Napolitano says medical-choice initiative could be costly for state

With BC-CNS-Prop 101-Box

By MIKE MARTINEZ
Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX (Tuesday, Oct. 21) _ Gov. Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that a ballot proposition aimed at preventing universal health care in Arizona could hurt medical coverage provided by employers as well as the state’s program covering indigent residents.

Supporters of Proposition 101 say they want to preserve medical choice by prohibiting any law that would restrict an individual or entity’s choice of private health care or their right to pay directly for medical services.

Opponents say ambiguous wording in the measure would invite lawsuits that could cost $1 billion to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. The head of AHCCCS, while not taking a stand on the issue, has said a court ruling based on Proposition 101 could force the agency to switch from a managed-care model to a more expensive fee-for-service model.

At her weekly media availability, Napolitano said court rulings could affect private health care plans as well. Many private plans used managed care.

“They’ve been very good at distracting people from what their initiative does,” Napolitano said.

“Prop 101 is fraught with unintended consequences,” she said. “It is way overbroad, way overwritten, and I think it does nothing to improve the quality or accessibility of affordable health care in our state.”

Jody Kent, a spokeswoman for the opposition campaign to Proposition 101, welcomed the governor’s stand. She said the measure would lead to health care decisions being made by lawyers.

“We’re frightened that this will prevent Arizona families from having high-quality, affordable health care,” Kent said.

However, Dr. Eric Novack, a Phoenix surgeon who helped put forward Proposition 101, calling it the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, said opponents have a financial interest in maintaining the status quo. He said there is no doubt that AHCCCS and the companies it deals with are leading the fight against the measure.

“This is all about protecting political power and profits,” Novack said.

Novack and other members of the group Medical Choice for Arizona objected to an anti-101 flier featuring a picture of the governor standing in front of the state seal, which he said is illegal for a political advertisement.
Napolitano agreed that the picture shouldn’t have been used.

“I don’t think they should use the state seal in a campaign piece, and I think they should correct that situation,” Napolitano said.

Meanwhile, Napolitano said Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who is doing well in some states that usually favor Republicans, could make a stronger-than-expected showing in John McCain’s home state as well. Recent polls have shown Obama continuing to trail McCain in Arizona.

“I think Mr. Obama is doing very well here, and while this is not a _ quote-unquote _ battleground state, there’s a lot of ground action out there and that’s going to be very interesting in two weeks,” said Napolitano, who is campaigning around the country for Obama.