Board of Directors Meeting, April 8, 1954 13
Dr. Kuhlman--Are we going to hear an expression of opinion from our Society on the other one that I just mentioned? I would hate to go down there and vote for something that is exactly opposite of what our members wanted.
Dr. Engel--I think that all [ crossed out: of us ] the House of Delegates should take the action of the Blue Shield quite seriously at this time--they have a number of innovations and they must remember that it is the doctors insurance plan which sets an example for other insurance firms and we should meet before their meeting and certainly receive the feeling of the Society of Internal Medicine on these things. I think that any innovations should be looked over quite carefully, not just go into that meeting after a full dinner and cocktails.
Dr. Bernstein--There is a call to be vocal, express ourselves. We will look at you, Dr. Engle, for advice on this matter. Now the other thing--how shall we go about forming some opinion?
Dr. Kuhlman--I think we should have an expression from our own members.
Dr. Steen--Can't we get the various groups together before the meeting--initiate from here and arrange to have a meeting before the meeting and discuss this?
Dr. Engle--The Phoenix Delegation will at least be familiar with the best that will come out of this meeting. Phoenix Society will take care of that and it is up to us to let them know.
Dr. Lesemann--Phoenix and Tucson control this thing.
Dr. Beaton--After you have caucused, go to the Phoenix group and say "Look boys, this is how we are voting."
Dr. Hayden--I was asked to appoint a Committee to look into Blue Shield and Blue Cross thoroughly and report to the House of Delegates. There is a Committee being appointed in Phoenix consisting of [ crossed out: 4 ] 5 or 6 men who will investigate Blue Shield and Blue Cross to see if anything is going on that should not be, in the way of false reports. (representation?)
David James appointed Singer up there as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, and wrote down and asked it I had any recommendations to make for the Nominations. I recommended from Tucson that they nominate Irish Sch___ [ a blank space was left here--no signs of erasure or masking ] who is an attorney in town, who handles 10 or 12 labor unions. I got a letter from James that they had nominated a man by the name of Hummell--[ crossed out: that again ] they ignored my recommendation entirely and they have a habit of doing that, it seems. They are getting too much of a compact group. This Hummell may be a good guy, I do not know.
Dr. Engle--Do you know of other things we ought to be familiar with?
Dr. Hayden--Osteopaths situation. Minority group in the AMA, whereby the M.D.s are supposed to cooperate more closely with the osteopaths with the ultimate of absorbing them. The original teachings of Still are the basic foundation for osteopathy, while they are doing operations and surgery and all the other things, therefore, it is a superior branch of medicine. I am personally opposed to this, but there is a move on foot that we should provide them meantime with better instruction so that ultimately they will become doctors of medicine. Tonight H.E. Thompson is up at Phoenix with a committee of the Association with the osteopaths on a sort of round table discussion.
Dr. Engle--This calls to mind what does the Blues Cross and Blue Shield pay the osteopaths?
Dr. Hayden--Do not pay it--they pay the $6.00 day hospital but nothing else. If a patient is brought into an osteopathic hospital for anything, Blue Cross will pay any hospital that is recognized so much per day. At St. Mary's they pay $14 and up. They wanted to straighten out the clause in the practice Act whereby the osteopaths could take advantage of Blue Cross. The attorney said first that all they wanted was to have a permissive clause. Bud Jacobson asked them over the phone if it was their intention for the future or were they going to use it now? He said do you think we are fighting for? As it is now, Blue Shield and Blue Cross are not forced to accept.
Do we or do we not want to recognize osteopathy as being a cult?
Dr. Kent--How about the nominating committee? Should they be instructed?
Dr. Bernstein--[ crossed out: I wo ] Yes, we would like to be instructed.
Dr. Kent--Of course, it was the same deal. Last year Bate - [ and ] President-Elect Thoeny. Harry Thompson is Vice-President, and I think he is entitled to be elected.
Dr. Engel--Ed ought to give us background. He is on the Council and Roy is on the Council.
