SACRAMENTO – Today, Californians Against the Misleading Rx Measure announced that the “No” coalition continues to grow. To date, more than 50 organizations representing veterans, physicians and health care providers, patients, businesses, labor unions and civil rights leaders have evaluated and formally opposed the measure. These diverse organizations urge California voters to oppose this measure in November.
The flawed ballot measure would prohibit the state from entering into contracts to purchase prescription drugs unless the prices are the same or lower than the special discounts provided to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and our nation’s veterans. However, the measure would likely invalidate existing contracts the state has negotiated with pharmaceutical manufacturers, increasing state costs for prescription drugs by tens of millions of dollars and reducing funding for Medi-Cal, the state’s largest low-income health care program. The measure could also result in more physician paperwork and more hassle for patients, limiting or delaying access to prescription drugs.
The measure will be discussed in a legislative hearing today in Sacramento at 1:30 p.m.
“This measure is misleading and unworkable,” said Hollaine Hopkins, Executive Director of the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. “It will lead to increased red tape and bureaucracy, and could actually increase costs for the state’s taxpayers. Our greatest concern is that patients will get caught in the middle and have reduced access to the medicines they need. It’s for these reasons that we are actively opposing this measure.”
“This measure would hurt working families who rely on state programs for their prescription drugs as it would increase state costs, not decrease them. And, it would interfere with patients getting access to the medicines they need,” said Ron Miller, Executive Secretary, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.
The measure may also result in unintended negative consequences such as increased health costs for veterans and their families by undermining special price considerations provided to the VA.
“America’s uniformed service members lay their lives on the line to protect our country. In recognition of their service, they are afforded certain unique benefits. This measure ignores their sacrifice. It seeks to extend the special prescription medicine discounts given to veterans to some state purchasing programs. This could increase prescription drug costs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and ultimately for veterans, retirees and military families,” said Nick Guest, State Adjutant/Quartermaster, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
Below is a growing list of groups opposed to the misleading measure.
Veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters
American GI Forum of California
AMVETS, Department of California
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
American Legion, Department of California
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Bay Area & Western Chapter
Association of the United States Army, Northern California
Reserve Officer Association, Department of the Golden West
Fleet Reserve Association, West Coast Region
Minority Veterans Coalition of California
Jewish War Veterans of America, Department of California
Scottish American Military Society
Health
Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
California Hepatitis C Task Force
California Psychiatric Association
Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California
Lupus Foundation of Southern California
International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis
Community Health Action Network
The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation
Minority Health Institute
Los Angeles Wellness Station
Mental Health Systems
Plaza Community Services (clinic)
Civil and Human Rights
California NAACP
Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC)
Black Women Organized for Political Action – PAC
Embracing Latina Leadership Alliances (ELLAS)
Beverly Hills Hollywood NAACP
Taxpayer
California Taxpayer Protection Committee
San Diego County Taxpayers Association
Labor
LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council
Business
California Chamber of Commerce
California Business Roundtable
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Valley Industry & Commerce Association
Orange County Business Council
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Los Angeles County Business Federation
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce
Senior
California Senior Advocates League
ONEgeneration