No on 46 July 25, 2014 California Legislation, Legislation Election, Legislation, NoOn46, MICRA, Proposition 46 0 On November 4, 2014, voters will be asked to weigh in on Proposition 46, a costly ballot measure that will make it easier and more profitable for lawyers to sue doctors, community health clinics and hospitals, resulting in billions in increased health care costs annually. Prop. 46 is being disguised by the trial lawyer sponsors as a measure that will “increase patient safety” but RCMA knows it’s really just about seeking change to a current law that will allow proponents to file more medical lawsuits against health care providers. If the trial lawyers get their way, medical lawsuits and payouts will skyrocket and someone will have to pay the price. California’s non partisan Legislative Analyst has taken a close look at Prop. 46 and concluded that it could increase state and local government health care costs by “hundreds of millions of dollars annually.” We know that these increased costs would reduce funding available for vital state and local government services like police, fire, social services, parks, libraries and the list goes on. Really, this is just another example of trial attorneys pulling money directly out of the health care delivery system and our communities to line their own pockets. As physicians, it is your job to provide care for and protect your patients - but Prop. 46 does just the opposite. Taxpayers across the state will be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in increased state and local government costs each year and could lose critical state and locally provided services that so many count on. That’s just how Prop. 46 will impact state and local government costs. An independent study estimates that this proposition will increase health care costs across all sectors by almost $10 billion annually. How does that affect patients throughout California? It translates to about $1,000 per year in higher health care costs for a family of four. For many families, that’s the difference between being able to afford groceries or health care each month. If you haven’t signed up to oppose Prop. 46, please visit NoOn46.com and join the coalition today – the price to your patients is too great to risk it. Prop. 46 was written by trial attorneys for trial attorneys – not for the patients of California who will be forced to pay, plain and simple. If you haven’t signed a “No On Prop 46 Commitment Card” or pledged to be a coordinator at your hospital, visit cmanet.org/micra and sign up today. As we forge ahead to Election Day, RCMA asks each of you reading this to take action and get involved in the No on Prop. 46 campaign. To find out more information about the issue and how you can help educate your colleagues, patients and neighbors, visit NoOn46.com today. Comments are closed.
