Most recently, the California Medical Association, the California Psychiatric Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) District IX/CA, and the California Association of Rural Health Clinics have all joined the “no” side, raising concerns that the statewide ballot proposition will negatively impact California patients.
“We believe the measure would likely increase – not lower – state prescription drug costs,” said Steven E. Larson, M.D., MPH, president of CMA. “Of greatest concern to doctors is that the measure would result in a new bureaucratic prior approval process that could interfere with patient access to the medicines they need. CMA supports real reforms to protect consumers and lower drug costs. But this ballot measure is the wrong prescription.”
“While we are concerned about the cost of healthcare, this measure is not the solution,” said Gail Nickerson, Board President, California Association of Rural Health Clinics. “In fact, the measure could actually increase prescription drug costs for the state’s Medi-Cal program, which serves low-income families who make up the majority of the patients we serve. And for the patients in the programs covered by the measure, it could restrict their access to the medicines that would help them stay healthier.”
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.
“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.”
Below is the list of all the groups opposed to the Misleading Rx Measure as of May 26, 2016:
Health
- California Medical Association
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – District IX/CA
- Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
- California Hepatitis C Task Force
- California Psychiatric Association
- California Association of Rural Health Clinics
- Latino Diabetes Association
- Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California
- American Liver Foundation – Pacific Coast Division
- 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)
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 Officers 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
Taxpayer
- California Taxpayer Protection Committee
- San Diego County Taxpayers Association
Labor
- LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 11
- Southern California Pipe Trades District Council No. 16
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
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
- San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
- Fresno Chamber of Commerce
- Chamber of Commerce Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
- San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
- San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce
- 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