2008 Ballot Propositions Transcript

PROPOSITION 101, MEDICAL CHOICE FOR ARIZONA:

Secretary Brewer Explanation of a Yes and No Vote

SECRETARY JAN BREWER: A yes vote shall have the effect of prohibiting law that restricts a person's choice of private healthcare systems or private plans, interferes with a person's or an entity's right to pay for lawful medical services, and imposes a penalty or fine for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any healthcare system or plan. A no vote shall have the effect of retaining current law regarding a person's or entity's healthcare choices.

Argument For Proposition 101

DR. ERIK NOVACK: Hi, I'm Dr. Erik Novack, and I am proud to be the Chairman of the effort and support of Proposition 101, the Freedom of Choice in Healthcare Act. This election will offer Arizonans an opportunity, an opportunity to protect their right to be in control of something so important that we cannot live without it, our health.

Proposition 101 will protect your rights to make your own healthcare decisions and place healthcare freedom right next to our very cherished freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

Proposition 101 will force the special interests and lobbyists who say that they're interested in your health, but who really want healthcare reform to enrich themselves, to never forget that individuals and families, and not bureaucrats and CEOs, are at the heart of health and healthcare.

Now, our detractors are going to claim that we will hurt AHCCCS or that we will cost the state billings, but they are simply spreading fear and lies. But it's not really surprising because these are the same groups that spend billions on new hospitals, while at the same time some of them are paying fines for overcharging the uninsured. These are the same groups who cultivate cozy relationships with government bureaucrats, while at the same time paying fines for being the most heavily complained about HMOs.

In short, these groups will stop at nothing to put their profits ahead of your health. The intent of Proposition 101 is clear. Some of the best constitutional attorneys, both in our state and around the country, have looked at our opponents' analysis, and they find that it's not to even be a legal review. It's more propaganda.

Proposition 101 is a homegrown Arizona effort. And unlike its opponents, Proposition 101 is not beholden to corporate or union interest, either from in or outside of our state.

Healthcare reform will be a priority for our state and country in the years ahead. All Arizonans should agree that your right to seek out second opinions, choose alternative care, and remain in control of your healthcare decisions need to be protected. Vote yes on Prop 101 and learn more at yeson101.com. Thank you.

Argument Against Proposition 101

DR. JONATHAN WEISBUCH: Thank you, Mr. Pfeffer. I'm Dr. Weisbuch, and I represent a group of providers who are against Proposition 101.

Our health system does need to be reformed, but Proposition 101 will not do that job. It will limit, however, options that might be available in the future to lower costs, improve quality, and expand services to all of us.

Three reasons. I would like to mention three reasons opposing Proposition 101. First of all, constitutional amendments are dangerous. When language is confusing, they are extremely dangerous. They may have many unintended consequences that we can't predict today.

Number two, Proposition 101 will jeopardize the Arizona healthcare cost containment system. That system serves over one million Arizona citizens who are unable today to purchase private coverage. If that system were to go down, as Tony Rogers, the Director of that system suggests, if this Proposition 101 were to pass, it could eliminate this program and throw one million people into the ranks of the uninsured. We don't need more uninsured Arizonans, and we certainly don't need more chaos in the healthcare system.

And, third, Proposition 101 will not increase access to care. It will not improve and reduce medical costs, and it will not improve the quality of care. It will, however, restrain legislators from ever selecting a legal option that might be able to improve access and lower cost and improve quality.

This amendment allows choice between private insurance plans, but it does not provide the freedom for the individual citizen to choose their own family physician. And it does not give you the freedom from the loss of your insurance if you lose your job, or if you, in fact, have a pre-existing condition.

MODERATOR CAREY PFEFFER: Two minutes.

DR. JONATHAN WEISBUCH: I'm sorry?

MODERATOR CAREY PFEFFER: It's two minutes.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Questions and Answers for Proposition 101

We do have a question, and this is from Jim S. The question is: If passed, will 101 prevent Arizonans from a mandatory universal health plan? Once again: If passed, will this measure prevent Arizonans from having a mandatory universal health plan?

MR. JOSEPH KANEFIELD: If Proposition 101 passes, it will simply ensure that all Arizonans have a freedom of choice for private healthcare plans and private healthcare decisions. The question is whether it will prevent a mandatory insurance program. It -- it will prevent the state government or any government within the state from imposing upon the citizens a mandatory health scheme. What it doesn't address is whether a federal type system, and how that would apply, and that is a question that I'm just not able to answer.

MODERATOR CAREY PFEFFER: A question from Cindy on Proposition 101. Proposition 101 is the Medical Choice For Arizona. Question: Isn't this basically putting into the constitution language so that Arizonans shall always have an option of choosing private healthcare systems or private plans? Just for the question: Does this basically ensure that Arizonans have that option of choosing private healthcare plans or private plans in the future?

MR. MIKE BRAUN: Carey, the language of Proposition 101, I think it's -- it's fair to characterize the language of Proposition 101 as a means to prevent persons from having to participate in a government-mandated insurance program, what's generally called universal health coverage across the nation -- actually, across the world.

I don't know that I would choose to characterize it the way that the person who asked the question did, but it does say that you can't be forced into a program, you can't be penalized for participating or not participating in a program. But I will leave to the voters to decide how to characterize it.