California County Medical Societies Oppose Prop 45, Flawed Measure Giving Too Much Power to One Politician Over Health Care September 9, 2014 Advocacy No On Prop 45, Prop 45 0 Across the state, county medical societies are opposing Proposition 45, a November ballot measure that would give the state Insurance Commissioner sweeping new power over health care benefits and rates. “Proposition 45 gives one politician too much power over health care benefits and treatment options, which can have a significant impact on patient care,” said Dr. Man-Kit Leung, Board Member of the San Francisco Medical Society. “Treatment decisions should be made by doctors and patients—not by someone with a political agenda.” 30 county medical societies and dozens of statewide groups—representing more than 40,000 doctors—joined the growing coalition opposed to Prop 45. “We all want to reduce the cost of health care and strive every day to enhance its quality, but our health care system is too complex to make major changes through a ballot measure pushed by one special interest group,” said Dr. Pedram Salimpour, President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association. “If we are going to make major changes, patients, doctors, nurses, clinics and hospitals should all be part of the solution.” Prop 45 was drafted and filed in 2011, prior to the implementation of the President’s historic Affordable Care Act, and failed to qualify for the 2012 ballot, forcing it to this year’s November ballot. Academics and health care experts, including Covered California board members, have raised serious concerns about Prop 45 creating obstacles for those who need health insurance through the state’s exchange, largely due to the initiative allowing outside groups and individuals to file lengthy legal challenges against Covered California plans. At the August Covered California board meeting, board members expressed their opposition to the measure, saying that it could have “significant detrimental impacts” to the exchange’s operations. County medical societies that have announced their opposition to Prop 45 include: Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association Butte-Glenn Medical Society Humboldt-Del Norte County Medical County Imperial County Medical Society Los Angeles County Medical Association Kern County Medical Society Kings County Medical Society Marin Medical Society Merced-Mariposa County Medical Society Mendocino-Lake County Medical Society Monterey County Medical Society Napa County Medical Society North Valley Medical Association Orange County Medical Association Placer-Nevada County Medical Society Riverside County Medical Association San Bernardino County Medical Society San Diego County Medical Society San Francisco Medical Society San Joaquin County Medical Society San Mateo County Medical Association Santa Barbara County Medical Society Santa Clara County Medical Association Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society Solano County Medical Society Sonoma County Medical Association Tulare County Medical Society Ventura County Medical Association Yuba Sutter Colusa County Medical Society Click here for more information on Prop 45. Comments are closed.
