Have You Joined the Fight?
GET THE
GET THE
FACTS
ABOUT
PROP 46
FACTS PROP 46 If California’s malpractice cap goes up, you could lose your trusted doctor. Even respected community clinics warn that specialists like OB-GYNs will have no choice but to reduce or eliminate vital services.
ABOUT
OP 46 R P O T O N Y A JOIN US, S
Over the last several months, you may have read information about the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) lawsuit initiative, Proposition 46, in the pages of this magazine, on your local medical society’s website, in information from the California Medical Association (CMA) and likely from the hundreds of coalition partners that have all pledged to oppose the measure this November. On November 4, 2014, voters will be asked to cast their ballots. In the final months, weeks and days leading up to Election Day, it will be our task as physicians to educate our patients, neighbors, friends and families about the real intentions behind Prop. 46.
PLUS: Western Health Care Leadership Academy 2014 San Joaquin Golf Event 2014 Photos and more!
Summer 2014
savings of over $86,000 The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) is California’s hard-fought law to provide for injured patients and stable medical liability rates. But this year California’s Trial Lawyers have launched an attack to undermine MICRA and its protections and we need your help. Membership has never been so valuable!
WAYS FMMS/CMA IS WORKING FOR YOU! Fresno-Madera physicians are saving an average of $81,752 this year. Are you an FMMS/CMA member? 2013 FRESNO-MADERA MEDICAL SOCIETY MICRA SAVINGS CHART General Surgery
Internal Medicine
OB/GYN
Average
(Non-Invasive)
Fresno/Madera Counties
$22,286
$6,315
$29,188
$19,263
Connecticut
$92,782
$34,700
$170,389
$99,290
District of Columbia
$73,018
$24,010
$147,595
$81,541
New York
$148,454
$35,883
$227,899
$137,412
CT-DC-NY Average
$104,751
$31,531
$181,961
$106,081
VICTORY VICTORY On November 4, the voters of California spoke loudly
AND DEFINITIVELY, SENDING THE TRIAL LAWYERS’ PROPOSITION 46 TO DEFEAT BY A VOTE OF 67 TO 33. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR – CALIFORNIANS SIMPLY DON’T WANT TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS AND REDUCE HEALTH ACCESS SO TRIAL ATTORNEYS CAN FILE MORE LAWSUITS. An increase in the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) cap on non-economic damages has been rejected in California again and again: 10 times in court, 5 times in the Legislature and now overwhelmingly by voters. This idea now has its own dedicated spot in California’s political trash heap.
But this time, we energized the membership of CMA as a whole to fight the fight together, as one unified voice of medicine, representing the patients we so deeply care about and the care that we have committed to provide them.
includes labor, business, local government, health providers, community clinics, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, NAACP, taxpayers, teachers, firefighters and more – underscores just how important affordable, accessible health care is to every Californian.
Despite the trial attorney proponents’ attempt to sweeten the deal by adding provisions that polled well– physician drug testing and mandatory checking of a prescription database – voters said NO on Election Night. As people throughout the state heard from physicians and No on 46 coalition members about the real intentions of the measure’s proponents, there was resounding opposition.
In addition to the groups on the ground talking to voters about the deception and trickery behind Prop. 46, every major editorial board in California opposed the initiative.
One of the secret weapons of this effort was the size and diversity of our coalition. We helped amass one of the largest and most diverse campaigns in California history. The breadth of the coalition — which SEP TEM BER
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The San Francisco Chronicle decried Prop. 46 saying that the measure, “overreached in a decidedly cynical way.”
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The Orange County Register, UT San Diego, San Jose Mercury News, Monterey County Herald, Sacramento Bee and dozens of other newspapers echoed these sentiments.
The efforts of the California Medical Association and the county medical associations across the state is a tremendous showing of what we can do for the future of health care, 25, 2014 SEPT EMBE R the quality of medicine and the ng tryi “Proponents…are raising dedication to patients everywhere. into to trick voters rds.” awa Working together to spread the e ctic pra mal truth about Prop. 46, building coalitions across communities and standing strong as one united voice is what helped carry us to victory. , 20 14 R 23
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The Los Angeles Times said, “As worthwhile as [Proposition 46’s] goals may be, the methods the measure would use to achieve them are too flawed to be enacted into law.”
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This was one of the most contentious and high-stakes ballot fights in California history and we rose to the occasion. We must use this unity moving forward and showcase to our colleagues the value the California Medical Association brings to our great profession and stay united for whatever comes our way next.
WINTER 2014
REAL STORY BEHIND PROP 46
THE
SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN
45
STARTS WITH THE TRIAL LAWYERS