Last night’s “red wave” brought Republicans back in power in the Senate and pushed the House to the biggest Republican majority since 1932. Their big win and a few state ballot questions will have a direct impact on medicine in the US. We’ve rounded up a few results.
Recreational Marijuana now legal in five states and Washington, D.C.
Recreational marijuana bills passed in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. last night but failed in Florida. They join Colorado and Washington state. Healthcare pundits are watching what impact this will have on the population and if it will change opinions about medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Despite the growing number of states passing laws for its use, several bills were defeated. In 2014, medical marijuana passed in 14 states but failed in seven.
Physicians aren’t a big fan of marijuana; a SermoSays poll showed that 61 percent would not prescribe marijuana to a patient, even if legal. They cited Federal laws still in place and other medications that work equally well.
Drug Testing of Doctors Fails in California
Proposition 46 failed in California last night. The bill called for an increase in malpractice settlements from $250,000 to over a million and also called for standardized drug testing of physicians.
Only 35 percent of doctors think drug testing should be mandatory for physicians. A SermoSays poll from April breaks it down by profession among hospital administrators, HCPs, and pharmacists.
Physicians cite the dire consequences for their peers if they test positive. Often a positive test means the immediate suspension of license. A family practitioner wrote, “this seems to be a completely misguided ‘solution’ to a problem that may be real, but has a lot of other, and more effective, potential solutions.”
Dismantling Obamacare?
Obamacare will likely take a few hits after this election cycle. Expected Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, said it will be a top issue for his party. While no one thinks the entire Affordable Care Act will be repealed, Republicans will focus on the following three areas:
- Repealing the medical device tax
- Restoring the minimum hours for workers to qualify for health insurance from 30 back to 40 hours per week
- Eliminating the mandatory compliance for health insurance
What do you think about last night’s election results? As a physician, do you think medical marijuana has a place in the U.S. healthcare system? Would you eliminate mandatory health insurance? If you’re an M.D. or D.O. we will be discussing this in detail inside the Sermo community. Please join us.
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