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& TOM IC EN EA GY COM Ml SSl ON PACIFIC AREA SUPPORT OFFICE Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands REPOSITORY - 3 Department of Health Services Majuro, Marshall Islands 96960 District Director of Health Services No. L 056 With reference to your inquiry to Dr. Knudson and the meeting at Majuro with Bill S tree nan, Dr. Knudson, Dr. Riklon and yourself relative to the payment of costs for travel of the exposed Marshallese, t h e following sets out our understandings of the funding qUeStiOR: 1. My letter dated February 26, 1973 to the High Commissioner relates to this question and is quoted in part for your in form a - tion - "If, as a result of the surveys and as determined by Dr.C onard, it becomes necessary to transport any of the surveyed Marshallese patients to the United States for further medical treatment, the. AEC will fund and pay to the Trust Territory the costs of the patients travel and per diem (at the Trust Territory established rate)from their home island to island. These travel and per diem costs will also be allowed for an interpreter accompanying the patients. and interpreter ' s.trip from Kwajalein to the United States and return to Kwajalein, the AEC will fund for and provide all transportation, suitable clothing for the colder climate, food, lodging and miscellaneous travel expenses. " . Kwajalein, and their return from Kwajalein to their home For the patient ' s 2. Also for your information the following is quoted i n part from bility with that of the Trust Territory with regard to per diem
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payments of patients. At the present time the arrangement is for BNL to pay travel expenses t o those patients going to the United States for special treatment such as to the thyroid patients. In order to help the Trust Territory doctors with regular medical care of the people our doctors will sometime recommend that certain people go to Ebeye o r Majuro for treatment. The Trust Territory handles the expenses i n to the United States for special treatment you can be sure BNL will take care of your travel expenses." If we recommend that any of you g o Based on the above it is our position that i f it is the decision of the AEC physician and yourself, the travel of the patient is related to the radiological exposure, the AEC will fulfill t h e i r responsibilities as outlined i n the above quoted paragraph number 1. However, i f it is determined that the travel is related to the regular medical care of the people, the TT is responsible f o r those expenses. Hopefully the above mentioned meeting. and this letter will clarify our position on the matter and the questions related to your Quarterly Report on PL-5-52, Section 5, will be resolved. Very truly yours,