BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2214 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 2214 (Fox) As Amended June 26, 2014 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |60-13|(May 19, 2014) |SENATE: |30-6 |(August 11, | | | | | | |2014) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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; AB 2214 Page 2 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 AB 2214 Page 3 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