W.Va. Medical Care Program Collapsing: Case Load Mounting
8 (AP)ÛÓA Federal-aid mcdical-assistance-foråÇthe -aged program that recession-hit West Virginia pioneered two years ago hovered on financial and other rocks today.</br></br>With State funds appropriated to match Federal Kerr-Mills aid running out, only a handful of the StateÛªs doctors have agreed to accept lower fees for services to West Virginians over 65. And only 23 of 108 hospitals originally under the plan remain in after maximum daily service charges were cut from $35 to $20.</br></br>The resistance of physicians and hospitals to the cutbacks dictated Dec. 1 has brought second looks at the program.</br></br>The president of the West Virginia State Medical Association called for doctors to resolve differences with the State Welfare Department as a means of fighting off ÛÏsocialized medicine.ÛªÛª</br></br>Dr. D. E. Greeneltch of Wheeling said that failure of the Kerr-Mills program in West Virginia could very well trigger passage in the new Congress of proposed legislation putting medical care under Social Security.