The Kerr-Mills law, as passed by Congress in 1960, and now actually available to 93 percent of the 172 million aged in the United States, enables the individual States to guarantee to every aged American who needs help the health care he requires. It helps every person who needs help. Each State can pattern the program to meet its own particular needs. It is administered locally and by helping only those who need help, it avoids waste of tax dollars. By FederalState matching fund financing only those States who need financial help will implement the Kerr-Mills bill. We must also realize that it is a proven fact that private health insurance is doing and will continue to do the job of providing protection for those over 65. More than 91⁄2 million of the Nation's elderly, or 55 percent of the 171⁄2 million in this age group, are covered by health insurance and the number is growing rapidly. In our own State of California, the insurance industry has, as have several other States, developed and implemented the pool concept to offer improved medical and hospital insurance for California. This concept permits the more than 40 California insurance companies to jointly pool resources, expenses, and share risks for the purpose of offering to those persons over 65 improved health plans at a reasonable cost. These plans are being well received. In view of the job private insurance is doing and the availability of Kerr-Mills matching funds for those States that need it-we can not see even the slightest need for H.R. 3920, or any other Federal health plan under the social security scheme. We you to take every step to defeat this compulsory health tax legislation and allow the States to provide for the aged who need help as each State feels best for their particular needs. Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR CHAIRMAN MILLS: In connection with the committee's consideration of the proposed medicare programs, I am transmitting herewith a report of the various medical care programs in Pinellas County, Fla., for needy people. It is respectfully requested by the medic committee of the Pinellas County Medical Society that this material be made a part of the record of your hearings on medical care. Thanking you, and with kindest regards, I am WILLIAM C. CRAMER, NOVEMBER 27, 1963. The medic committee of the Pinellas County Medical Society has conducted a survey of the medical facilities available in our county. Herein is contained a summary of the medical activities of the various organizations, governmental, and nonprofit organizations directed toward patient care that is furnished on a nonpay or partpay basis. Pinellas County is geographically the smallest county in the State of Florida, however it is the fourth largest in population. The 1960 census indicated that the population then was 374,665 and the 1962 estimate is 411,800. The population growth in the past 10 years (1952-62) has been very rapid-approximately 116.5 percent. The population centers are: 1. St. Petersburg and the surrounding towns, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, the gulf beaches. 2. Clearwater, Largo, Belleair, Dunedin. 3. Tarpon Springs. 4. Oldsmar, Safety Harbor. Almost all of the medical care for the county is performed in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. HOSPITALS IN PINELLAS COUNTY 1. U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital at Bay Pines, Fla.: In fiscal year year 1962: inpatients treated 6,371; outpatients treated 23,619. A study indicated that 47 percent of the patients treated were residents of Pinellas County. We have no cost basis to estimate the value of the total medical care given. 2. Mound Park-Mercy Hospitals, St. Petersburg, Fla.: Total number of patients admitted to hospitals 18,683; number of welfare admissions (State and county) 1,208. This was an increase of 13.53 percent over 1961. Average length of welfare patients hospital stay was 9.1 days. State payments, October 1962-63 (inpatients)---. $121, 913, 12 County payments, October 1962-63 (inpatients and outpatients)- 291, 519. 88 Total welfare and uncollectible accounts, $1,223,800. The outpatient clinic visits from October 1962 to October 1963 at the Mound Park and Mercy welfare clinics numbered 19,001. All clinics are manned by hospital interns and private physicians. 3. St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Petersburg: No figures available. 4. American Legion Hospital for Crippled Children, St. Petersburg: Admissions__. Patient-days__. Hospital cost per patient-day--. FCCC payment per patient-day--- Total___ 443 8,852 $34.59 $22.36 $306, 190. 68 5. Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater: Number of welfare admissions (State and county) 585 patients; cost $98,254.70; $85,813.70 paid by State and country; $12,441 paid by hospital; hospital charity, 110 patients, $23,567.36 paid by hospital: Cost 180 50 $32, 446. 80 $389, 361. 60 Cost figures not available. 8. Anclote Manor (private psychiatric hospital), Tarpon Springs: 9. Pinellas County Home (nursing home supported by Pinellas County): Charity (of total care in 1962) -- Noncollectible accounts-- Beds-- Under construction____. Total operating expense for September 1963. Projected for 1 year- 10. Masonic Home for the State of Florida: Retirement home for 11. Tuberculosis Hospital of South West Florida, located in Hillsborough 70 16, 010 12. Sunland training centers, located in other counties, serve many retarded and epileptic patients from Pinellas County; figures not available on a county basis. 13. State Hospital for the Insane, Cattahoochee: Serves many insane persons from Pinellas County. Figures not available on county basis. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FURNISHING MEDICAL CARE IN PINELLAS COUNTY 1. Veterans' Administration regional office, St. Petersburg Fiscal year 1963: Outpatient clinic visits.. 43, 116 This figure includes St. Petersburg and Jacksonville Clinic. 76, 458 This figure is statewide. There is no breakdown on a county basis. A cost basis of these services were not obtained. Visits to fee basis physicians--- Vocational rehabilitation, State of Florida, Department of Education Number of children treated from Pinellas County. 689 $159,836 Adult Mental Health Clinic of Pinellas County (agency of the State of Florida, Bureau of Mental Health) October 1962 to October 1963: Number of patients seen, 3,378. Total medical care, Pinellas County Welfare Department--- 622, 884. 52 Pinellas County Health Department Number of cases total, 1963 to Oct. 1: 1. Immunization of various kinds...... 2. Venereal disease control.. 3. Tuberculosis control__ 4. Maternity service--- 5. Child health service_ 6. School health_ 7. Dental health 8. Chronic disease_. 9. Mental health. Number patient contracts 21, 600 5,492 37, 093 15, 071 8, 955 41, 118 55, 119 17,889 4,820 Also various activities in sanitation, health education and laboratory procedures. No cost basis available for patient services. Private agencies offering medical care 1. Katherine Payne Rehabilitation Center: Total patients seen Sept. 1, 1962, to Aug. 31, 1963_-. 2. Family and children's service bureau: Number of patients served_ 3. Visiting Nurses Association of Greater St. Petersburg: Number of visits made____ 239 917 12, 771 4. Visiting Nurses Association of Upper Pinellas County: Number of visits made_ Number of patients cared for---. 5. Children's Home Society: Number of patients served, 1962. 6. American Cancer Society: Services given to cancer victims7. Catholic Charities: Number of patients served__. 8. Speech and hearing clinic: Number of patients seen__ 9. National Foundation: Total disbursements, 1962__-. 10. Child guidance clinic: Number of patients seen July 1, 1962, to June 30, 1963__. 1 No specific figures available. 3, 153 259 (1) 301 631 28 $26, 785. 22 880 These figures, while no means complete, give an idea of the amount of money and the number of facilities available in Pinellas County for medical care. When you add to these figures the fact that the various welfare clinics are manned by physicians, the various private organizations are served by physicians, charity services of the hospitals are manned by physicians, all without charge, plus the fact that between 10 and 20 percent of the office practice done in this area is either charitable or noncollectible accounts, you get some idea of the massive amount of aid available to the needy sick in Pinellas County. We do not make the presumption that all medical needs are being met in the best possible manner. We do know that no one in our county need go without medical care, regardless of their resources. We further see that some areas of medical care for the needy deserve changes or improvement. We, however, feel that there are adequate organizations already established in our community to meet the needs of our community and with the cooperation of these organizations and the medical profession, with the help of State and county agencies, we see no need for an entirely new Federal program to be established in Pinellas County. STATEMENT OF THE RICHMOND COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, AUGusta, Ga., (By Preston D. Ellington, M.D.) Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am Dr. Preston D. Ellington, of Augusta, Ga., where I am in the private practice of medicine. I am also president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Richmond County Medical Society. The purpose of this statement is to submit for the consideration of the Ways and Means Committee our sincere opposition to H.R. 3920, 88th Congress, which concerns financing health care for the aged through social security tax structure. The medical profession in Richmond County, Ga., has consistently supported and encouraged all constructive legislative measures. But in view of already existing Federal, State, and local activities in the field of health care for the aged it is our opinion that no need exists for H.R. 3920. OLD-AGE ASSISTANCE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE AGED PROGRAM As supported and endorsed by the medical societies of the Medical Association of Georgia, the enabling legislation to permit Georgia to participate in the KerrMills program of health care for the aged was passed in 1961. This law provides financial assistance for two segments of Georgia's aged population (300,000), namely— 1. Old-age assistance (OAA): Health care benefits for the needy who are over age 65 years and who are on the welfare department rolls; and 2. Medical assistance to the aged (MAA): Health care benefits for the near needy who are over age 65 years and who would be determined to be medically indigent such as those persons who can live independently yet cannot pay unusual hospital bills. In January 1962, Georgia started the old-age assistance (OAA) part of the Kerr-Mills program which now provides hospital care for any illness or injury requiring hospitalization up to 60 days per year and nursing home care up to 365 days per year. Presently this OAA program covers some 2,500 persons of a total of 8,500 people over age 65 years in Richmond County. Implementation of the medical assistance to the aged (MAA) will add approximately another 2,500 aged persons to the rolls of those eligible. Every ethical means is being used to urge the State's participation in the MAA program, and we have every reason to believe that this will be initiated in the immediate future. VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION The Veterans' Administration hospital (1,744 beds) in Richmond County provides a comprehensive program of medical, hospital, and domiciliary care for all eligible veterans. Its facilities comprise nearly 50 percent of the hospital bed capacity in Richmond County. |