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Show Medic Ass n. Claims Physician Fees Slow to Increase Physicians' fees increased since the start of the inflationary spiral spi-ral at a lower rate than most other services, the Utah State Medical Association reports. A study released by the National Na-tional Associatoin of Clinic Managers, Man-agers, based upon the U. S. Department De-partment of Labor's Consumer Price Index, shows medical fees have risen 83.9 per cent since the principal inflationary push began in 1938. However, general domestic service costs rose 278 per cent, men's haircuts climbed 207 per cent, shoe repair costs rose 152 per cent, laundry service serv-ice rates climbed 115 per cent, transportation rates rose 95.4 per cent and auto repairs rose 93.9 per cent in cost over the same period. ; Some services such as television tele-vision repairs were not included in the pre-war consumer price index. However, from 1953 until this year, TV repair prices rose 28.9 per cent, interior house painting rose 25.4 per cent and general home maintenance and reoairs rose 14.8 per cent. Since 1958 physicians' fees have risen 18.3 per cent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "No one will deny medical fees have risen substantially during the two decade period, but doctors doc-tors fees have been a follower in this trend, not a leader," said Harold Bowman, executive secretary sec-retary of the Utah State Medical Association. "The high cost of living, the increase in office costs, and the increased cost of supplies and office help are all reflected in the rose in medical bills," he pointed out. |