this amount, the physician is privileged to make an additional charge, presumably the difference between the amount allowed by Blue Shield and his usual fee for such service. He stated that he believes members of the profession err when they do not investigate the incomes of their patients to determine whether or not they fall into the income limitation group. He could see no reason, he said, why the medical man should not do the same thing, but reiterated that it is up to the physician, as the patient always assumes that the insurance will cover the entire cost, whether his income is $3600.00 per year or three or four times that amount. Dr. Dixon stated that he is not in favor of this particular plan as it now stands, but is in favor of medical care being taken into the plan, with an increase of premium. He commented that he thought it was up to the physicians, individually, to not permit their fees, or the idea of their fees, to be dominated by Blue Shield payments.
Dr. Davis [ David ] Marcus said that he understood that the Blue Shield Professional Board is composed of 95% surgeons, and that he does not think they are qualified to tell the medical men what their fees should be. He suggested that this Board should be composed equally of surgeons and medical men.
Dr. W.B. Steen inquired whether the $3.00 fee, if adopted, would be the total fee which could be charged.
Dr. Engle replied that the same qualifications would apply as are now in force on surgical fees--if the subscriber's income falls within the $3600.00 per year group, the participating physician or surgeon limits his fee to that stated by the Plan. He added that there is nothing to keep individuals whose income considerably exceeds that amount purchasing this insurance, and to those individuals the doctor may charge a fee commensurate with their incomes.
Dr. Robert Weber inquired if it were true that the income level were to be raised for Blue Shield.
Dr. Engle replied that this has been proposed, and that he assumed that it would be presented for the coming Board of Directors meeting.
Discussion being declared closed by the President, it was moved by Dr. Leo Kent that the Pima County Medical Society be opposed to the Blue Shield proposed plan for coverage of medical care as it now stands, and that the Society of Internal Medicine be allowed to draw up their plan and present it to the Society or to the Delegates of the Pima County Medical Society.
This motion was seconded by Dr. King, and was carried.
The President introduced Doctors Virginia Van Meter, Dr. Martha Goss, and Dr. Martha Minor, who were guests of Dr. Clara S. Webster.
Dr. G. Arthur Janssen, guest of Dr. Robert Johnson, was also introduced.
Announcement of the State Meeting to be held in Chandler beginning Sunday April 25, through April 28th was made.
Dr. D.W. Neubauer, Chairman of the Civil Defense Committee, stated that the County Civil Defense Committee, downtown, has done a lot of work, and that it has been his effort to set it up on the Society level so as to take up as little time as possible on the part of the members--no dry runs or First Aid courses. He asked those who have been assigned to casualty clearing units, but who have done nothing about their assignment, to meet with their units and assist them in getting organized.
Meeting adjourned.
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President Secretary-Treasurer
