The Colorado Medical Society has taken a position to oppose Amendment 69, the ColoradoCare statewide health care program, and to remain neutral regarding Proposition 106, the end-of-life measure, on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

The society’s board of directors took the positions Friday, during the society’s annual meeting in Keystone.

In a written statement, society President-elect Katie Lozano, MD, said the Amendment 69 stance came after extensive discussion, a statewide survey of Colorado physicians, and a formal review by a special task force.

“Physicians know there are many problems with the current health care system that they and their patients know all too well, but Amendment 69 is not the answer,” Lozano said. “Our physician members believe the complexity, uncertainty and approach behind Amendment 69 may make things worse.”Lozano added the society’s opposition to the amendment “is not an endorsement of business as usual.”

She said the society will continue its years-long fight to create a health care system that “works for patients and the physicians who care for them.”

“There are common sense reforms that we will continue to champion, like our opposition to the proposed mega mergers of four of the nation’s largest health plans,” Lozano stated. “In addition, the general assembly can address other priorities like protecting the physician-patient relationship, helping patients understand and afford the costs of their care, and provide clarity about what consumers are actually getting for their health care dollar.”

In a second statement on the neutral position the society board adopted on the end-of-life measure, Lozano said the direction was “out of respect for the strongly held divergent, principled views of our colleagues regarding end-of-life assistance as proposed in Proposition 106.”

Like the position on ColoradoCare, Lozano said the decision came after “extensive deliberation and consultation with the state’s leading clinical experts on palliative care, our appointed Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs and a statewide survey of our members. Ultimately, Proposition 106 represents the most personal of decisions that must be left to our patients to determine in November. Should this measure pass, we will continue to do our utmost to assure the highest standards and safeguards for our patients.”

The society is the largest organization of physicians in Colorado, with over 7,500 members across all specialties and employment settings. Organized as a Colorado nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation, the society operates with 12 full-time staff with over 200 combined years of experience working for physicians in organized medicine.