Indian Affairs

Health security plan. Early in July the Committee for National Health Insurance, which consists of a hundred prominent citizens, unveiled a proposed comprehensive health care plan that would cover all residents of the United States and that would be financed by a combination of governmental and private funds. The plan is but part of our heritage from the late Walter P. Reuther, president of the United Automobile Workers, who organized the committee and gave leadership in the development of the plan. The plan, which would replace Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental health programs, as well as many services now covered by private insurance, calls for medical care organized through prepaid group practice, with a heavy emphasis on prevention. It would cover both hospital care and medical services in the office of the doctor or at home. It would give partial coverage for mental health services, nursing home care, dental care, drugs, and equipment. It would get 40 percent of its funds from general taxation, 35 percent from an employer payroll tax, and 25 percent from individual contribution, mostly through payroll deductions. The tax was estimated at 2.8 percent for employers and 1.8 percent for employees on gross income up to ? 15,000. Facilities and personnel. The best health insurance plan imaginable will be of little use if health facilities and personnel are inadequate. A bill authorizing continued funding for the Hill-Burton program of hos-