Board of Directors Meeting, May 6, 1954 2
Dr. Bernstein--I think it is important that the members know about it, whether anything is accomplished or not. Chances are that this will be an opportunity for the Committee to inform the members as to what is going on.
The motion, upon being put to question, was carried.
Report for the Board of Censors was made by Dr. Royal Rudolph, as follows:
"Since the first of the year there have been 9 complaints, most of which concern fees. All but 4 are settled. The most recent one is about an x-ray therapist one of whose patients is complaining about a $4.00 fee. I talked with the physicians concerned and asked him to cancel this bill, which he refuses vehemently to do.
Another is against a man for charging $100.00 for an operation which was covered by Blue Shield to the extent of $100.00. The patient is very much opposed to the additional charge. We have not considered this at a formal meeting, but the other members of the Board rather feel that the physician should be satisfied with $100.00 from the Blue Shield.
One is against a physician for what the patient considers an excessive fee, and the physician has consented to cut the bill by $125.00. The last I heard, the patient is satisfied, and will pay.
The last one is comparatively new, and has not yet been investigated. The complainant has been requested to appear before the Board of Censors, and no reply has been received to date."
Dr. Rudolph then inquired of Dr. D.W. Neubauer if the question brought up by him had been settled to his satisfaction. He added that this was a question concerning Dr. W.C. Finn and the apparently recently instituted insurance plan for employee dependents at Southern Pacific Hospital, that apparently Dr. Finn had told one of the patients that he could get the surgeons who worked down there to do the operation for the sum that the insurance pays. Of course, Dr. Finn was in error, and I believe he is straightened out on it now, and the Board of Censors feels it is all settled, if Dr. Neubauer is happy.
Dr. Thompson--Dr. Finn agreed to abide by your recommendation is the future?
Dr. Rudolph--Yes.
Dr. Costin--This plan is not a closed plan?
Dr. Bernstein then inquired about the letter sent in by Dr. Manning in complaint of the Civil Service Department's handling of compensable cases, in that they are referred to several specified doctors; in other words, if a Civil Service employee chooses a physician not specified by the Civil Service Department, the Department will not cover the expense.
Dr. Hileman replied that this had been dropped, Dr. Manning having requested him to tear up the letter.
Dr. Hayden explained that Civil Service has a contract which is used in various communities, and certain doctors are designated to represent them. He said that here he believed them to be Dr. Gotthelf, Dr. Heim, Dr. Clyne, and Dr. Littlefield.
Dr. Bernstein--I think that this is contrary to the better interests of the various physicians in town, and that the practice should be frowned upon by us.
Dr. Hayden--This is country wide--I don't see how you could fight it here.
Dr. Carreras--We had one encounter with them--a man came down to see Dr. Clyne, who was not there, so he came over to our place and Dr. Thomas was there and he sutured the wound. The individual was told that he should not have come to us, and was not to return to have the sutures removed. They paid us $4.00.
Dr. Bernstein--With precedents like this existing, it makes it bad. Apparently, however, the complainant has withdrawn his complaint.
Are there any other committee reports?
Dr. Thompson--Is there to be no action on this? We are supposed to approve the action of the Board of Censors, and I think they should have that backing in all of their cases.
