[Approved by Governor September 18, 2014. Filed with Secretary of State September 18, 2014.]
SB 1116, Torres. Physicians and surgeons.
Under existing law, the Medical Board of California licenses and regulates physicians and surgeons and imposes various fees on those licensees. Under existing law, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California licenses and regulates osteopathic physicians and surgeons and imposes various fees on those licensees. Existing law establishes the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians within the Health Professions Education Fund that is managed by the Health Professions Education Foundation and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Under existing law, the primary purpose of the account is to fund the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program, that provides for the repayment of educational loans, as specified, obtained by a physician and surgeon who practices in a medically underserved area of the state, as defined. Under existing law, funds placed in the account for those purposes are continuously appropriated for the repayment of loans and may be used for any other authorized purpose. Physicians and surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons are eligible for the loan repayment program and the board assesses an additional $25 license fee for purposes of the loan repayment program.
This bill would require each of those boards, on or before July 1, 2015, to develop a mechanism for a physician and surgeon or an osteopathic physician and surgeon, respectively, to pay a voluntary contribution, at the time of application for initial licensure or biennial renewal, for those purposes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 2436.5 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
(a) (1) In addition to the fees charged for the initial issuance or biennial renewal of a physician and surgeon’s certificate pursuant to Section 2435, and at the time those fees are charged, the board shall charge each applicant or renewing licensee an additional twenty-five-dollar ($25) fee for the purposes of this section.
(2) The twenty-five-dollar ($25) fee shall be paid at the time of application for initial licensure or biennial renewal and shall be due and payable along with the fee for the initial certificate or biennial renewal.
(3) On or before July 1, 2015, the board shall develop a mechanism for a physician and surgeon to pay a voluntary contribution, at the time of application for initial licensure or biennial renewal, for the purposes of this section.
(b) The board shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section, on a monthly basis, to the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians created by Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code for the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program. Notwithstanding Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code, these funds shall not be used to provide funding for the Physician Volunteer Program.
(c) Up to 15 percent of the funds collected pursuant to this section shall be dedicated to loan assistance for physicians and surgeons who agree to practice in geriatric care settings or settings that primarily serve adults over 65 years of age or adults with disabilities. Priority consideration shall be given to those physicians and surgeons who are trained in, and practice, geriatrics and who can meet the cultural and linguistic needs and demands of diverse populations of older Californians.
Section 2455.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
(a) In addition to the fees charged pursuant to Section 2455, and at the time those fees are charged, the board shall charge each applicant for an original or reciprocity certificate or for a biennial license an additional twenty-five-dollar ($25) fee for the purposes of this section. This twenty-five-dollar ($25) fee shall be due and payable along with the fee for the original or reciprocity certificate or the biennial license.
(b) On or before July 1, 2015, the board shall develop a mechanism for an osteopathic physician and surgeon to pay a voluntary contribution, at the time of initial application for licensure or biennial renewal, for the purposes of this section.
(c) The board shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section, on a monthly basis, to the Medically Underserved Account for Physicians created by Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code for the purposes of the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program. Notwithstanding Section 128555 of the Health and Safety Code, these funds shall not be used to provide funding for the Physician Volunteer Program.
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