Medicine: G. I. Babies

Servicemen’s wives going to Cleveland doctors for obstetrical care last week would have found the door locked. The federal Emergency Maternal and Infant Care Plan provides such care for servicemen’s wives at Government expense. But Cleveland’s doctors refused to accept the Government’s fee for prenatal care and confinements. The physicians insisted on their $75-&-up prices or referred maternity patients to free clinics. Michigan’s State Medical Society rejected the federal plan last week also.

Elsewhere most doctors regard the Government’s maternity fee as a temporary war measure or war’s welcome windfall.

Since last March the Children’s Bureau has approved grants to state health agencies for 49,206 servicemen’s babies. This month, with the plan working in all but four states, about 20,000 servicemen’s wives are expected to apply.

To have her baby paid for, a serviceman’s wife fills out a simple questionnaire for any doctor she chooses, and sends it to the state health agency. Depending on the state, she gets pre& post-natal care, delivery, hospital bed at ward rates, extra surgery up to $50, medical care for the baby. For this purpose, Congress appropriated $1,200,000 last winter, added $4,000,000 in July. Last week the House voted to add another $18,620,000.