BILL NUMBER: ACR 97	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Rodriguez)
   (Coauthors: Senators Hernandez and Leyva)

                        JULY 16, 2015

   Relative to medicine.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 97, as introduced, Bonilla. Medical training: osteopathic
students.
   This measure would urge both private and public medical training
institutions in the state to provide equal access to osteopathic and
allopathic students to apply to training programs, would urge
osteopathic medical schools, allopathic medical schools, and their
training institutions to build on current successes of working toward
greater collaboration and coordination of education and training for
California's future physicians, and would urge efforts by training
institutions and allopathic and osteopathic medical schools to work
toward greater acceptance and integration of osteopathic and
allopathic students.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, California has a significant shortage and inequitable
distribution of physicians throughout the state due to the aging
population, current population growth, and the increasing number of
insured; and
   WHEREAS, According to a study by the Robert Graham Center in 2013,
it was estimated that the state would need 8,243 more primary care
physicians by 2030 - a 32 percent increase of its current workforce;
and
   WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians are one of the fastest growing
segments of health care professionals in the United States. By 2016,
more than 100,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) are expected to be in
active medical practice; and
   WHEREAS, Approximately 60 percent of practicing DOs specialize in
primary care fields such as family medicine, internal medicine, and
pediatrics and many DOs fill a critical need by practicing in rural
and other medically underserved areas; and
   WHEREAS, Osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) residency programs
will soon be overseen by a single unified graduate medical education
accrediting body; and
   WHEREAS, Quality medical training for DO and MD students is
critical to their success as fully trained and licensed physicians;
and
   WHEREAS, Many public and private institutions have historically
provided equal access to the application process for their medical
training programs by all students and physicians, and have trained
exemplary DO and MD students by choosing those candidates who best
suit their programs; and
   WHEREAS, Section 2064.2 of the Business and Professions Code
states that no medical school or clinical training program shall deny
access to elective clerkships or preceptorships in any medical
school or clinical training program in this state solely on the basis
that a student is enrolled in an osteopathic medical school; and
   WHEREAS, Section 2453 of the Business and Professions Code states
that it is the policy of the state that holders of MD degrees and DO
degrees shall be accorded equal professional status and privileges as
licensed physicians and surgeons; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges both private and
public medical training institutions in the state to provide equal
access to DO and MD students to apply to training programs while
still maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of their
application process and the need to first serve enrolled students;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature urges osteopathic medical schools,
allopathic medical schools, and their training institutions to build
on current successes of working toward greater collaboration and
coordination of education and training for California's future
physicians; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature urges efforts by training
institutions and allopathic and osteopathic medical schools to work
toward greater acceptance and integration of DO and MD students in
their medical training programs; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.