Document e71oBJ3v7X3rYOEkZpxKzJwa9

00161 ZOHOUTE COMPiXT MtxSM AM MAMUVACruaCM oa VBWICUUTI IMtlUTMa UHT. MOMTAMA W.'J. Bein Z-D. Lovick 5*pUmb<r 2, 1959 Chicago Libby Occupational Disease Insurance Coverage Dear Walter: In a lattar from Jaek Toot dated Auguot 18, 1959, ha mentioned that undar the naw Montana Occupational Dlaaaaa Act, there ia a proviaion which allowa an employer to fila with the laduatrial Accident Board an indication that it would like to have the companaation portion of their Workmen'a Companaation inauraaca extended to diaeaaee that ara not a pacified in tha Act* Ha auggaata we give aoma conaida ration to thla, and our doctora may be of aoma aaaiatanca* Laat week we tried to gather all five of tha doctora who ara on the etaff of tha local hospital together for a conference. One of them waa out of town, one had an emergency, but Butch and I got together with tha other three. We had quite a little dlacuaalon on thia* At first, It was the feeling that the only diaeaae which ahould be apecified by ua was "asbestoats.H Then after discussion, the possibility of specifying "pneumoconiosis" was suggested. Thla means "dust retained'ln tha lungs" without any implication that there was or was not any*reactlon to the dust* Thia was discussed. Because It is so broad a term, this appeared to be an undesirable speci fication. -The- final-decision- waa that-at thia time-they wero-not-in-a-poeitton-to-advise----------ua what to spoeify. Because of this, ith the feeling of Butch and myself that we do not elect to extend insurance coverage to specified diseases under the occupational disease law. Perhaps at a later date, when more definite conclusions have been drawn from the study of the X-ray survey of our peoplo has been made, or more learned from follow-ups on some of the cases, we may have further definite recommendations to make. At any rate, for the present, we feel we should live with the coverage which must be provided by Senate Bill No. 11Z only. ZELovieU/8br 15142421 zoiroutE coMPAjnr ; MiHaa ttto Mnwv*erviaca* ov vumewjTi ixcuukrion UUV. MONTAHA -- W. j.' Bela E, D. Lovick * StpUmbtr 2, 1959 Chicago - Libby * Cccupational Disease Iasuratre Coverage (Lattar No. 2) Daar Walter: Tbia ia la addition to my pravioua latter ragardiag tha abova subject. la that latter I mentioned our having talkad with tha local doctora ragardiag "their ra commaad atloaa. Today (Tuaaday) I talkad withDrTW. Jl Little, Staff Radiologist of tha local hoapital oa tha matter. Dr. Littla raaldaa and practice a ia Xallspell, but apaada ona day a waak ia Libby doing Radiological interpretation for thia hoapital. Ha originally cama from Indiana whara ha had experience in General Practice and ia a clinic aa a a Caff Radiologiat. Ha coma from tha coal mining are of Indiana ao haa axpariaaca and knowledge of laduatrial Medicine. In our conversation we diacuaaed moral obligation to amployaaa. tha prac* _ tical aa pacta, i. a., coat of auch inauranco, etc. _It waa hia feeling that at thia time ha would not recommend our aaking to be ioaured for aabeatooio or other occupatloaal disease., He atatad that actually wa have not aa yet proved that any of our people are ao afflicted. You will recall that even in tha Glenn Taylor cnee, who apant 38 daya at tha State Sanitarium,, thia waa not ahowa after axhauatlva taata and exam* ... iaationa. Their final diagnoaia waa questionable aabeatoaia in hia caae. Dr. Littla atatad that it would be a fine thing for our employeea, if they may contract tha diaaaaa, that they be ao covered. He also atatad though that wa have a greater moral obligation to remove tha hazard, if ona exiata. This, I believe, wa all agree with. At any rata. Dr. Littla feala we now hava a baaa Una from whara to etart aa a reault of our having given all our employaaa a cheat X-ray and having them Interpreted. Ho fcela that it will contribute to our knowledge of our hazard and problem whan follow-ups are made. Ha waa not too definite In a auggaation for a follow-up, perhaps a blanket in two years, or one oa those cases where scrr.*.a indication ia present at an earlier time--perhaps in ona year. 15142922