Los Angeles, Dec. 19.
The California Medical Association charted a new course in American medicine tonight when its ruling house of delegates approved.of a plan of health insurance providing-doctor and hospital care at low costs to subscrip" ing laymen.
The delegates voted nearly nine to one to accept the plan, the first of its kind ever undertaken by a state medical - association.
It will be put into operation through ~the state within the next sixty or ninety days. The Association will administer the plan through an independent profit corporation whi: will be operated by a special board of nine governors consisting of five doctors and two: medical superintendents. as well as two businessmen. Each county medical unit also will b Tepresented by one member in the corporation, The C.M.A. overwhelmingly rejected a suggestion, that the plan be turned over to an established:—insüram: company for operation. Foreshadowing a possible clash with smaller health insurance clinical enterprises, the Association: unanimously. voted to set vp a special committee with powers io pass on all other health insurance plans now in operation or to he Operated in the future.
Curb on "Racketeers"
The committee was empowered to forbid members to affiliate with any plans of which,.jt. disapproved. The leaders of the association explained that this step was taken not against reputable ce-operative groups but against "racketeers."
The C.M.A. plan provides unlimited end limited hospital service to all subscribers who may choose their own doctor and hospital, Membership will be limited to wage earners with nual incomes of about U.S.$2,500. "The governing board will decide what premium will be charged. Figures so far mentioned range from U.S$2.50 io U.S.$2.65 a month with a special family rate to be offered later. The plan will not guarantee medical care to alcoholic persons suffering from mental disease or narcotic addi Persons now covered by the workmen's compensation law will also be excluded.—United Pre
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.