October 2014-Newsletter
www.bacsi.org
Dear friends and colleagues,
Bacsi.org, “A network of Vietnamese American healthcare professionals”™, periodically publish e-newsletters with updated news and information relevant to healthcare providers and their professions.
In this issue, we focus on Proposition 46 in the November 2014 ballot; which negatively affects not only health care providers, but also their patients and all taxpayers in California.
As you probably know, prop. 46 will dramatically alter MICRA( Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, the law that helps keeps health care costs under control), by making it easier to file lawsuits against health care providers and generate more in legal fees.
To hide the lawsuit provision and to try to make Prop. 46 more appealing to voters, the measure contains two additional unrelated provisions including drug testing of certain doctors and mandates to use the state’s poorly functioning CURES database before prescribing and dispensing certain medications.
If Prop. 46 passes, there will be more lawsuits, higher health care costs, reduced access to care and possible violations of people’s private prescription drug information. California’s former independent, non-partisan Legislative Analyst has said that Prop. 46 could cost a family of four about $1,000 a year in higher health care costs.
Please join with California Medical Association, California Hospital Association, California Dental Association, California Pharmacists Association, California Hospital Association and 1,000 other organizations who have come together to oppose Prop. 46.
You can help defeat prop. 46 in several ways as indicated below. If you have no time and just want to contribute to the campaign fund, please click the button "contribute" on the website: www.noon46.com.
Warm regards,
Thinh V. Nguyen, MD, FACP
Editor
Bacsi.org Newsletter
Bacsi.org, “A network of Vietnamese American healthcare professionals”™, periodically publish e-newsletters with updated news and information relevant to healthcare providers and their professions.
In this issue, we focus on Proposition 46 in the November 2014 ballot; which negatively affects not only health care providers, but also their patients and all taxpayers in California.
As you probably know, prop. 46 will dramatically alter MICRA( Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, the law that helps keeps health care costs under control), by making it easier to file lawsuits against health care providers and generate more in legal fees.
To hide the lawsuit provision and to try to make Prop. 46 more appealing to voters, the measure contains two additional unrelated provisions including drug testing of certain doctors and mandates to use the state’s poorly functioning CURES database before prescribing and dispensing certain medications.
If Prop. 46 passes, there will be more lawsuits, higher health care costs, reduced access to care and possible violations of people’s private prescription drug information. California’s former independent, non-partisan Legislative Analyst has said that Prop. 46 could cost a family of four about $1,000 a year in higher health care costs.
Please join with California Medical Association, California Hospital Association, California Dental Association, California Pharmacists Association, California Hospital Association and 1,000 other organizations who have come together to oppose Prop. 46.
You can help defeat prop. 46 in several ways as indicated below. If you have no time and just want to contribute to the campaign fund, please click the button "contribute" on the website: www.noon46.com.
Warm regards,
Thinh V. Nguyen, MD, FACP
Editor
Bacsi.org Newsletter
Absentee ballots in mailboxes this week. Don't delay turning them in!
We are now entering "election month" in California. Absentee ballots are being mailed by County Voter Registrars this week. If you vote absentee, please don't wait until the last minute to vote No on 46. Mail in your ballot as soon as possible.
If you are not registered to vote, there's still time. It's easy and can be done online at the Secretary of State's website. Go to this page here. October 20 is the deadline, but don't delay, do it today.
Countdown to Election Day: Four Weeks!
Here are other ways you can help defeat Prop. 46:
If you are not registered to vote, there's still time. It's easy and can be done online at the Secretary of State's website. Go to this page here. October 20 is the deadline, but don't delay, do it today.
Countdown to Election Day: Four Weeks!
Here are other ways you can help defeat Prop. 46:
- Sign up to add your name to the growing list of individuals and groups opposed to Prop. 46. If you sign up via the No on 46 website you'll get regular campaign updates from the No on 46 campaign.
- Order buttons, bumper stickers, brochures and more from our campaign store free of charge. These materials are perfect for doctor office waiting rooms.
- Pick up a No on 46 yard sign at a location near you. Show your neighborhood you oppose Prop. 46.
- Contribute to the campaign.
- Register to vote! The deadline for the November 4 election isOctober 20. It's easy and can be done online. Go to the Secretary of State website to sign up here.
- Follow us on Twitter: @NoOn46
- Like us on Facebook: No on 46
If you do not wish to receive Bacsi.org newsletters in the future, please kindly email to [email protected] and simply write "unsubscribe". Thank you.
The situation
PROPOSITION 46 IS ANOTHER COSTLY BALLOT INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE
SPECIAL INTERESTS WITH A PRICE TAG CALIFORNIANS CAN’T AFFORD
Trial lawyers out to profit from medical lawsuits carelessly threw together Prop 46 without any concern for your pocketbook, your health care, or your privacy. The main provision of Prop 46 will quadruple the current $250,000 MICRA cap on non-economic damages in medical lawsuits to $1.1 million with annual increases going forward. If lawyers get their way, medical lawsuits and jury awards will skyrocket – leading to a big increase in health care costs.
These higher costs will be passed to every purchaser and provider of health care: state and local governments, employers, employees, consumers and taxpayers. Here’s why a broad coalition of doctors, community clinics and health centers, local governments, public safety, business, taxpayer and labor unions opposes Prop 46.
COSTLY FOR STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
According to California’s independent, non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) Prop 46 could increase costs for state and local governments by “several hundred million dollars annually.”
The LAO warns “even a small percentage change in health care costs could have a significant effect on government health care spending.”
SPECIAL INTERESTS WITH A PRICE TAG CALIFORNIANS CAN’T AFFORD
Trial lawyers out to profit from medical lawsuits carelessly threw together Prop 46 without any concern for your pocketbook, your health care, or your privacy. The main provision of Prop 46 will quadruple the current $250,000 MICRA cap on non-economic damages in medical lawsuits to $1.1 million with annual increases going forward. If lawyers get their way, medical lawsuits and jury awards will skyrocket – leading to a big increase in health care costs.
These higher costs will be passed to every purchaser and provider of health care: state and local governments, employers, employees, consumers and taxpayers. Here’s why a broad coalition of doctors, community clinics and health centers, local governments, public safety, business, taxpayer and labor unions opposes Prop 46.
COSTLY FOR STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
According to California’s independent, non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) Prop 46 could increase costs for state and local governments by “several hundred million dollars annually.”
The LAO warns “even a small percentage change in health care costs could have a significant effect on government health care spending.”