BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                            



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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SCR 31
          Author:   Hernandez (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SUBJECT  :    California Osteopathic Medicine Week

           SOURCE  :     Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California


           DIGEST  :    This resolution, annually, commencing April 2012,  
          proclaims the third week of April as California Osteopathic  
          Medicine Week.

           ANALYSIS  :    This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:

          1.Osteopathic physicians make up one-fifth of all practicing  
            physicians in the United States.

          2.There are 4,500 osteopathic physicians currently residing and  
            practicing medicine in the State of California, which is home  
            to two fully accredited osteopathic medical schools.

          3.Osteopathic physicians have provided quality health care and  
            health education outreach to all of California's residents  
            since the founding of the Osteopathic Medical Board of  
            California in 1922.

          4.Osteopathic physicians seek to provide the best and highest  
            quality health care to all individuals and seek to treat the  
            whole person through the practice of medicine and hands-on  
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            manipulation.

          5.Osteopathic physicians are licensed to practice in all areas  
            and specialties and may prescribe medication and perform  
            surgery.

          6.Osteopathic physicians have played an influential role in  
            shaping health care policies that have affected the health and  
            well-being of all citizens of the State of California.

          7.National Osteopathic Medicine Week is celebrated during the  
            third week of April annually.  National Osteopathic Medicine  
            Week brings the osteopathic medical profession together to  
            focus on the common goal of increasing awareness of  
            osteopathic medicine and osteopathic physicians in communities  
            across the country.

          This resolution, annually, commencing April 2012, proclaims the  
          third week of April as California Osteopathic Medicine Week.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  4/10/13)

          Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California (source) 


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    The Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons  
          of California write, "Like MDs, DOs [Doctors of Osteopathic  
          Medicine] are physicians who are fully educated and licensed to  
          practice all aspects of medicine. DOs have a patient centered  
          approach to health care, using all resources of modern medicine  
          - including prescribing medication, performing surgery and  
          utilizing Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment - to prevent,  
          detect and treat disease.  

          "There are 4,500 osteopathic physicians currently residing and  
          practicing medicine in the State of California and the state is  
          home to two fully accredited Osteopathic Medical Schools.  The  
          profession, which has been practicing for over 100 years  
          throughout the U.S., founded its California licensure board (the  
          Osteopathic Medical Board of California) in 1922.  A majority of  
          DOs practice in rural and underserved areas and seek to provide  
          a humanistic world view of treatment and care to patients.  

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          "Osteopathic physicians have been an influential presence in the  
          shaping of health care policies in California and are active  
          participants in their communities and health care systems.  With  
          the advancement of health care reform in California, DOs will be  
          a vital component of providing healthcare services to the large  
          number of newly insured individuals in the state.

          "It is important that the State of California honor and  
          recognize these important physicians for their work and  
          dedication to the patients they serve."


          RM:nl  4/11/13   Senate Floor Analyses 

                           SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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