MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES. NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON AN INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED PLANS BY THE THE Boggs, Hon. Hale, a Representative in Congress from the State of Brooks, Hon. Jack, a Representative in Congress from the State of Cardwell, James B., Assistant Secretary, Comptroller, HEW. Clark, Earl W., Codirector, Labor-Management Maritime Committee_ Egeberg, Dr. Roger, Assistant Secretary, Health and Scientific Affairs, Gottlieb, Bertram, Director of Research, Transportation Institute. - Haddock, Hoyt S., Codirector, Labor-Management Maritime Hébert, Hon. F. Edward, a Representative in Congress from the Mailliard, Hon. William S., a Representative in Congress from the Profile of VA hospital operations, June 1967 to June 1970.. Veterans' Administration hospital trends in port cities having Labor-Management Maritime Committee: Legislative history of PHS beneficiary enactments from "Medical 40-42. The Nation's health crisis_. Murphy, Hon. John M., table giving bed availability of VA hospitals_ Adams Hon. Brock, letter dated January 7, 1971 with 4 other Wash- Baker, Hon. Howard H., with four others, letters dated Janu- 97 Brinkley, Gorman G., director, Virginia Council on Alcoholism & 41 Communications submitted by-Continued Butler, Jack, M.D., acting director, Federal Health Programs Service; September 23, 1969, to Senator Spong----- January 28, 1970, to Senator Spong--- August 10, 1970, enclosing listing of contract physician offices Clark, Earl W., letters dated: December 2, 1970, to Hon. Harley O. Staggers__. December 21, 1970, enclosing data on PHS hospitals and clinics-- Haddock, Hoyt S., letters dated: December 2, 1970, to Hon. Harley O. Staggers. – December 21, 1970, enclosing data on PHS hospitals and clinics-- Kinney, Capt. Dale, secretary, Masters, Mates & Pilots, letter dated Magnuson, Hon. Warren G., and 12 others, letter dated December 22, Martire, Joseph R., M.D., letter dated December 26, 1970. Maryland congressional delegation, letter to Secretary Richardson Poole, Patsy M., city secretary, city of Galveston, Tex., letter dated December 24, 1970, enclosing a resolution... Quin, E. D., letter dated December 25, 1970. Richardson, Hon. Elliot L., telegram to Hon. Edward A. Garmatz__ Robbins, Benedict A., regional president, Northwest Fleet Reserve Schaefer, William D., president, Baltimore City Council, enclosing Smith, Robert W., national commander, Disabled Officers Association, Stover, Francis W., Director, National Legislative Service.. Stratton, A. W., Director, Veterans' Administration Center, letter Stringer, Herald E., director, National Legislative Commission, the American Legion, letter dated December 22, 1970, enclosing resolu- 45 PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITAL CLOSING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1970 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D.C. The committee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 1334, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Edward A. Garmatz (chairman of the committee) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please come to order. The committee has called as a witness the Honorable Elliot L. Richardson, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to report on recent information that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the administration are planning to close all of the Nation's U.S. Public Health Service hospitals. In my letter yesterday to the Secretary, I told him I was very concerned about this possibility and that other members of the committee joined me in this view. I, therefore, thought it was essential to have the Secretary report to the committee about his intentions in closing these hospitals. I might add in this respect that neither I nor my staff were able to get information about the proposed closing of these hospitals from anyone else in the Department despite intensive efforts to get this information. In calling this hearing, it should be understood that the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries has responsibility for the welfare of merchant seamen and Coast Guard families. In the 89th Congress our committee held hearings on the announced plans to close Public Health Service hospitals in Chicago, Memphis, Savannah, Boston, Galveston, Norfolk, and Detroit. In our report (H. Rept. 610, 89th Congress) we stated it did not appear that adequate study had been given either to the desirability or practicability of closing the Public Health Service hospitals, or to the concomitant obligation of providing adequate and acceptable hospital care and treatment to PHS beneficiaries. We also reported that the Comptroller General had found it to be illegal to close the PHS facilities and substitute the use of Veterans' Administration facilities. As a result of these hearings the committee concluded that whatever justification existed for permitting our PHS program to pass the danger point, it was time to make plans not to close hospitals, but to upgrade, modernize and expand our remaining PHS hospitals in an effort to carry out the statutory responsibility of providing the best possible medical care and treatment to beneficiaries who are entitled to such by law. |