St. Joseph’s Infirmary and Holy Family Hospital have been declared eligible for the Medicare program and in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination against persons because of race, creed or color.

The information that the two hospitals were in compliance was telephoned to Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan by Robert Nash, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Nash said letters certifying compliance have been mailed to the two integrated Catholic hospitals.

Approval of the two hospitals was also confirmed by William J. Page of Atlanta, regional director of the department.

“This news happily climaxes three weeks of confusion over the Catholic hospitals which have been integrated for three years,” Archbishop Hallinan said.

“’Official’ and ‘nonofficial’ lists of approved hospitals have obscured that fact that these two institutions pioneered in integration. They seemed to appear to the general public as preaching integration and practicing segregation. This was simply not true,” the archbishop commented.

Archbishop Hallinan continued “As late as Saturday, June, the Catholic hospitals were named on a noncompliance list. Yet a telephone call to Dr. Leo J. Gehrig of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office revealed that both St. Joseph’s and Holy Family had been approved on Friday, June 24.

“The massive job and continued courtesy of medical officials should not be underestimated. Now our hospitals can go on admitting whites and Negroes on the basis of need, maintain their high quality of medical standards and be strengthened by the biracial policy of all major Atlanta hospitals.”

Statements of racial policy by the hospitals were sent to Washington last week by administrators of the two facilities.

Sister Mary Melanie, administrator of St. Joseph’s, wrote:

“In view of the impending implementation of Medicare on July 1, 1966, Saint Joseph’s Infirmary wishes to reaffirm its policy that all patients will be admitted to this facility without regard to race, color, or national origin. Further, physicians meeting the professional qualifications for appointment to the medical staff will be appointed without regard to race, color or national origin.

“Saint Joseph’s wishes to join other Atlanta hospitals in providing services to Medicare-eligible patients, and has indicated to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, its desire to participate in the Medicare program when it becomes effective on July 1, 1966.”

Sister Mary Jacob, administrator Holy Family, made this report:

“During the past few weeks the attention of many people in Atlanta has been focused on the needs of senior citizens who have hoped that the costs of their hospital care would be covered by the Medicare program. The fact that the ability of Atlanta hospitals to cooperate in the Medicare program is dependent upon compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act places a mutual responsibility on physicians, hospital personnel and the community at large.

To fully grasp a responsibility, one must know it. Physicians and hospital personnel are familiar with their responsibilities. However, it is felt by the administrator of Holy Family Hospital that the people it serves in the general community would appreciate a concise statement of policy in these matters.

1. The primary purpose of Holy Family Hospital is to take care of the sick regardless of race, color, or national origin.

2. The hospital works in a cooperative way with all physicians who have the necessary medical qualifications.

3. The hospital attempts to employ the most qualified personnel possible regardless of race, color, or national origin.

4. All services on the hospitals are available to pastors. In the assignment of rooms, the criteria are based on medical needs and the type of accommodations the patient selects. Rooms are not assigned on the basis of race, color, or national origin.”