Massachusetts General Hospital v. Commissioner of Public Welfare

Four patients were furnished medical care during the year 1962 by the hospital under public medical care plans mentioned in the margin.1 In each case special nursing services were required for the patient’s proper *26care. Payment to the hospital for the special nursing in each instance was denied by the board of public welfare in the community responsible for the patient. These denials were affirmed by the State department of public welfare on the basis of medical care plans of the department, which provide for a so called all inclusive per diem (AIPD) rate of reimbursement of hospitals.2

The…