BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2214
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2214 (Fox)
As Amended June 26, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |60-13|(May 19, 2014) |SENATE: |30-6 |(August 11, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: B., P. & C.P.
SUMMARY : Enacts the Dolores H. Fox Act to require the Medical
Board of California (MBC) to consider including a course in
geriatric care for emergency room physicians and surgeons as
part of its continuing education requirements.
The Senate amendments make technical and nonsubstantive changes.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires all general internists and family physicians who have
a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or
older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing
education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine
or the care of older patients. (Business and Professions Code
(BPC) Section 2190.3)
2)Requires all 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, as
specified. (BPC Section 2190.5)
3)Requires MBC to consider including a course in the following
subjects when determining its continuing education
requirements:
a) Human sexuality;
b) Child abuse detection;
c) Acupuncture;
d) Elder abuse detection and treatment;
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e) Early detection and treatment of substance abusing
pregnant women;
f) Special care needs of drug addicted infants;
g) How to routinely screen for signs exhibited by abused
women;
h) Special care needs of individuals and their families
facing end-of-life issues; and,
i) Pain management. (BPC Section 2191)
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of this bill. This bill directs MBC to consider
including a course in geriatric care for emergency room
physicians and surgeons for its continuing education
requirements. This bill is author-sponsored.
2)Geriatric medicine. According to the American Medical Student
Association, "Geriatrics is medical practice that addresses
the complex needs of older patients and emphasizes maintaining
functional independence even in the presence of chronic
disease. It requires an interdisciplinary approach between
physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists,
and family members in order to provide comprehensive care for
these patients with multiple needs.
"Geriatric medicine is its own specialty. After an internal
medicine or family practice residency, physicians can complete
a one or two-year fellowship to become certified in
geriatrics. Geriatricians are primary care doctors for older
patients and can also serve as consultants to other physicians
and to hospital programs that work with the elderly."
3)Continuing education requirements. MBC requires all
physicians to complete at least 50 hours of approved
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continuing education for each two-year period immediately
preceding the expiration date of the license. MBC approves
continuing education providers and establishes criteria for
acceptable courses.
MBC requires all physicians to complete a mandatory continuing
education course in the subjects of pain management and the
treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. It also
requires all general internists and family physicians who have
a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or
older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing
education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine
or the care of older patients.
Current law also establishes a list of courses that MBC shall
consider including when establishing continuing education
requirements. This bill would require MBC to add geriatric
care for emergency room physicians to that consideration list,
but would not require that the actual courses be required.
4)This version is substantially similar to the version passed by
the Assembly.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B., P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004513