Medical Care for Needy Persons in Maryland

I T IS now 10 years since Maryland inaugurated a program of medical care for needy persons, administered through the State and county health departments. One other State, Washington, formerly provided medical care for the needy through its health department but recently transferred responsibility for the program to the welfare department, where it had originally been located. Starting in July 1945, the Maryland program went rapidly into operation, extending substantial medical care services to public assistance recipients and to other needy persons in the State. In the fiscal year 1953-54, care was available under the program to an average of 45,000 persons a month. Total expenditures for services under the program in that year, exclusive of the costs of hospitalization, which is provided outside the program, were $1,225,225.