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California "Fair Healthcare Pricing" Initiative (2016)

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California
"Fair Healthcare Pricing" Initiative
Flag of California.png
TypeStatute
OriginCitizens
TopicHealthcare
StatusNot on the ballot

Not on Ballot
Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot
This measure was not put
on an election ballot

Voting on Healthcare
Health care.jpg
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot
Local Measures


The "Fair Healthcare Pricing" Initiative (#15-0101) was an initiated state statute that did not make the California ballot on November 8, 2016.

The measure would have prohibited hospitals from charging more than 25 percent above the estimated cost of goods and services provided to patients.[1]

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:[2]

Hospitals. Healthcare Service Charges. Initiative Statute.[3]

Ballot summary

The official ballot summary was as follows:[2]

Prohibits hospitals from charging more than 25 percent above the estimated cost of goods and services provided to patients. Requires hospitals to refund excess charges each year, adjusted to account for unreimbursed losses from treating uninsured and low-income patients. Requires hospitals to provide annual patient care expense and revenue reports. Exempts children’s hospitals, public hospitals, and veterans’ hospitals. Authorizes regulations and fees assessed on hospitals to implement measure, and penalties for non-compliance. [3]

Full text

The full text of the measure can be found here.

Fiscal impact

Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is jointly prepared by the state's legislative analyst and its director of finance. The statement was as follows:[2]

State and local government savings associated with reduced government employee and retiree health benefits spending on hospital services, potentially up to several hundreds of millions of dollars annually, offset to an unknown degree by various responses by insurers and hospitals. To the extent the Legislature continues to extend a current limited-term fee on certain private hospitals, the measure would likely decrease fee revenues available to (1) offset state costs for children’s health coverage and (2) support state and local public hospitals.[3]

Path to the ballot

See also: California signature requirements
  • Roberta B. Johansen and Karen Getman submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on October 29, 2015.[1]
  • A title and summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on January 4, 2016.[2]
  • 365,880 valid signatures are required for qualification purposes.
  • Supporters had until July 5, 2016, to collect the required signatures.
  • The secretary of state's office reported the measure was withdrawn on January 13, 2016.[4]


State profile

Demographic data for California
 CaliforniaU.S.
Total population:38,993,940316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):155,7793,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:61.8%73.6%
Black/African American:5.9%12.6%
Asian:13.7%5.1%
Native American:0.7%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.4%0.2%
Two or more:4.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.8%86.7%
College graduation rate:31.4%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$61,818$53,889
Persons below poverty level:18.2%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in California

California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.


More California coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

Footnotes