With Proposition 101 Defeat, Health-Care Debate will Rage On

PHOENIX (By Ken Alltucker, Arizona Republic) November 23, 2008 — Vote counts affirm that Proposition 101, dubbed the health-care choice initiative, will be defeated.

The most recent count shows that 50.3 percent voted against the measure that backers said would prevent a government-run universal health plan in Arizona. Dr. Eric Novack, chairman of Medical Choice for Arizona, said the close vote showed that Arizona voters are interested in blocking government-run health plans.

"We may have lost but we genuinely have not failed," said Novack, a Glendale orthopedic surgeon.

Opponents said the initiative was poorly worded and would have created problems for the state's medical community.

"It really could have created chaos for the health-care system for many, many years," said John Rivers, chief executive of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. "Arizona voters did the right thing by saying 'no.' "

Others opposed to the measure included Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arizona Academy of Family Physicians and Gov. Janet Napolitano. Supporters included U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl and Rep. John Shadegg, both Republicans.

Even though the proposition has been defeated, Arizona lawmakers concede that any Arizona reform bill is still a long shot. Arizona Rep. Phil Lopes (D-Tucson) concedes that his effort to create universal health coverage in Arizona faces an uphill battle.

"I may get a second wind, but getting it passed is still going to be very difficult," Lopes said of Prop. 101's defeat. "The insurance companies oppose it, organized medicine opposes it, hospitals oppose it. Universal health care is going to be very tough to pass."