Californians can place a measure on next year’s ballot inspired by alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.
The California Secretary of State’s Office announced that the measure that was once named after Mangione can begin collecting signatures.
Driving the news: In March, Los Angeles attorney Paul Eisner submitted “the Luigi Mangioni Access to Health Care Act,” which misspelled Mangione’s last name.
- Mangione allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Briant Thompson in New York City last December and has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, among other charges.
The big picture: The proposed ballot measure is now named “Restricts Insurance Denials for Physician-Recommended Medical Care. Increases Insurer’s Potential Liability.”
- The initiative would prohibit health insurers from delaying, denying or modifying physician-recommended medical care if doing so could seriously harm the patient.
- Only licensed physicians would be allowed to make coverage decisions under the initiative.
- Insurers would have the burden to prove that their coverage decisions did not violate the law when they are sued. People would be awarded triple damages and attorney’s fees for violations.
- The initiative does not define certain terms such as “insurer” and “medical procedure,” with the Secretary of State’s Office saying the full scope of the measure is uncertain and may be subject to litigation.
What we’re watching: Eisner has to collect 546,651 signatures in order to place it on the ballot next year.
- The deadline to submit the signatures is Nov. 26.
