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UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA aor we
William L. Kissick, M.D., Dr. P.H.
George Seckel Pepper Professor of Reply to:
Public Health and Preventive Medicine Room 224/NEB-2L
School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA 19104-6020
Professor of Health Care Systems (215) 898-6385

The Wharton School

Chairman, Governing Board
Leonard Davis Institute of
Health Economics

December 9, 1991

Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.

Director, National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Bethesda, Maryland 20894

Dear Don:

My compliments to you and John for an instructive and enjoyable review of
the lessons of Regional Medical Programs. Moreover, it was a delightful
reunion with colleagues of the past quarter of a century.

During lunch with you and Mike DeBakey, I indicated that I thought I could
retrieve a copy of the President's Task Force on Heart Disease and Cancer that
reported to President Kennedy on the eve on the Bay of Pigs. This past
weekend I searched my files and discovered that my recall was incorrect.

I have a copy of the Report Health and Social Security for the American People
appointed by Kennedy when he was President-Elect and reporting to him shortly
after his inauguration. A copy of the first two pages is enclosed.

Also enclosed is page 38 of The President's Task Force on Health that
worked coincidentally with the President's Commission on Heart Disease,
Cancer, and Stroke. You will note that it had a recommendation that parallels
the Commission's recommendation #3 Regional Medical Complexes. Boisfeuillet
Jones who chaired the Committee for Senator Hill, on which Mike also served,
was Assistant Secretary for Health at the time and insured continuity.

I assume that all of these documents are available at the Johnson Library or
the LBJ School of Public Administration at the University of Texas.

I left my photo album with John for duplication and addition to the RMP
record. Mike indicated that he would appreciate copies of the photos for his
memorabilia.

The three-hour drive home provided an excellent opportunity for reflection
on the substance of the day's events. The comments on constituencies stood
out. Each of RMP's constituencies had major alternative concerns; manpower
Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
December 9, 1991
page two

legislation and NIH support of research for academic health centers, Medicare
and Medicaid funding for physicians and hospitals, and the National Center for
Health Services Research and the HCFA Office of Research and Development for
the emerging Health Services Research community that was spawned by RMP; e.g.
(Wenberg at Vermont). Each was focused with precise relationships. RMP in
seeking to be comprehensive and multifaceted, appealed to everyone but lacked
an organized constituency.

I look forward to seeing the reports and videos that result from the
Conference. Again, Don, well played.

   

Best regard

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Na
William L. Kissick, M.D., Dr.P.H.

enclosure
cc: Michael DeBakey, M.D.