Prop. 166 as Antidote to Benign Neglect

The editorial “Bad Medicine for a Serious Ailment” (Oct. 23) provides the public with a grossly distorted view of the California Medical Assn.’s “Basic Health Care Coverage Initiative,” Proposition 166, on the November ballot.

The editorial offers no meaningful alternative for health-care reform and accuses the CMA of promising more than it can deliver. This is blatantly untrue. Furthermore, the serious ailment lies with those who propose nothing in response to the enormous health-care crisis in our state. In 1980 there were 3.5 million uninsured in California. Now there are 6.3 million, over 300,000 right here in Orange County. Clearly, benign neglect is an ineffective policy.

Presuming employers would dodge the mandate by reducing employees to less than 17.5 hours per week has not been realized in Hawaii, where a similar program insures 98% of the state’s population with no discernible job loss. Also, the quality of health care has greatly improved in Hawaii.

Costs for the Hawaii plan, which parallels Proposition 166, are 40% less than the average Mainland costs. They are even less than the Canadian costs.

Proposition 166 is feasible, reasonable and cost effective. We encourage the editors and the public to support it.

TERENCE M. O’HEANY, MD

Member, Board of Directors

Orange County Medical Assn.