Ballot Measure on New Medi-Cal Spending Has Broad Support, But Opponents Flag Pitfalls

By Bernard J. Wolfson | KFF Health News | Special to the OBSERVER(KFF) – The proponents of Proposition 35, a November ballot initiative that would create a dedicated stream of funding to provide health care for California’s low-income residents, have assembled an impressive coalition: doctors, hospitals, community clinics, dentists, ambulance companies, several county governments, numerous advocacy groups, big business, and both major political parties.The Yes on Prop 35 campaign has raised over $48 million as of Sept. 9, according to campaign filings with the secretary of state. The measure would use money from a tax on managed-care health plans mainly to hike the pay of physicians, hospitals, community clinics, and other providers in Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid.For many months, there was no organized opposition. But shortly after Labor Day, a small group of community advocates, including the League of Women Voters of California, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and The Children’s Partnership, announced they were united against it.“We do not have the deep pockets that the proponents of the initiative do,” said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, executive director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. No fundraising has been recorded from opposition groups thus far.Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn’t taken a public stance,...