History of SSA During the Johnson Administration 1963-1968

APPENDIX G7- CONTRIBUTORS TO THE HISTORY OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION-- LYNDON B. JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1963 - 1968*

* Names of contributors appear on the page behind each of the main headings. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES A. Reorganization of July 1965. The primary objectives were six in number: 1. To accommodate within the over-all structure of the Social Security Administration, the important new units with special responsibility for the hospital and supplementary medical insurance programs. This was accomplished by establishing the Bureau of Health Insurance. 2. To modify existing units to accommodate additional responsibilities because of these programs. 3. To provide for greater efficiency and economy and fuller utilization of scarce skills in the new technical area of electronic data processing and transmission by centering responsibility for this function in a single headquarters unit, namely the Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts. 4. To strengthen the role of the management unit at the top level of the agency in order to better assure the most effective, efficient, and economical administration of both old and new, program responsibilities. This was the Office of Administration. 5. To increase the technical support for district offices, payment centers, and State agency operation by assigning responsibility for functional supervision of technical work to specialized Bureaus and their representatives. 6. To strengthen the administration of the social security programs in the field by placing responsibility for coordination and leadership of all social security activities in a given geographical area under a regional assistant commissioner reporting directly to the Office of the Commissioner. B. Establishment of a special staff, Employee Management Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity, in September 1965. C. During 1967 and 1968, reorganizations have been taking place within the various bureaus and offices to achieve more effective management of specific segments of work. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES A. l. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration 2. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration 3. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration; Stanley A. KatZ, Bureau of Disability Insurance, (Disability Case Control System). 4. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration 5. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration; Charles D. Jones, Bureau of Disability Insurance 6. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration B. Herbert Creech, Office of Administration C. Arthur W. Sutton, Office of Administration; Robin R. Helm, Office of Administration PERSONNEL AND STAFF CHANGES A. The appointments of Arthur E. Hess as Deputy Commissioner, Thomas Tierney as Director of the Bureau of Health Insurance, Thomas G. Ball as Deputy Director, Bureau of Health Insurance, and William E. Hanna, Jr., as Director of the Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts. B. The A.F.G.E. Lodge No, 1923 was granted exclusive recognition for Baltimore headquarters and Baltimore payment center employees. Recognition was granted to several other unions covering field employees. C. A greatly expanded program was instituted for hiring the handicapped and the disadvantaged. D. Additional st:pergrades were provided to strengthen the direction of , the vastly expanded social security program. E. A vast new program was carried on to recruit thousands of new employees to handle new or larger programs. F. The training program was expanded to strengthen technical and managerial training and two new programs were begun: 1. An executive development system for top-level staff. 2. A career development system for middle-level executives. PERSONNEL AND STAFF CHANGES A. Abe Bortz, Office of Administration B. Herbert Creech, Office of Administration C. Bernard J. Cronin, Jr., Division of Personnel, Office of Administration D. Milton R. Johnson, Office of Administration E. Bernard J. Cronin, Jr., Division of Personnel, Office of Administration F. Ries Myers, Office of Administration PROGRAM CHANGES A. The 1964 amendments improved disability protection and payments. B. Changes brought about by the Social Security Amendments of 1965, 1966, and 1967: 1. Two related health insurance programs for people-over 65 to help pay hospital, physician, and other medical and health services. 2. Cash benefits increased an average of 23 percent. 3. The contribution and benefit.base was raised from $4300 to $7800. 4. The retirement test was raised from $1200 to $1680. 5. Minimum cash benefits at 65 years of age was raised from $40 to $55 per month. 6. Coverage was extended to new beneficiaries: students 18 to 22; disabled widows and widowers at age 50; disabled young workers with limited coverage; certain persons 72 and older; self-employed doctors, additional ministers, additional employees of nonprofit organizations, and State and local government employees; and widows at age 60. 7. Payment was allowed from the disability trust fund in the rehabilitation of disability cases. 8. Actions were taken to implement these vast and complex changes. C. A system was established of reevaluating automatically the earnings of beneficiaries after their initial entitlement and where indicated, increasing their benefit payments. D. "Project Moneywise" was organized. This had the effect of extending the services of credit unions to people with limited incomes. E. The informational program was brought to new high levels to inform the public about health insurance and the other provisions of the 1965, 1966, and 1967 amendments. This included special groups in the population as well as professional and scientific, civic and voluntary, and philanthropic and eleemosynary organizations. F. Significant actions taken by SSA to implement the amendments. PROGRAM CHANGES A. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning; Stanley Katz., Bureau of Disability Insurance B. 1. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning 2. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning 3. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning 4. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning 5. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning 6. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and. Planning; Stanley Katz., Bureau of Disability Insurance 7. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning; Charles D. Jones, Bureau of Disability Insurance 8. Edward Fotheringill, Office of Administration; and Clement Richardson, Office of Administration C. Gerald L. Boyd., Office of Administration; Robert E. Beveridge, Office of Administration (AERO) D. William O'Brien., Bureau of Federal Credit Unions E. G. Hinckley Porters Office of Information, Stanley Katz., Bureau of Disability Insurance F. Edward Fotheringill. Office of Administration; and Clement Richardson., Office of Administration OPERATING METHODS A. Establishment of the Total Data Systems Plan for integration of claims process. B. The development of centralized recordkeeping in connection with the implementation of the health insurance program. C Extending office hours beyond the normal working day in the district offices. D. Establishment of an evaluation and measurement system to continuously assess the validity of the assumptions underlying claims policy. E. The adaptation of operations to deal with non-government participants, intermediaries, carriers, and providers--in the medicare program. F. Establishing new systems of appraisal to improve the quality of claims processing. G. The utilization of the optical scanner to reduce manual operations in the maintenance of earnings records. H. The use of magnetic tape reporting by large employers which eliminate the need for manual operation. I. Tiie substantial expansion of field facilities, particularly the establishment of a new type of facility, the branch office, and the dispersal of some of these in metropolitan areas, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods. J. Expansion of medical advisor and vocational expert programs in disability hearings cases. K. Establishment of Statistical Reporting System for Medicare. OPERATING METHODS A. Gerald L. Boyd, Office of Administration; Robert C. Feral, Office of Administration B. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance; Sidney S. Mali., Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts G. Richard Burns, Office of Administration; John Schwartz., Bureau of District Office Operations D. Joseph Steinberg, Office of Research and Statistics E. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance F. Andre Woods, Office of Administration; Richard N. Johnakin, Bureau of Disability Insurance; Milton Freedman, Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance; Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance G. Harry S. Mayhew, Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts H. Harry S. Mayhew, Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts I. Wendell Shepard, Bureau of District Office Operations J. Stanley Katz, Bureau of Disability Insurance; Dr. Archibald Sinson, Bureau of Bearings and Appeals (Expansion of Medical Advisor in Disability Hearings Cases); Louis Zinn, Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (Vocational Expert Programs in Disability Hearings Cases). K. Dorothy Rice, Office of Research and Statistics INTERAGENCY RELATIONS A, Coordinating and integrating our systems and procedures with those of the Treasury Disbursing Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Railroad Retirement Board, the Veterans Administration, the Civil Service Commission, and others. B. Working first with the Public Health Service, more recently with the Department's Office of Civil Rights, to secure compiiance of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. C. Working with the Equal Employment Opportunity Office in promoting a non-discriminatory policy. D. Planning and directing the first national survey of the total aged population (1963) and the first national survey of the total disabled adult population, both in and out of institutions, (1966-1968). Bureau of Census collaborated in conducting household interviews for both surveys. E. Bureau of the Census collaborates in conducting household interviews for a Continuing Current Medicare Survey, each obtains current data monthly on hospital and medical care services used and of the changes incurred by persons covered under the program. F. Participating in the Neighborhood Youth Corps program of the Equal Opportunity Act. G. Arranged with Bureau of Labor Statistics beginning in 1966 to collect prices on a selected number of surgical procedures and in-hospital services that are important to older persons. H. Developed a poverty index in 1965 winch varies in relation to family size and composition, and farm - nonfarm residence. The index was adopted by the Council of Economic Advisers and the Office of Economic Opportunity. I. Working with Social and Rehabilitation Service, the Public Health Service, Department of Agriculture, and other agencies, in carrying out the Medicare and State Medical Assistance programs. J. Working with the Agency for International Development on the training of foreign officials concerned with social security programs. K. Working with the State Department on payment of benefits to beneficiaries living in foreign countries. L. Worked with Civil Service Commission, the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Post Office Department; and the Department of Agriculture, and others, in carrying out the Medicare enrollment phase. M. Represented on the Department's task force on drugs and the Gorham Report on medical care prices. INTERAGENCY RELATIONS A. Stanley Katz., Bureau of Disability Insurance; Charles D. Jones, Bureau of Disability Insurance; Charles J. Delle Bovi, Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance B. Herbert Creech, Office of Administration C. Herbert Creech, Office of Administration D. Lenore Bixby, Office of Research and Statistics E. Dorothy P. Rice, Office of Research and Statistics F. Bernard J. Cronin,, Jr.., Division of Personnel, Office of Administration G. Dorothy P. Rice, Office of Research and Statistics H. Ida C. Merriam, Office of Research and Statistics I. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance J. Arthur Pogensky, Office of Research and Statistics K. Joseph E. Balthazar, Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance L. Marjorie Jacobs., Bureau of Health Insurance M. Dorothy P. Rice, Office of Research and Statistics LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS A. The Social Security Administration cooperated with various Congressional committees and subcommittees, and providing service to individual Representatives and Senators. All of this took the form of furnishing informational, speech, general program, and related materials, as well as materials dealing with legislative issues and current problem areas. LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS A. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning; G. Hinckley Porters Office of Information; Hugh L. Johnson, Office of the Commissioner EXTERNAL RELATION'S--LABOR, BUSINESS, ETC. A. The Advisory Council on Social Security Financing, 1963-1964, reported in January 1, 1965,on financing, adequacy of benefits, and extension of coverage. B. Dealings with the Blue Gross Association, Blue Shield plans with independent and commercial insurance firms, State health and welfare agencies, hospitals, extended care facilities, home health agencies, independent laboratories, and, through intermediary organizations, with practicing physicians to carry out the health insurance program. C. Dealings with State agencies and hospitals in carrying out Title VI. D. A Health Insurance Benefits Advisory Council council appointed to advise the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on policy matters in connection with administering health insurance, and under recent legislation to study the utilization of services covered under the program. E. The Social Security Administration has participated in a number of community-type programs, for example, it served as host for Joborama to make job opportunities known; it cooperated in carrying out the Youth Opportunity Program; its district office personnel one working closely with the Model Cities Program. F. The appointment of an advisory committee on nonprogram use of the social security account number. G. The SSA was the host to the XV Assembly of the International Social Security Association in September 1964. H. An Advisory Committee on Research Development provides assistance for its research program. I. The SSA sponsored a Conference on Private Health Insurance in order to improve private health insurance coverage. J. The SSA played a leading role in the National Conference on Medical Costs. R. The SSA is conducting regional health cost conferences. L. Service provided the Heineman committee. M. Establishment of Advisory Council on Medicare for Disabled. EXTERNAL RELATIONS--LABOR, BUSINESS, ETC. A. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning B. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance C. Herbert Creech, Office of Administration D. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance E. Bernard J. Cronin., Jr.., Division of Personnel, Office of Administration; John Schwartz, Bureau of District Office Operations (Model Cities Program) F. George J. Gallagher, Office of Administration G. Jack Boam, Office of the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners Field; Bill Yoffee, Office of Research and Statistics H. Beth Shorts Office of Research and Statistics I. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance; Dorothy Rice, Office of Research and Statistics J. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance; Dorothy Ricer Office of Research and Statistics K. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance L. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning; Ida C. Merriam,, Office of Research and Statistics M. Stanley Katz, Bureau of Disability Insurance CHANGES IN CHARACTER OR EMPHASIS A. Taking on a huge new responsibility--Medicare--which broadened the whole scope of the social security program. CHANGES IN CHARACTER OR EMPHASIS A. Marjorie Jacobs, Bureau of Health Insurance LEGISLATIVE HISTORY A. This will not only include the legislative changes already described under program changes, but will also include a discussion of Administration proposals which were either not enacted or enacted in modified form. LEGISIATIVE HISTORY A. Staff of the Office of Program Evaluation and Planning