Support Down for Rate Regulation, Physician Drug Testing Initiatives

Support has dropped for two November ballot initiatives related to health insurance rate regulation and random drug testing of physicians, according to a new Field Poll, the Sacramento Bee reports (Ortiz, Sacramento Bee, 10/31).

The survey was conducted from Oct. 15 to Oct. 28 via telephone and included 941 likely voters in California. The survey was available in English and Spanish.

Prop. 45 Findings

Proposition 45 would give the state insurance commissioner the authority to reject health insurance rate increases.

In the new poll, 30% of respondents said they support the measure, while 42% said they would vote against it and 28% were undecided. Support is down from 41% as of early September (Field Poll, 10/31).

Prop. 46 Findings

Proposition 46 aims to improve patient safety by:

• Increasing the state's $250,000 limit on pain-and-suffering awards in malpractice lawsuits;
• Requiring doctors to undergo random drug-testing; and
• Requiring doctors to use a drug-reporting system (California Healthline, 10/29).

Thirty-two percent of respondents said they support the initiative, while 49% said they would vote against it and 19% were undecided. Support fell slightly from 34% as of early September (Sacramento Bee, 10/31).

Prop. 47 Findings

Proposition 47 would change six "non-violent, non-serious" crimes from felony charges to misdemeanors. About 65% of funds garnered through the initiative would be earmarked for community-based mental health and drug treatment services (California Healthline, 10/28).

According to the poll, 51% of respondents said they would vote for the measure, while 23% would vote against it and 26% were undecided (Field Poll, 10/31).