Tisiersessatieue Seale% DEPT. OF PROVINCIAL SECRETARY of ROOM 137— PHONE WH 6-7439 December 27, 1963. LEGISLATIVE BUILDING Date WINNIPEG 1, MANITOBA

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MEDICARE PLAN IS RENEWED The Manitoba government has renegotiated its agreement with the Manitoba Medical Association for provision of medical care to some 22,000 recipients of provincial Social Allowances. Negotiations for the new agreement were concluded at a recent mooting attended by Dr. Lawrence Rabson, President of the Manitoba Medical Association, Dr. Norman Come, President of Manitoba Medical Service, Hon. John B. Carroll, minister of , and Hon. C.H. Witney minister of health. In the 3,/21 years since the introduction of the co-operative arrange- ment -- known as "" -- between the Manitoba government and the profession, the doctors have volunteered to provide in-hospital care to Medicare recipients without cost to the government. Under this arrangement the doctors received Manitoba Medical Servir;els current pro rating of their accepted schedule of fees for home and office calls. They have now agreed to broaden their professional services under Medicare to include all services of the standard HCX contract at the much-reduced rate of 50 per cent of the schedule of fees. Dr. Rabson, on behalf of the Medical Aosociation, said the agreement was a further acknowledgement of the traditional responsibility of the medical profession to meet the medical needs of those without means. Dr. Corm, on behalf of the Manitoba Medical Service, the insurer, called attention to the fact that this joint venture of Government and the profession over the past 3,i2 years had provided valuable experience. Manitoba Medical Service under the new arrangement would continue its separate accounting. The arrangement would be continued on a "experience rating" basis subject to periodic review. Mr. Witney and Mr. Carroll, on behalf of the Manitoba government, expressed appreciation for the contribution of the doctors to the Medicare scheme to date and for their co-operation in the negotiations for the new arrangement. The new arrangement will go into effect January 1.

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