of 1966. Applying the formula,

of 1966. Applying the formula, l.e., multiplying the ratio of the 1969 rate to the 1966 rate by $40, the result is $58.72, which must, under the law, be rounded to $60, the new deductible amount. The hospital deductible amount, Commissioner Ball explained, is intended to make the Medicare beneficiary responsible for expenses equivalent to the average cost of one day of hospital care. It is like the deductible amounts specified in many auto insurance policies where the car owner pays the first $50 or $100 on a repair bill, and the insurance policy covers the rest.

Ball said that when the hospital deductible amount changes, the law requires comparable changes in the dollar amounts that a Medicare bepeficiary pays toward a hospital stay of more than 60 days, or a posthospital extended care stay of more than 20 days.

When a Medicare beneficiary has a hospital stay of more than 60 days, he will pay $15 a day for the 61st through the 90th day, up from the present $13 per day. If he has a posthospital stay of over 20 days in an extended care facility, he will pay $7.50 per day toward the cost of the 21st day through the 100th day, up from the present $6.50 per day.

If he needs to draw on his “lifetime reserve,” the reserve of hospital days a beneficiary can draw upon if he ever needs more than 9 . >f hospital care in the sanu enefit period, he will pay $3( for each day used, instead ol the present $26 per day.

4-H Report

On Wednesday, October 14 there was a 4-H meeting at Rappahannock County Elementary School. We pledged to the American Flag and the 4-H Flag. We also sang the 4-H song and filled out 4-H youth cards. Then we watched as Miss Judy Burtner showed us how to measure liquids and sugar. She said if you can read directions out of a cookbook, you can cook.

Sarah Massie, Reporter