Show State tate Taking Responsibility for Supported Public Supported Medical Care Major responsibility for tor providing medical care to per pet pet-I sons ons unable to pay for such treatment has been shifting from the county and local community to the State ill I recent years This Tills was one of the conclusions con con- conclusions reached In a study of medical care policies In Utah Just completed by Utah Foundation Foundation Foun Foun- dation the private governmental governmental govern mental research agency According to the Foundation report medical care outlay by bythe bythe bythe the State Welfare Department in In Utah has Increased from In 1957 1057 to more than 63 03 mil million lion In 1963 1003 The 1963 medical medi cal care expenditure total was equal to 27 per cent of the total welfare expenditures and andIs andIs I Is Js greater than the outlay for lor either cither old age assistance or general assistance Only the aid to families with dependent depend depend- ent tnt children program now exceeds ex coeds the medical program In cost The study points out that Utah currently operates two medical care programs for lor foraged foraged aged persons one for lor Individuals Individuals Indi receiving old age assistance assistance as as- and the other under the less restrictive Kerr Mills Act for persons not on the theold theold old age assistance rolls Utah is one of 30 states plus three territories and the District of Columbia that provide a medical medical me me- care program for aged persons under the provisions of the Kerr Mills Act of 1960 Because of a quirk In the Federal law Utah has been able to receive amounts to double Federal matching on some nursing home cases The Foundation report observes that there were 1260 such cases for which Utah received Federal aid under two separate separate separ separ- ate categories of public as assistance assistance assistance as- as In November 1963 This double Federal matching has h s reduced state outlays required required re re- re for many of these high cost nursing home cases Later this year the new University of Utah Medical Center will open to the pub pub- lic This facility will be operated operated operated oper oper- as a teaching hospital and research center for the theU U. U U of U U. U Medical School Foundation analysts point out Dut that successful operation of this new facility as a first class teaching hospital will depend upon an adequate supply sup sup- ply Fly ly of indigent patients pa pa- The report suggests that review of present Welfare Welfare Wel Wel- fare Department medical care policies particularly with re reference reference re re- ference to the Departments Department's relationship to this new hospital hos hos- pital Is essential if U the facilities facilIties facilities facil facil- of the new Medical Center Cen ter are to be effectively util util- At the same time the Foundation report observes observe that w welfare officials have a responsibility to obtain necessary necessary essary medical care for re recipients re re- at the least cost to the State calves This years year's total recordIngs recordings recordings re re- re- re were the fifth highest high high- highest est on record and almost twice the combined registrations registrations of other major beef breeds |