DOCTORS' BILLS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 63, 15 March 1934, Page 7

DOCTORS' BILLS

BUYING HEALTH BY THE YEAR

For months a storm of discussion has centred over the proposals of tho United States Committee on Medical Costs (writes D. W. Buchanan in tho Toronto "Saturday Night"). The committee claimed that medical ; expenses were high, not because doctors charge impossible fees but rather bocause under the present unorganised system of competitive medicine onehalf of the total costs of illness are carried by one-tenth of tho population. It added that doctors' bills can never be budgeted for by one family alone, as illness tends to come unexpectedly, and in expensive doses, and it recommended that medical care be placed on a group payment basis. In

the town of Cardston, Alberta, a scheme similar to the one it proposed has been operating successfuly ever sines the winter of 1931. Under a contract form agreed to by the two local physicians, anyone in the district, for an advance fee of 25 dollars a year, is guaranteed medical care, for every member of the family living under the same roof. This service includes major and minor operations. By the summer of 1932, 200 names were entered. That meant a fund of 5000 dollars, one-twelfth of which was to be paid out each month- to the two doctors. At the end of the first year 300 contracts had been signed, which meant that some 1500 people out of a population of 2000 were included. Thus today each doctor finds himself guaranteed a yearly salary of more than 2500 dollars, over and above what he obtains from patients not on the contract. And a large percentage of the community need no longer worry about

doctors' bills. Worry, over operations has-ceased, and also• suspicion, for.the question of costly fees having vanished, patients no longer doubt the motives of their physician when he recommends surgery. Prevention of illness is more widespread in Cardston than before, for people no longer, hesitate to ca.ll a doctor when trouble first shows itself."