Proposition 101: 'Medical choice for Arizona'

Proposition 101 is a preemptive strike to prevent Arizona passing a universal health care plan. If passed, ‘Medical choice for Arizona,' as supporters call it, would amend the state's constitution to prohibit any law that restricts a person's right to choose a private health care plan.

The fear is that if Arizona did pass a universal health care plan, or even a plan to target the uninsured, it could prohibit certain tests or medicines or limit which physician a patient could see.

The proposition has a long list of medical heavy-hitters supporting it, including two past presidents of the Arizona Medical Association, the director of the Arizona Chiropractic Society, the president of the Arizona Dental Association, the president of the Osteopathic Medical Association and the president of the Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association.

Aligned on the opposite side of the issue is Dr. Keith Dveirin, past president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who said, "This measure would prevent us from adopting many of the proposed health care reform measures currently under consideration at both the local and national level to address the increasing number of uninsured."

Financial support for the proposition comes from individual physicians, Norm McClelland, chairman of Shamrock Foods, a New Jersey investor who gave $100,000 and Jim Click, the auto from Tucson. They have a web site, www.medicalchoiceforaz.com with additional information on Prop. 101. 

According to the Arizona Secretary of State's web page, opponents have yet to raise any money to fight the constitutional amendment.