A "no" vote opposed this ballot initiative to require dialysis clinics to have at least one physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant while patients are being treated; report data on dialysis-related infections; and not discriminate against patients based on the source of payment for care. The word count for the ballot summary is 84. 29 would increase the cost of providing dialysis services, and force some dialysis centers to shut down and others to reduce hours, thereby reducing access to this lifesaving treatment. Gavin Newsom wisely used his powers under the states COVID-19 state of emergency to authorize the state director of public health to waive licensing requirements on medical practitioners and restrictions on out-of-state medical professionals to help increase the number of medical practitioners in California. Requires clinics to: disclose physicians ownership interests; report infection data. In 2018, the campaign Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection supported a ballot initiative to require dialysis clinics to issue refunds to patients or patients' payers for revenue above 115% of the costs of direct patient care and healthcare improvements. Requires Dialysis Clinics to Notify and Obtain Consent From CDPH Before Closing or Substantially Reducing Services. Camryn Park, California Voters Will Weigh in on Dialysis Clinics for the Third Time in Four Years, San Francisco Chronicle, July 6, 2022. Plus, kidney dialysis clinics, arts and music education in public. font-weight:bold; [3] No Prop 29, Side-by-Side, July 2022, https://noprop29.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Side-by-side.pdf. Counties | [5] Ana B. Ibarra, A Heavy Burden: Should Dialysis Rules Be up to Voters?, Cal Matters, October 14, 2020, https://calmatters.org/health/2020/10/should-dialysis-rules-up-to-voters/. That means voters will decide the fewest measures in an election year since 1916. 5737 Mesmer Ave. The previous two efforts to regulate dialysis clinics failed, so what is different this time around? Dialysis is recommended when a person's kidneys lose most of their function. Group and Individual Health Insurers Typically Pay Higher Rates for Dialysis Than Government Programs. These additional costs are highly uncertain. ), First published on May 13, 2012 / 4:53 PM. Impact fees can effectively offset the need to raise additional revenue from other fees and taxes, such as property taxes. [13] On the ballot as Proposition 8, 59.9% of voters rejected the proposal. Voters should reject Proposition 29 and hope that they wont have to do so again in 2024, and 2026, and beyond. The annual cost of these new responsibilities likely would not exceed the low millions of dollars annually. The proponents also contend that having a physician or nurse practitioner, in addition to current staff . Continue Current Operations, but With Lower Profits. .sbtotaltable th { Proposition 28 promises to bring arts and music programs to every public school and cost taxpayers nothing. These propositions deal with abortion, sports betting and environmental initiatives. [2], In 2018, SEIU-UHW also sponsored Proposition 8, which was defeated with 59.9% of voters rejecting it. Proponents of Prop. Thats the tension: theres enormous profitability, then you meet folks of enormous need, and you realize that some of that money should be diverted to patient care. "[18] Wherley, a spokesperson for the SEIU-UHW West, contended that dialysis workers "want these [initiative] reforms regardless of what happens with their union efforts. Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition For immediate release: November 8, 2022 Contact: Kathy Fairbanks (916) 813-1010 kfairbanks@bcfpublicaffairs.com Once again California voters reject shameful attack on dialysis patients by one. Should dialysis clinics be forced to close as a result of increased operating costs, vulnerable patients could lose access to life-saving treatments, sending them to emergency rooms to receive necessary procedures. The ban is delayed until voters make a decision in November. Californians will vote on propositions ranging from abortion to sports betting in the November general election. This scenario would lead to increased costs for state and local governments likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually. Even the labor-friendly Legislature has refusedto pass similar legislation. Ana B. Ibarra, A Heavy Burden: Should Dialysis Rules Be up to Voters?, Cal Matters, October 14, 2020, Stephanie Hedt, Dialysis Costs the Healthcare System Three Times More in the Individual Market, USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, Laura C. Plantinga et al., Frequency of PatientPhysician Contact in Chronic Kidney Disease Care and Achievement of Clinical Performance Targets,. Under federal rules, the physician must visit the patient during dialysis treatment at the clinic at least once per month. July 26, 2022 . State and national dialysis organizations, some local medical groups, and major dialysis corporations including DaVita and Fresenius. Federal regulations do not require medical directors to spend a set amount of time at the clinic. Prohibits clinics from refusing to treat patients based on source of payment. And the trained nurses and technicians at dialysis clinics are just as equipped to deliver basic lifesaving care as doctors or nurse practitioners required under the proposition. California voters will decide whether they want to ban flavored tobacco products under Proposition 31. Why are city leaders picking winners and losers? Prop. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number.[40][41]. Code of Federal Regulations Title 42, Chapter IV, Subchapter G, Part 494: Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities, last modified July 11, 2022. . California's Proposition 29 on the state's November 2022 ballot would require physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants with six months of relevant experience to be on-site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics. Patient advocates, labor advocates and clinic operators could negotiate these changes through the normal legislative process. "[16], Jim Miller, a columnist for The Sacramento Bee, and Melanie Mason, a state politics journalist for the Los Angeles Times, both stated that the ballot initiative would also provide the SEIU-UHW West with leverage over legislation to enact new regulations on dialysis clinics in the California State Legislature. The payer could be the patient, a private entity, the patients health insurer, Medi-Cal, or Medicare. On November 3, 2020, 58.63% of voters in California voted in favor of Prop 22 and the law went into effect in mid-December of 2020. . If Proposition 26 passes this November, another form of gambling would be permitted at horse racing tracks and tribal casinos in California: Sports betting. Most of these other owners and operators have multiple clinics in California, while a small number own or operate a single clinic. Opponents, organized as Patients and Caregivers to Protect Dialysis Patients, raised $111.48 million, with DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care North America providing 90% of the campaign's funds. SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - One of the hot button issues heading into the June Presidential Primary Election is Proposition 29, the Tobacco Tax for Cancer Research Act. 2, 2005, pages 11521. Opponents claim Prop. Proposition 29 failed after nearly 70% of Californians voted "no" in returns late Tuesday. Voters correctly rejected the last two propositions, and they should do so a third time. background-color: black !important; -moz-columns: 1; Nov. 3, 2022 5:16 PM PT. If less than 95 percent are estimated to be valid, the initiative does not make the ballot. By Vittorio Nastasi November 22, 2022, Reason Foundation Over time, a person may develop kidney failure. text-align:center; Provide the CDPH with a list of physicians who have an ownership interest of 5% or more in the clinic. It would also require increased disclosure of clinic ownership and dialysis-related infections. Californias initiative system was created more than a hundred years ago to give citizens the power to make new laws when their elected leaders failed to do so. Furthermore, its a tactic the union has used before to pressure healthcare facilities, most recently in Los Angeles and other cities, where the SEIU-UHW has qualified local ballot measures to force private health facilities, including dialysis centers, to pay workers at least $25 an hour. Our weekly mental wellness newsletter can help. Prop. Proposition 29 purports to improve patient care. Federal Regulations Require a Medical Director at Each Dialysis Clinic. This proposition was placed on the ballot through the collection of signatures, and a simple majority (50% plus one vote) is required for it to pass. ew /span>. Read more. The opponents say Proposition 29 would probably hurt patients more than help. Federal law generally makes people with kidney failure eligible for Medicare coverage regardless of age or disability status. The committee had raised $105.24 million, with $66.8 million from DaVita, Inc. and $29.8 million from Fresenius Medical Care.[12]. Supporters also say that greater financial disclosure is required so that researchers and the public can better assess the impact of physician ownership of clinics. Take a look at the latest stories and videos about the 2022 Midterm Elections here. [10], The following is the argument in opposition to Proposition 29 found in the Official Voter Information Guide:[11], The PAC Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection was registered to support the ballot initiative. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. For a third straight election, California voters are being asked to decide on a measure to regulate dialysis clinics across the state. requiring clinics to have at least one physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant - with at least six months of experience with end-stage renal disease care - onsite during patient treatments; requiring clinics to report dialysis-related infections to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH); requiring clinics to provide patients with a list of physicians with an ownership interest of 5% or more in the clinic; requiring clinics to provide the CDPH with a list of persons with ownership interest of 5% or more in the clinic; and. Dialysis Mimics What a Normal Kidney Does. In presenting Pros and Cons we are nonpartisan, offering supporting and opposing arguments. Like last time, this latest proposition will again jeopardize access to care, worsen our health care provider shortage and increase health care costs for all Californians. Prohibits clinics from closing or substantially reducing services without state approval. columns: 2; The measure would amend the state health code to require dialysis clinics to have a licensed medical professional on-site during treatment or in some cases available virtually during treatments. The proposition also requires clinics to report to CDPH every three months persons who own at least 5percent of the clinic. In this section, Ballotpedia does not include opinion pieces written by individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. All Rights Reserved. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Fiscal Impact: Increased state and local government costs likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually. CDPH licenses clinics to operate in California. Prop 28 is supported by numerous famous California musicians, actors, and media industry executives. Opponents view the measure as a further attempt to politically and financially weaken DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care and to unionize dialysis workers, and assert that the shortage of nephrologists in the state would leave clinics unable to meet the requirements of Prop. PRO Proposition 8 would have required dialysis clinics to issue refunds to patients or patients' payers for revenue above 115% of the costs of direct patient care and healthcare improvements. . You can hear KCBS In Depth, a weekly half-hour news interview, Saturdays at 5:30a.m. This federally funded program provides health coverage to most people ages 65 and older and certain younger people who have disabilities. The SEUI-UHW says the 9-1-1 service calls from dialysis centers suggest the need for more staff, though they offer no data that the volume is higher than might be expected given that dialysis patients often have other serious health conditions. } Higher costs could result in clinics being forced to close, which would reduce access to dialysis care or cause higher costs to be passed along to patients. In contrast, group and individual health insurers negotiate with clinic owners and operators to set rates. 29 aims to improve reliability and accuracy of data, which can be difficult to obtain, and to maximize the time that a trained physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant is present during a patients treatment. Patients need about three treatments per week, and missing a treatment can result in serious health complications. Los Angeles, CA 90230 On November 7, 2018, Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection announced that a similar ballot initiative would be filed for 2020. Annie Gibson, a hemodialysis nurse, attends to COVID-19 patient Rue Arnwine Jr., who is on dialysis at Desert Cities Dialysis in Victorville, Calif., in 2020. You can find a full list of the opponents on noprop29.com. In the less likely event that a relatively large number of clinics would close due to this proposition, having obtained consent from CDPH, state and local governments could have additional costs in the short run. The physician continues to oversee the patients care. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Despite overwhelmingly being rejected by voters twice in the last two election cycles, SEIU-UHW is back a third time with Prop 29 that puts patients' lives at risk. Prop 29 Explained - November 8 Election . INITIATIVE STATUTE. The committee reported nearly $86.4 million in contributions from DaVita Inc. and Fresenius Medical Care. "[4], Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition led the campaign in opposition to Proposition 29. These revenues consist of payments for dialysis from a few main sources, or payers: Medicare. The cost to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site would affect individual clinics differently depending on their finances. If a clinic plans to close or substantially reduce its services, Proposition 29 requires the clinic or its owner or operator to notify CDPH in writing and obtain CDPHs written consent. It would also establish other state requirements on clinics including requiring them to disclose all physicians that have clinic ownership interests of 5% or more to their patients and requiring clinics to report infection data to the state. This November is no different. Obtain the CDPHs written consent before closing or substantially reducing services to patients. [35], To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/article/dialysis-costs-the-healthcare-syst, specialized physician, such as a nephrologist, physician assistant with at least six months of experience with end-stage renal disease. SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- For the third time in three straight elections, California voters rejected a ballot measure that would have mandated major changes to the operations of dialysis clinics that provide life-saving care to 80,000 people with kidney failure. Not a lot. The solution absorbs wastes and uses the lining of the abdomen as a filter. The federal government could consider relaxing the prohibition of cash compensation for live kidney donors included in the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA). The treatment involves pumping a solution into the abdomen. .endorsements-header { display: inline; Signatures need to be certified at least 131 days before the general election. A dialysis machine is ready for use at a DaVita Dialysis center in Cathedral City, Calif., October 11, 2018. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Licenses and Certifies Dialysis Clinics. California Proposition 29, Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative (2022) California Proposition 29, the Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative, was on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 8, 2022. By Vittorio Nastasi and Austill Stuart December 12, 2022. 29. Kidney donors must take time off work, suffer discomfort, and accept the increased health risks that come with having only one kidney. YES Revenues go toward K-12 schools, California Community Colleges, and healthcare. Specifically, owners and operators may be able to negotiate higher rates with private commercial insurance companies and, to a lesser extent, with Medi-Cal managed care plans. 29 is the third attempt in four years by labor organization Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW West) to regulate dialysis clinics. We don't need another major government program or bureaucracy in California," he said. If there is a shortage of licensed healthcare workers available to monitor. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Original story follows below. 23 in 2020 included similar requirements for dialysis clinics, and both failed when taken to voters. Summary of General Obligation BondsElection Results 1986 to Present (Excel File). MORE | What's the difference between Prop 26 and Prop 27? The ballot measure was defeated . 23 in 2020 included similar requirements for dialysis clinics, and both failed when taken to voters. 12:08 p.m. Oct. 17, 2022: An earlier version of this endorsement reported that the proponents did not have a website. Most people with kidney failure receive dialysis at chronic dialysis clinics (clinics), although some may receive dialysis at hospitals or in their own homes. He said the measure is important because of what it will do not only for the present, but also the future. If the total number is equal to at least 100 percent of the required signatures, then local election officials perform a random check of signatures submitted in their counties. Its not clear that added regulations are necessary or that added oversight would guarantee improved outcomes, and several requirements set forth by Prop. State and local courts | To receive payments from Medicare, clinics must report specific dialysis-related infection information to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 23 by introducing medical personnel specifications and introducing stakeholder reporting.[3]. This is just leverage. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A NO vote on this measure means: Chronic dialysis clinics would not be required to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during all patient treatment hours. width: 100%; Overall, the proposition would increase costs for clinics. A NO vote on this measure means: Chronic dialysis clinics would not be required to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during all patient treatment hours. All Rights Reserved. [7], The fiscal impact statement was as follows:[6], Increased state and local government costs likely in the low tens of millions of dollars annually. [2] Camryn Park, California Voters Will Weigh in on Dialysis Clinics for the Third Time in Four Years, San Francisco Chronicle, July 6, 2022. . SUMMARY Put on the Ballot by Petition Signatures Requires physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site during treatment. na si. However, an owner or operator may be less likely to keep an individual clinic open over the longer term if that clinic is likely to keep operating at a loss. Various Entities Own and Operate Dialysis Clinics. 1 would amend California's constitution to say that the state would not be allowed to interfere with or deny a person's right to abortion or contraceptives if it passes. Ballotpedia did not identify media editorial boards in support of the ballot measure. While our example was specifically drawn from a home in Los Angeles, a similar story is likely to play out in other areas of California. As the verification process can take multiple months, the secretary of state provides suggested deadlines for ballot initiatives. Dialysis care is a highly complex issue and should not be left up to voters to decide. Federal regulations require each clinic to have a medical director who is a board-certified physician. Prop. [33], On June 20, 2022, the secretary of state reported that the random sample concluded that 725,890 signatures were valid.[34]. Through October 27, 2022, the campaign had received over $23.2 million, including $9.7 million from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and $9.5 million from Philip Morris USA. California Proposition 29, the Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative, was on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 8, 2022. This dangerous dialysis proposition would shut down dialysis clinics across California, putting 80,000 patients' lives at risk. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on: To submit a media editorial for inclusion, email editor@ballotpedia.org. font-weight:bold; .ballot-measure-endorsements td { width: 35% !important;} They argue that California voters have overwhelmingly rejected similar dialysis propositions twice. The California Democratic Party and California Labor Federation supported the campaign. This measure would result in higher operating and penalty costs for dialysis clinics. This means the kidneys no longer work well enough for the person to live without a kidney transplant or ongoing treatment called dialysis.