The Hutchinson News from Hutchinson, Kansas • Page 3

Hutchinson News Tuesday, July 24,1973 Page 6 Medicare patients pay more for medical care DENNIS THE MENACE WASHINGTON (AP) The government says millions of Medicare patients are paying more of their own money for medical expenses than they were six years ago before Medicare. The government's own figures show that the average out- of-pocket payment for Americans aged 65 and over has grown from $234 in fiscal 1966, the year before Medicare began, to $276 for fiscal 1972, the latest year for which complete Statistics are available. Nixon administration officials are reported to be concerned about the situation. In fact, an off-the-cuff statement July 18 by Health and Welfare Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger helped bring the figures to attention.

The disclosure comes at a Jiime when the Nixon administration is under fire from fPemocratic critics for proposing that $1 billion a year in federal Medicare costs be shifted Jto the beneficiaries. For example, a hospitalized patient now pays a 'national average charge for the 'jfjrst day, then is fully covered jfor 60 days. The administration wants to 0ontinue the first day charge, ithen impose a 10 per cent share daily charges on the patient the first day. The administration argues that this increased cost-sharing would tend discourage "over-utilization" J.pf health facilities by patients their doctors. The new figures on out-of-pocket payments by Medicare are contained in a recent Social Security, Adminis- report.

Nixon administration health fficials say "spiraling medical are prices" as well as what is increased use of hospi- I 'fal and doctors' services, and in the quality of Jjfcare, are responsible for the out-of-pocket costs. tr An example of "spiraling medical care costs" provided by the Social Security Administration showed that expenses per patient day in community hospitals "rose from $70.13 in 1969 to $102.73 in 1972." But, Social Security official said that the $276 figure for and for all years from 1966 in terms of the dollar value for that year. "If you deflate the dollar, Medicare patients are paying less than before Medicare (because) inflation has been so great he said. "We think they are paying less in 'constant' dollars and are getting more services (both) through their own out-of- pocket expenditures and through Medicare more hospital care, more physicians' visits he said. Declaring, in his prepared address, that from 1967 through 1971 medical care prices increased about 40 per cent while consumer prices increased only 24 per cent, Weinberger added, off-the-cuff: one of the most sobering of all these (medical care) inflation statistics is one that indicates that Medicare patients are now paying just a9 much out-of-pocket costs for their health care as they were paying before they had Medicare." Canadian views draw question WASHINGTON (UPI) Sen.

Walter F. Mondale, accused the State Department Monday of "grossly misrepresenting" the official Canadian attitude toward a trans- Canada pipeline as an alternative to the Alaskan route for tapping North Slope oil. The State Department immediately denied the charges, but acknowledged that the revised Canadian answer on one key aspect question of ownership of a trans-Canada pipeline somehow lost its way in the department's bureaucratic maze. The exchange took place during a hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee into the controversy over whether rich petroleum deposits on Alaska's North slope should be piped in through that state for shipment to the West Coast or through Canada into the Midwest. A short time later, it was announced that U.

S. and Canadian officials would meet here Tuesday to clarify the stand of the Canadians on the issue. The Senate already has approved legislation to authorize construction of a trans- Alaska line, hotly opposed by environmentalists who fear Pacific oil spills and disruption of the Arctic tundra. And the House Interior Committee Monday swung into the final phases of writing its own bill similar to the Senate version. The House panel tentatively rejected Monday a proposed amendment which would have replaced language absolving the Interior Department from further consideration of environmental effects in ordering a go-ahead on the Alaskan route.

Rep. John Melcher, guiding the bill through the House committee, also accused the State Department of holding up information relating to the alternative pipeline routes. Sidewalk Sale INSIDE? in Cool Comfort and SAVE! WE I 'am. Il I Bean Bag Chairs Large Selection on Assorted Colors 22 00 Floral Arrangements Large Group 40 OFF 1 Occasions Chairs Large Group Hex End Coffee Maple Walnut Pecan 40 OFF Plaques jj Large Selection to Choose From 40 OFF Bunk Bed Complete Maple Finish Twin Size Bedding, Converts to Twin Beds (1) Only 95 Unfinished Desk Dressers OFF ALL ITEMS CASH CARRY FURNITURE BANKAMERICARD. 13 South Main Hutchinson 663-9071 SIDE WALK SALE WE WILL BE ON THE SIDEWALK AT 8:30 SANDALS CLOGS SPORTS VALUES PRICES SLASHED on TABLES and RACKS WILSON TO GET RID OF IT 5 UT HE WANTED DENNIS TD HAVE IT.

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