California's Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West filed 10 propositions to potentially be voted on in November aimed at lowering healthcare costs and improving patient care, according to a Politico.
Here are 10 things to know.
1. The union propositions consist of three at the state level and seven at the local level.
2. California granted SEIU-UHW approval to collect signatures for two propositions, according to the report. The first aims to contain premium costs by curbing insurers' reserves, and the other is a 1 percent tax on millionaires, which would help pay for safety-net hospitals and community health clinics, reoprts Politico.
3. According to the report, the first statewide proposition regarding reserves appears to target Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente. The healthcare giant told Politico: "This particular initiative targets Kaiser Permanente by claiming our hospitals and medical equipment are 'excess surplus' that we should eliminate."
4. A third statewide proposition is aimed at dialysis clinics. In a statement, the union said the ballot initiative would ensure patients aren't charged more than 15 percent above the care cost. SEIU-UHW anticipates submitting signatures to the state for verification by April 11. Additionally, Senate Bill 349 is up for consideration in California. The union said the legislation related to dialysis clinics would require "safer staffing levels and more time for patients to recover after treatment."
5. Local propositions include ballot initiatives in five Bay Area cities — Emeryville, Livermore, Pleasanton, Redwood City and Palo Alto. The five cities include facilities owned by Stanford (Calif.) Health Care.
6. Like the statewide proposition regarding dialysis clinics, the local propositions would ensure patients aren't charged more than 15 percent above the care cost.
7. Union officials said state records show Stanford University Medical Center charges nearly $73,000 above the statewide average for alcohol or drug abuse treatment, $60,000 more for treatment of a patient with kidney failure, and nearly $46,000 more for treatment of chest pain.
8. Stanford Health Care said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review: "We are committed to providing the best value for our patients and community. All hospital charges reflect the various levels and complexities of care provided by these healthcare organizations."
The statement added, "Local initiatives such as these would impose substantial and burdensome administrative and related costs for the cities affected, in addition to having a disastrous impact on individual institutions and our patients. If each city in our country were to adapt similar measures, the entire U.S. healthcare system would be in jeopardy. Stanford Health Care believes that the proposed initiatives would be unconstitutional and invalid if enacted."
9. SEIU-UHW also filed a proposition to limit charges at Watsonville Community Hospital, as well as a proposition that would affect the Pomona-based hospital Casa Colina and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. The union said the Pomona initiative would increase the amount of hours housekeeping staff work.
Felice Loverso, PhD, president and CEO of Casa Colina, opposed the initiative, calling it "bad policy and would negatively impact our organization." He said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review: "We also believe that this is an unlawful strategy and Casa Colina cannot support this initiative."
10. According to the report, it remains unclear whether the state and local propositions will make it on the November ballot.
Read the full Politico report here.