650 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

Although planning for health facilities is not of the same urgency
as cost control, it needs a high priority for early attention by the Ad
Hoc Committee. The Comprehensive Health Planning Committee
which I recently appointed in compliance with Federal law should be
evaluated and carefully considered as part of the permanent State
framework.

The problems we face are not unique to Maryland. Other states are
wrestling with equally critical ones in the health area. However, I

believe that this Action Program is unique in that it recognizes that

neither public health nor private health can any longer afford to go
it alone, and attempts to cure the dissipations of effort by creating an
effective partnership in the citizen's interest.

Questions and Answers

Q. Governor, there are several hospital cost control bills coming in
during the session. I think Delegate Abrams is going to put hers in
this week — Senator Lapides has one. Would your appointing this
committee charged to investigate this area preclude your support of
any of this legislation for this session?

A. No, it would not preclude my support of legislation although I
do think that it's very wise for us to attempt to consider legislation of
a package nature after study by the committee. You note that I have
included Delegate Abrams on this group. Part of the responsibility of
this committee will be to consider whatever legislation is introduced
in this session of the Legislature and to make recommendations to me,
and possibly to attempt to influence the legislation by bringing to the
attention of its sponsors any constructive criticisms or comments con-
cerning it.

Q. Governor, this session is over in 65 more days. If a package that
the committee can agree on comes after that would you call a special
session of the Legislature to consider it?

A. No, I don't think that the areas of the committee that I have
pointed out are short-term areas. They are mostly ones that can be
handled by executive order or executive decision within the depart-
ment. The long-term restructuring of health services of a governmental
nature, which will take a considerably longer time, will require legis-
lation but probably won't be completed by this committee in time for
anything expedient to be accomplished much before the next legis-
lative session.

Q. Governor, I was thinking mostly about cost control.