F!V.,M'THE TERRITORIAL
Of HEALTH
DEPARTMEN T
JWAV, .vusm
A tuberculosis, control program for Alaska, effective October 15, Ms boon outlined
by Commissioner of Health, C. Earl Albrecht, M.D. and sent to Territorial Department
of Health'personnel, physicians, hospitals and other interested"agencies in the
Territory, it was announced recently by the Comissioncr.
The pro a."':.', includes instructions in the procedure for making application for hos
pitalization-and X-ray services for the tuberculous and information concerning the
* payment b the Department of attendant costs. 1
’ Eli ibility for'care under the Territorial Department of Health remains: "A'medically
indigent n rson, not a beneficiary of another Territorial or Federal agency, who has
been diagnosed as suffering from active tuberculosis (prognosis favorable), by a
re- utable Physician or tuberculosis, consultant.
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION FOR CARL .
Sir.ac there has boon some confusion arising by reason of the fact that there are '
sov ral agencies with funds to provide hospitalization for tuberculosis patients,
the procedure to bo followed will be that all Territorial Department of Health per
sonnel moving application for care for any and all tuberculosis patients,' regardless
of race, ' ..d agency to whom the patient is known, will do so through the Commissioner
of Health. The application form issued by the Department of Health,'Department of
Pv.LT.ic Volfare. or the Alaska,Native Service, The Commissioner of Health will route
applic tions to the appropriate agency.
HOSPITALIZATION, AND T?HEATIiENT
Hospitalization for tuberculosis patients is to include subsistence, nursing c.vro,
usual medic tions and supplies, laboratory procedures, and X-rays, but not profess
ional fcos. ..-Physicians f6cs will be payable at a bate rate, •Hospitalization to
initiate collapse therapy, and transfusions when necessary, will V- paid by the
will
patient is indigent, the Health Department will pay the physician treating the case.
X-RAY SERVICES
The Territorial Department of Health will make it possible for medically indigent'
persons, who are contacts of tuberculosis cases, or who are tuberculosis suspects,to
have chest x-rays taken without cost to the patient by: .
1. The establishment • of x-ray clinics utilizing the Terr lij or ini Department of
Health equipment, or - / 1 i —*
2, The utilization of private hospital or pri^atd physicians* x-ray equipment for
which service the Territorial Department of Health will pay at a set rate and
furnish the film,
?uc to the present shortage'of film and very limited supply available to the Torri
orial Department of Health, end in keeping with the request of the; United States
ubli-c Health Service, tuberculosis surveys will not be conducted at this time. It is
the sincere desire of the Commissioner of Health that selected survey methods he
re sumed as soon as possible, and further annouacemefits will bo made immediately when
conditions moke such surveys possible and advisable,
DISTRIBUTION OF X-RAYS
i
The x-ray film made available to the Territorial Department of Health up to Juno 1045,
has been allocated to the Communities on as equitable'a basis as possible. Alloca
tion is based on population and known community needs. Each community will L advisod
* ns to it s allotment. It is requested that these films bo used:
i; For the necessary follow-up of known cases to determine the status of disease.
2i For the examination of tuberculosis suspects.
For the examination of contacts of active cases of tuberculosis.
4. Toon-age groups, especially those in high school with positive tuberculin tests
(previously negative) who hqvc never been a-rayed.
5. Food-handlers, if tuberculosis suspects or contacts. It is hoped that routine
x-ray al nil food-handlor3 will soon bo possible.
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