Organizations are rallying in strong opposition to defeat the reckless and dangerous measure
Sacramento, CA – With the recent qualification of the Health Care Endangerment Act, organizations representing doctors, hospitals, community health clinics, and patients announced their strong opposition to a measure that would endanger patient care by forcing quality doctors, nurses, and health care leaders out of California.
“California’s health care system is under unprecedented pressure, “ said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “At a time when California must protect patient care, one special interest is pushing a cynical proposal that would further erode access to care by chasing quality nurses and doctors out of state. This dangerous measure comes at exactly the wrong moment for Californians, and our coalition stands ready to defeat it at the ballot.”
The measure would arbitrarily cap compensation for nurses, doctors, and other health care leaders who have management, administrative, training, and leadership roles in hospitals and medical groups, while many also see patients. The measure impacts thousands of experienced health care workers — those leading cancer care, neurology, labor and delivery, ERs, pediatrics, and more — and will push highly-skilled medical professionals out of state, jeopardizing care quality and access to care in California.
“This irresponsible measure will erode quality care and strip access to care for millions,” said Dr. Rene Bravo, MD, President, California Medical Association. “It will drive physicians and health care leaders out of the state and deter caregivers from practicing in our communities when we are already struggling to meet Californians’ needs due to severe shortages of specialists. The result will be fewer doctors, longer wait times, and diminished quality of care for patients who are already facing barriers to access the services they need.”
The measure impacts a broad group of vital health care workers, including:
- Chief Medical Officers and Chief Nursing Officers
- Chief Physicians in Women’s Health Services, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Cardiology, Heart Failure & Transplant, Neurology, Emergency Medicine, Trauma Services, Infectious Disease, Psychiatry
- Nurse Managers in Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics, Cardiology, Oncology, Behavioral Health
- Medical Directors in Labor & Delivery Neonatal ICU (NICU), Emergency Department, Anesthesiology, Cancer Centers, Perinatal Services, Memory Care Services, Care Management, Community Health
- Chief Community Health and Population Health Officers
- Professors and Chairs of Surgery, Family Medicine, Medical Research
- Directors of Health Education & Outreach, Patient Safety, Public Health, Integration and Street Medicine
- Doctors, Nurses & Surgeons in Teaching Hospitals
“Proponents of this measure have a track record of putting politics over patients. It’s abusive and wrong,” said Francisco Silva, President & CEO of the California Primary Care Association, representing more than 2,300 community clinics and health centers. “We will always put patients first and stand with doctors, hospitals, other providers, and patients in strong opposition to this careless initiative and in our commitment to defeating it.”
The broad coalition of doctors, health care workers, and health care providers pledges to wage a campaign to educate voters about the dangers of this measure, and to ensure voters reject the measure in November.