Country Woman's Club, TO
those who took part in the service
and to those who sent cards, flow
ers. memorials and food. Your
thous shtfulness will always be re-
membered.
The family of
Mrs. Cecelia Stromfeldt
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30

HI Inc 0OuAt vi lit
Seventh Judicial District of The
state of Montana, In And For The
County of Richland
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of ALICE A. MERRILL,
Deceased
Notice Is Hereby Given by the
undersigned w. T. Merrill, Jr.,
Executor of the Estate of Alice A.
Merrill deceased, to the creditors
of and all persons having claim
against the said deceased. to ex-
hibit them with the necessary
vouchers within four (4) months
after the first publication of this
notice. to the said w. T. Merrill.
.Tr, at the law office of Milton
G. Anderson, attorney for Execu-
tor. located in The New Sidney
Drug Store Building, Sidney. Mon
tana. the place appointed for the
transaction of the business of the
estate
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
LOST AND FOUND

LOST - Spare tire rim and brack-
ct for Ford truck. Reward. Harry
Boese, Bloomfield. 42-ltp
The Sidney herald., 1963-10-30
NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Charles J. Woodruff, de-
ceased.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, by
the undersigned, Leona Urquhart,
Administrative of the estate of
Charles J. Woodruff. deceased, to
the creditors of and all persons
having claims against the said de-
ceased. to exhibit them with the
necessary vouchers within four az
months after the first publication
of this notice, to the said Leona
Urquhart at the law offices of
CreSap & Dalonde, 212 Central
Avenue South, Sidney. County of
Richland. Montana.
Dated this 10th day of October,
AID, 1868.
LEONA URQUHART
CRESAP & LALONDE
Business Address:
212 Central Avenue South
P.O. Address: Box 953
Sidney, Montana
Attorneys for Administrative .,
publication dates October 90,
30. November s, 13, 1867