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The Michael Holmes of your city station or in the reception room of the mayor's office at city hall for about to bring you a ceremony that will mark in a cage in of national interest sickening a sickness rather is a standing challenge to the community its fares no one in its train comes death worry family demoralization it is wasteful in terms of human life and community property for the need for better distribution of medical care has long been a source of serious concern three years ago April one thousand nine hundred forty three a group of leaders of this community decided to do something about sickness they formed a committee which led to organizing all the health insurance plan a bridge in New York that blueprint for better health is not a practical working program in a few moments the mayor the city of New York the Honorable William O'Dwyer will sign a contract with the House and joins plan for the Health Protection of city employees and their families gathered about the mayor for the ceremony are members of the city officials and leaders from the fields of medicine business labor and social welfare during this program we will hear from the MER controller Lazarus Joseph city council president the incident Pillitteri and Dr Willard C. Rapley chairman of the board of directors of the health insurance plan and purchase commissioner Albert Playa Del acting as general manager of the plant and I may be present the mayor the city of New York the Honorable William of Wired ladies and gentlemen the signing of this agreement today with the health insurance plan of great in New York. Is an event of great significance in the history of the city in the our. Under this agreement the city agrees to pay half the total cost of medical cab for municipal employees who wish such coverage for themselves and their families. I am proud that the city of New York. As the largest employer in Greater New York is also the first employer to make the manifold services of the health insurance plan available to its employees. The need for comprehensive medical and hospital care for municipal and private employees of low and average income has long been recognized by public spirited citizens and officials. Today we are undertaking to meet that need by providing for the broader distribution of high quality medical care through the techniques of group medical practice and voluntary health insurance. We have set aside five hundred thousand dollars in the budget to cover the study Shafir the first group of city employees who choose to enroll in both the health insurance plan and the Blue Cross Hospital plan. Additional funds will be made available as more and more of our one hundred seventy five thousand employees and their families apply for. Economical medical coverage provided by their health insurance plan. We are undertaking this obligation because we recognize that the onus of limb pollies aren't title to the best in modern medical care and health protection they are a vital segment of our population and their improved health and wellbeing will be reflected in the betterment of our community. That her medical care will make for better citizens and better public servants. Therefore considering a contract with the health insurance plan we made a thorough analysis of existing medical plans a special committee appointed by me and including Mr Thomas Cochran Paul Ross and Thomas Patterson has called on William Reid all experienced and conscientious public officials recommended the health insurance plan as the most advantageous for city employees from all points of view all the advantages cited by the committee of cost apply equally to private industry. Control of Joseph has given much time and thought to the administrative and technical problems connected with the installation of the health insurance plan and city government. I'm glad to say that everything is now about reading all the immediate enrollment of municipal employees I'm confident that the pattern of the adequate distribution of all around high standard medical care which we are setting here in the nation's largest city will inspire similar large scale nonprofit health insurance plans in other sections of the country. The experience and results we gain here in New York will help shape techniques and precedents for the medical care programs of the future. Thank you ladies and. Thank you Mr Mayor you just heard the mayor of the city of New York the Honorable William O'Dwyer speaking on the significance of today's ceremony marking the signing of the city's contract with the health insurance plan of Greater New York Dr Willets a rapidly dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University has signed the contract for H I P as it will be shortened up to as chairman of its board of directors and now Dr Rapley. Your mare. You and your associates on the Board of Estimate deserve the congratulations of all the people of the city of New York for the action which you have taken to date to meet a problem of the greatest importance to every individual and family in the city leaders not only of the medical profession but of business labor government and social welfare have long recognized and have been disturbed over the fact that adequate medical care is not available to large segments of the population of our country remarkable advances in medical knowledge and skills have been made in recent years but there is a serious leg in the application of these advances to the health needs of the nation. The results of this limitation to medical care were dramatically revealed during the war years when it was found necessary to reject more than one third of our men and women of draft age because of physical disability of one kind or another many of which were preventable or remediable. It has remained for the city of New York point the way for the. Employer. It is performing a great public service by taking the initiated as the city's largest employer in making the comprehensive medical services of the health insurance plan of Greater New York available to its great body of employees and their families on an insurance basis within the reach of those at even the lowest income. A great step as been taken here today toward improving the health and the welfare standards of our citizens just as an individual's most precious possession is his health so is the good health and the wellbeing of its people the most important asset of the community. Mr Mayor on behalf of the board of directors the incorporated and the officers of the health insurance plan of Greater New York and its cooperating medical groups I commend you and your associates upon your vision and your courage in launching this great civic undertaking Thank you Dr Rapley just listen to Dr Willett say Rapley chairman of the board of directors of the health insurance plan I don't officially who have a great deal to do with the success of the plan among city employees is controller Lazarus Joseph was chairman of the newly created health insurance plan we now present control of Joseph very gratifying to me to be participating in this important ceremony today where taking a great step forward on a better and happier City anyone who has the public welfare at heart has long been distressed over the physical and morrow damage which sickness brings to the individual and family of low and moderate income. Of my own knowledge I know of instance after instance where illness has struck as a family catastrophe. During my several times in the state senate I undertook to do everything possible to lighten the burden of illness upon those not financially able to enjoy proper medical care I sponsored and supported a number of bills dealing with medical benefits and services. I am hardly in accord with the health insurance plan of Greater New York which has for its purpose the supplying of all round medical services to those who needs that services badly but heretofore I have not been able to afford them in recommending to Mayor O'Dwyer and to my other colleagues on the Board of Estimate on October twenty fourth that approved this contract for the health insurance plan I pointed out that my office and I had first made a thorough survey and investigation of the proposal my purpose in so doing was twofold first I was interested in providing the maximum protection for city employees and rolling in the plan and secondly since a payroll reduction is involved in the administration of this procedure would rest with the controllers office I wanted to make sure that we were geared to take care of those city employees who would elect health insurance coverage and would consent to our withholding their share of the costs from their earnings I'm glad to say that both of these problems have been satisfactorily disposed of and that we are now in a position to begin the enrollment of city employees as soon as rules of eligibility have been established by the newly created health insurance board of which I have the honor to be chairman. The success of the health insurance plan among city employees will depend of course upon themselves no effort will be made to compel them to enroll However we will do everything possible in cooperation with the health insurance plan of Greater New York to let them know the benefits they and their families will obtain in times of better health and peace of mind by joining the plan it is true that every employee who signs up adds to the expense of the city and to the responsibilities of our office but it is a task we gladly assume in the cause of advancing the welfare and well being of our great family of municipal employees. Like a controller Joseph you've just heard control of Joseph tell how the city will handle it in Rome and all of its employees in the health insurance plan now another top official who will do his utmost to bring about maximum enrollment among city employees is then Sadar Intel attending President of the city council now we present president politically it means much to me to take part today in this ceremony which I believe is without precedent not only in that set a but in any minutes a pal of the in the country the signing of this contract bringing the very best of medical care at a very moderate cost to the doorstep of the city employee the fifteen years ago when I was serving as an assistant district attorney in New York County I became convinced that the lack of proper medical care and preventive care like at the very root of many cases which breaks the criminal courts I can have time to view the problem not merely as one of seconds. But as one having and never the book consequences in terms of insecurity shattered family relationships and delinquency. Many times during my years in the practice of law and in welfare work I have seen the best birth examples of the great damage to the home and to the individual which can result and does result from illness striking the wage earner who has not the means to cope with it I welcome the health insurance plan not only as a phone to the Minister will employ but also to those engaged in private industry they can now enjoy the security which comes from knowing.