MEDICARE WILL START ON JULY 1

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31082, 10 June 1966, Page 11

MEDICARE WILL START ON JULY 1

(From FRANK OLIVER. Special Correspondent—N Z P A.> WASHINGTON. June 8. At the end of this month the United States starts out on the most far-reaching social plan since social security was introduced just 30 years ago. The Medicare programme will start on July 1: the forecasts for it range from disaster to the greatest blessing that could befall those who are called senior citizens. It is forecast that the plan will clog all hospitals with

vast numbers of the elderly who do not really need hospital care at all and it is also forecast that it will put a brake on ever-rising hospital costs.

Anyhow, a lot of people are going to try it. When the roster closed a few days ago 90 per cent of those 65 years and up had registered for Medicare.

Those who missed the deadline will now have to wait until a date next year before they can enjoy the benefits of the system. In comparison with the British system of almost free medical care for all, Medicare Js a much smaller and more restricted plan but is nevertheless a very big thing in; the history of . American social legislation. It took 20 years to get this legislative item on the books. 'lt will take much less time

to expand It to include millions more than are now signed up for it. One unknown factor in the situation is the reaction of the medical profession. Some doctors still say they will have nothing to do with it The American Medical Association, which fought the whole idea ’or 20 years, is leaving things up to the individual doctor. When Medicare was passed last year the prospect was that vast numbers of doctors would refuse to go along with it Since then the fact that this is now the law of the land has had an effect on many of the doctors and the prospects seem now to be that the vast majority will work with the new and revolutionary programme.

Medicare, says one columnist is a bitter pill for many physicians to swallow and he

says those who feel very strongly about it have formed themselves into an organisation called Ampac, American Medical Political Action Committee.

They plan to take political action in no fewer than 135 Congressional districts against Congressmen who voted the bill through. They are, he adds, adding to their numbers with dentists, veterinarians, nurses, hospital aides, hospital administrators, anaesthetists and chemists. In the elections the idea is to vote for those candidates who will work for the “containment of socialised medicine,” which means preventing it from expanding. Only time will show how effective this organisation Is. Government officials disagree of course. They think the demands on hospitals will not rise more than 5 per cent

Doctors, by and large, think the figure will be much nearer 50 per cent. History shows, they say, that when something is free everyone goes after it. Doctors also complain that not nearly enough has been done in the last 10 years to graduate the number of doctors the country really needs. The real crush, say the doctors, will come in the hospitals of great cities. Officials of the social security organisation are of the opinion that Medicare payments to hospitals caring for the elderly will result in a significant increase in hospital income. This is because hospitals have been taking care of many older people who must have help but cannot afford to pay. Now the hospitals will be paid by the Government for looking after them.