TRENDS

Abstract

THE manifold problems related to the Nation's medical manpower overshadow other aspects of health legislation in the early days of 82nd Congress. These problems are dealt with so fully in the daily press, in weekly releases from the American Medical Association and local medical societies, that there is little to be gained in commenting upon them here; the story would be old before it appeared in print. There are, however, other measures to which we wish to call attention. Certain major health bills which were given active consideration in the 81st Congress have reappeared—as we predicted they would—in the 82nd Congress. These are, in chronologic order of their introduction: National Health Insurance A bill (H.R. 27) to provide a national health insurance and public health program was introduced on January 3 by Representative Celler of New York. This is the Administration's version of compulsory national health insurance, identical with H.R. 345 introduced into the last Congress by the same author. Support for this measure appeared in President Truman's budget message to Congress when he again renewed his recommendations for the establishment of a medical care insurance program. He said: "Such a program would require a 2-year starting period before health benefits become available.