The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

April, 1951 The Health Bulletin 11the contributing causes of tuberculosis,the National Tuberculosis Associationreported. The disease is spread by contactwith tuberculosis persons and bythe use of unpasteurized milk from tuberculouscows. An estimated 500,000people in the United States now havethe disease.The report emphasized the importanceof expanded mass chest x-raysurveys and wider use of tuberculintests to find cases in time for successfultreatment of the individual and to protectother members of his family fromthe disease.Emotional Factors in Chronic DiseaseContinued emotional disturbancesplay a part in causing some chronic diseases,according to the American PsychiatricAssociation.Body structure or function may undergochanges imder prolonged emotionalstrains. These physiologicalchanges can cause certain chronic diseases,the report said. Also, poor dietand accident proneness, possible resultsof a change in the individual's habits,may in turn produce chronic disease ordisability.Emotional factors were considered importantas causes contributing to hypertension,rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy,colitis, ulcer, asthsma, and certain skindiseases.RAPID GROWTH OF VOLUNTARYHEALTH INSURANCE REPORTEDVoluntary health insurance is spreadingso rapidly that a coverage of 90,000,-000 Americans against the major costsof illness should come within the nexttwo or three years, said Dr. Elmer L.Henderson of Louisville, president ofthe American Medical Association.Writing in the Journal of the A.M.A.,Dr. Henderson said that between 70,-000,000 and 72,000,000 people now havesome form of voluntary health insurnance.Dr. Henderson, in reporting the rapidgrowth, said the second Blue Shieldmedical care plan, the United MedicalService, operating in the New York metropolitanarea, has just passed its 2,-000,000 mark in enrolment. The firstplan to reach that figure was the MichiganMedical Service. He said further:"Together, the achievements of thesetwo great medical care plans illustratedramatically the eternal truth whichsome of our detractors would denythat voluntary health insurance is agrowing, successful, practical method oftaking the economic shock out of illness."The United Medical Service, for instance,has reached its present size insix and one-half years. It operates inthe 17 southern counties of New YorkState, with the active approval of theMedical Society of the State of NewYork and of the medical societies inthose 17 counties. Half a million memberswere gained during 1950 — onefourth of the total enrolment. The goalfor the next year or year and a half hasbeen set at further increase of 1,000,-000 members."It is pertinent here to cite some figuresshowing the remarkable growth ofthe nonprofit medical care plans overthe nation. There now are 72 BlueShield plans in 41 states. Participatingin their operation are 113,000 out of the150,000 physicians who are in active,private practice. Last year the BlueShield plans paid out $150,000,000 forsurgical and medical services renderedto member patients; this at the rate of82 cents of every dollar paid in premiums."The Blue Shield plans are enrollingmembers at the rate of 28,000 everyworking day, and they now protect approximately12 per cent of the population—more than 17,000,000 persons.Other nonprofit medical care plans notyet in the Blue Shield group cover anadditional 2,250,000 persons. During 1950the Blue Shield plans of the nationgained 5,000,000 new members, an alltimerecord growth."The Blue Cross hospital plans keptpace. They added more than 3,000,000new members in 1950, carrying them beyondthe 40,000,000 mark in total enrolment.Out of every premium dollar,Blue Cross plans are paying out closeto 88 cents in benefits for services totheir member patients.