BILL NUMBER: SB 380	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  236
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 20, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 27, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 7, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 23, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wright

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to amend Section 2190 of, and to add Sections 2196.6 and
2196.7 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to medicine.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 380, Wright. Continuing medical education.
   Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure
and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of
California. Under that act, the board is required to adopt and
administer standards for the continuing education of physicians and
surgeons. Existing law requires physicians and surgeons to complete a
mandatory continuing education course in the subjects of pain
management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients,
except that it does not apply to physicians and surgeons practicing
in pathology or radiology specialty areas. Existing law also requires
the board to periodically disseminate information and educational
material regarding detection of spousal or partner abuse to
physicians and surgeons and acute care hospitals.
    This bill would authorize the board to also set content standards
for an educational activity concerning chronic disease, as
specified. The bill would require the board to periodically
disseminate information and educational material regarding
nutritional and lifestyle behavior for prevention and treatment of
chronic disease to physicians and surgeons and acute care hospitals.
The bill would require the board to convene a working group regarding
nutrition and lifestyle behavior, as specified.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) In 2008, U.S. health care spending was about $7,681 per
resident and accounted for 16.2 percent of the nation's gross
domestic product; this is among the highest of all industrialized
countries. Expenditures in the United States on health care surpassed
$2.3 trillion in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent
in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980.
   (b) It is estimated that health care costs for chronic disease
treatment account for over 75 percent of national health
expenditures.
   (c) Seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from
chronic diseases. Heart disease, cancer, and stroke account for more
than 50 percent of all deaths each year.
   (d) The last major report from the World Health Organization in
March 2003 concluded diet was a major factor in the cause of chronic
diseases.
   (e) Dramatic increases in chronic diseases have been seen in Asian
countries since the end of WWII with the increase in the gross
national product and change to the western diet.
   (f) Only 19 percent of students believed that they had been
extensively trained in nutrition counseling. Fewer than 50 percent of
primary care physicians include nutrition or dietary counseling in
their patient visits.
   (g) Practicing physicians continually rate their nutrition
knowledge and skills as inadequate. More than one-half of graduating
medical students report that the time dedicated to nutrition
instruction is inadequate.
  SEC. 2.  Section 2190 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2190.  In order to ensure the continuing competence of licensed
physicians and surgeons, the board shall adopt and administer
standards for the continuing education of those licensees. The board
may also set content standards for any educational activity
concerning a chronic disease that includes appropriate information on
prevention of the chronic disease, and on treatment of patients with
the chronic disease, by the application of changes in nutrition and
lifestyle behavior. The board shall require each licensed physician
and surgeon to demonstrate satisfaction of the continuing education
requirements at intervals of not less than four nor more than six
years.
  SEC. 3.  Section 2196.6 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2196.6.  The board shall periodically disseminate information and
educational material regarding the prevention and treatment of
chronic disease by the application of changes in nutrition and
lifestyle behavior to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each
general acute care hospital in the state.
  SEC. 4.  Section 2196.7 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2196.7.  The board shall convene a working group of interested
parties to discuss nutrition and lifestyle behavior for the
prevention and treatment of chronic disease at one of its quarterly
meetings within three years after the operative date of this section.