They went to the local insurance companies and asked how much they could sell insurance for as a group, accident, liability, health, etc., so they finally insured through a national company and were able to get their liability insurance cut down very much, plus savings they made on group liability and certain social security types of insurance, office help, etc., saving of about $138.00 a year, which was returned to the membership. The first year it cost about $95.00 above state dues, and after four years this was cut down to $45.00 above the state dues, and has stayed at that level. The thing I wanted to stress was the public relations and this more than any other thing, but also the fact that they began to work together more closely and that they had a set up of a lay agency that people could come to with their problems. Ads were quite large ($3,000.00 a year). Any complaint could be taken up with Donovan, and he would try to evaluate it, then contact the doctor. The first year there were many complaints; they have become less and less and now are stabilized. They have the plaintiff come in to the office, and the assistant secretary fills out a form for each with the name, family relationship, etc., whether he has wanted medical attention and could not pay for it, how much he earns, income, dependents, and on the basis of his earnings they figure he can afford only so much a week. The doctor is then called and told about the case, and what the applicant can pay per week, and there has been excellent cooperation from the doctors. Besides, the doctor is sure of getting something instead of having the patient ignore the bill completely. They discuss complaints and frequently can settle these right there in the office. They explain as nearly as they can what the physician's expenses are and why a fee is customary, and often can straighten out misunderstandings, but if they cannot they call the doctor and act as liaison between patient and doctor. Collection fees are less."
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"I think the basic thing is that in Oakland and San Jose and other places where they have this plan they are able, though [ through ] the medical society, to give the patient the answer he wants, protect him, an provide care he can pay for. A plan like this cuts the bottom out of any demand for socialized medicine. The Committee recommends to this group and to the Society that such a plan be adopted for Pima County, and it was suggested that possibly the Society would want to spend the money to bring Mr. Donovan over here to discuss this further. The Committee would like your pleasure on this recommendation. It would need the full support of the Society and it was thought that preliminary discussion could be held next Tuesday night and possibly a special meeting might be held."
Dr. Donald Lewis--"If the Society voted for it as a majority, would the minority have to adopt it?"
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"There is no compulsion to joining the collection service. Actually this is a money making or saving idea over a period of time."
Dr. Steen--"Our membership is 164. Do you have in mind putting this whole plan into effect in all its various phases?"
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"The first phase is a secretary who will set up the collection mechanism and that for determining the ability of people to pay, and for taking complaints.
1. Collection agency because bad accounts are first source of poor public relations.
2. Data for determining which people can pay.
3. Talk over complaints which people have."
Dr. Newcomb--"Is it the purpose of this meeting tonight to recommend it to the Society or not to recommend it?"
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"You can recommend establishment, further investigation, or against it."
Dr. Donald Lewis--"I think the members will want to know the cost before even considering it."
Dr. Hugh Thompson--"The cost initially can be figured from Dr. Hayden's report. The cost eventually will be less and the Society will make money. The figures from Alameda were so favorable that they were able to reduce their individual cost."
