SB 1033,
as amended, Hill. Medicalbegin delete Board: disclosure of probationary status.end deletebegin insert professionals: probation.end insert
Existing
end delete
begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertExistingend insert law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California for the licensing, regulation, and discipline of physicians and surgeons. Existing law establishes the California Board of Podiatric Medicine within the Medical Board of California for the licensing, regulation, and discipline of podiatrists. Existing law, the Osteopathic Act, enacted by an initiative measure, establishes the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for the licensing and regulation of osteopathic physicians and
surgeons and requires the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to enforce the Medical Practice Act with respect to its licensees. Existing law, the Naturopathic Doctors Act, establishes the Naturopathic Medicine Committee in the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for the licensing and regulation of naturopathic doctors. Existing law, the Chiropractic Act, enacted by an initiative measure, establishes the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for the licensing and regulation of chiropractors. Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, establishes the Acupuncture Board for the licensing and regulation of acupuncturists. Existing law authorizes each of these regulatorybegin delete agenciesend deletebegin insert entitiesend insert to discipline its licensee by placing her or him on probation, as specified.
Thisbegin delete billend deletebegin insert
bill, on and after January 1, 2018,end insert would require these regulatory entities to require a licensee to disclose on a separate document her or his probationarybegin delete statusend deletebegin insert status, certain information related to his or her probation, the address of his or her BreEze profile Internet Web page or a specified Internet Web site, and the regulatory entity’s telephone numberend insert to a patient, the patient’s guardian, or the health care surrogate prior to the patient’s first visit following the probationary order while the licensee is on probation under specified circumstances, including an accusation alleging, a statement of issues indicating, or an administrative law judge’s legal conclusion finding the licensee committed gross negligence or the licensee having been on probation more than once, among others.
The bill would require the licensee to obtain from the patient a signed receipt containing specified information following the disclosure. The bill would exempt abegin delete licenseeend deletebegin insert licensee, except for a licensed chiropractor,end insert frombegin delete disclosing her or his probationary
status prior to a visit or treatmentend deletebegin insert that disclosure requirementend insert
if the patient is unable to comprehend the disclosurebegin delete orend deletebegin insert andend insert sign an acknowledgment and a guardian or health care surrogate is unavailable. The bill would require in that instance that the doctor disclose his or her status as soon as either the patient can comprehend and sign the receipt or a guardian or health care surrogate is available to comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt.begin insert The bill would also exempt a licensee from that disclosure requirement if the visit occurs in an emergency room and the licensee who will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.end insert
Existing
end deletebegin insert(2)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertExistingend insert law requires the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine to disclose to an inquiring member of the public and to post on their Internet Web sites specified information concerning each licensee including revocations, suspensions, probations, or limitations on practice.
The
end delete
begin insertThisend insert bill would require the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of
California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Naturopathic Medicine Committee, and the Acupuncture Board bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert
1, 2018, to develop a standardized format for listing specified information related to the probation and to provide that information to an inquiring member of the public, on any documents informing the public of probation orders, and on a specified profile Internet Web page of each licensee subject to probation,begin insert or an Internet Web site,end insert as specified.
(3) Existing law, in any order issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before any board within the Department of Consumer Affairs or before the Osteopathic Medical Board, upon request of the entity bringing the proceeding unless the entity is the Medical Board of California, authorizes the administrative law judge to direct a licentiate found to have committed a violation or violations of the licensing act to pay a sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation and enforcement of the case, as specified.
end insertbegin insertThis bill would authorize the Medical Board of California to request and obtain from a physician and surgeon the investigation and prosecution costs for a disciplinary proceeding in which the physician and surgeon’s license is placed on probation.
end insertVote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
begin insertSection 125.3 of the end insertbegin insertBusiness and Professions
2Codeend insertbegin insert is amended to read:end insert
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, in any order
4issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before any board
5within the department or before the Osteopathic Medical Board,
6upon request of the entity bringing the proceeding, the
7administrative law judge may direct a licentiate found to have
8committed a violation or violations of the licensing act to pay a
9sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation and
10enforcement of the case.
11(b) In the case of a disciplined licentiate that is a corporation or
12a partnership, the order may be made against the licensed corporate
13entity or licensed partnership.
14(c) A certified copy of the actual costs,
or a good faith estimate
15of costs where actual costs are not available, signed by the entity
16bringing the proceeding or its designated representative shall be
P4 1prima facie evidence of reasonable costs of investigation and
2prosecution of the case. The costs shall include the amount of
3investigative and enforcement costs up to the date of the hearing,
4including, but not limited to, charges imposed by the Attorney
5General.
6(d) The administrative law judge shall make a proposed finding
7of the amount of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution
8of the case when requested pursuant to subdivision (a). The finding
9of the administrative law judge with regard to costs shall not be
10reviewable by the board to increase the cost award. The board may
11reduce or eliminate the cost award, or remand to the administrative
12law judge if the proposed decision fails to make a finding on costs
13requested pursuant to subdivision (a).
14(e) If an order for recovery of costs is made and timely payment
15is not made as directed in the board’s decision, the board may
16enforce the order for repayment in any appropriate court. This
17right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the
18board may have as to any licentiate to pay costs.
19(f) In any action for recovery of costs, proof of the board’s
20decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of
21payment and the terms for payment.
22(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board shall not
23renew or reinstate the license of any licentiate who has failed to
24pay all of the costs ordered under this section.
25(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the board may, in its
26discretion, conditionally renew or
reinstate for a maximum of one
27year the license of any licentiate who demonstrates financial
28hardship and who enters into a formal agreement with the board
29to reimburse the board within that one-year period for the unpaid
30costs.
31(h) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a
32reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the
33fund of the board recovering the costs to be available upon
34appropriation by the Legislature.
35(i) Nothing in this section shall preclude a board from including
36the recovery of the costs of investigation and enforcement of a
37case in any stipulated settlement.
38(j) This section does not apply to any board if a specific statutory
39provision in that board’s licensing act provides for recovery of
40costs in an administrative disciplinary proceeding.
P5 1(k) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Medical
2Board of California shall not request nor obtain from a physician
3andbegin delete surgeon,end deletebegin insert surgeonend insert investigation and prosecution costs for a
4disciplinary proceeding against thebegin delete licentiate.end deletebegin insert licentiate, except for
5a disciplinary proceeding in which the licentiate’s license is placed
6on probation.end insert The board shall ensure that this subdivision is
7revenue neutral with regard to it and that any loss of revenue or
8increase in costs resulting from this subdivision is offset by an
9increase in the amount of the initial license fee
and the biennial
10renewal fee, as provided in subdivision (e) of Section 2435.
Section 803.1 of the Business and Professions Code
13 is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law, the
15Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of
16California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the
17Physician Assistant Board shall disclose to an inquiring member
18of the public information regarding any enforcement actions taken
19against a licensee, including a former licensee, by the board or by
20another state or jurisdiction, including all of the following:
21(1) Temporary restraining orders issued.
22(2) Interim suspension orders issued.
23(3) Revocations, suspensions, probations, or
limitations on
24practice ordered by the board, including those made part of a
25probationary order or stipulated agreement.
26(4) Public letters of reprimand issued.
27(5) Infractions, citations, or fines imposed.
28(b) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law, in addition to
29the information provided in subdivision (a), the Medical Board of
30California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the
31California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the Physician Assistant
32Board shall disclose to an inquiring member of the public all of
33the following:
34(1) Civil judgments in any amount, whether or not vacated by
35a settlement after entry of the judgment, that were not reversed on
36
appeal and arbitration awards in any amount of a claim or action
37for damages for death or personal injury caused by the physician
38and surgeon’s negligence, error, or omission in practice, or by his
39or her rendering of unauthorized professional services.
P6 1(2) (A) All settlements in the possession, custody, or control
2of the board shall be disclosed for a licensee in the low-risk
3category if there are three or more settlements for that licensee
4within the last 10 years, except for settlements by a licensee
5regardless of the amount paid where (i) the settlement is made as
6a part of the settlement of a class claim, (ii) the licensee paid in
7settlement of the class claim the same amount as the other licensees
8in the same class or similarly situated licensees in the same class,
9and (iii) the settlement was paid in the context of a case where the
10complaint that alleged class liability on behalf of the licensee also
11alleged a
products liability class action cause of action. All
12settlements in the possession, custody, or control of the board shall
13be disclosed for a licensee in the high-risk category if there are
14four or more settlements for that licensee within the last 10 years
15except for settlements by a licensee regardless of the amount paid
16where (i) the settlement is made as a part of the settlement of a
17class claim, (ii) the licensee paid in settlement of the class claim
18the same amount as the other licensees in the same class or
19similarly situated licensees in the same class, and (iii) the
20settlement was paid in the context of a case where the complaint
21that alleged class liability on behalf of the licensee also alleged a
22products liability class action cause of action. Classification of a
23licensee in either a “high-risk category” or a “low-risk category”
24depends upon the specialty or subspecialty practiced by the licensee
25and the designation assigned to that specialty or subspecialty by
26the Medical Board of California, as
described in subdivision (f).
27For the purposes of this paragraph, “settlement” means a settlement
28of an action described in paragraph (1) entered into by the licensee
29on or after January 1, 2003, in an amount of thirty thousand dollars
30($30,000) or more.
31(B) The board shall not disclose the actual dollar amount of a
32settlement but shall put the number and amount of the settlement
33in context by doing the following:
34(i) Comparing the settlement amount to the experience of other
35licensees within the same specialty or subspecialty, indicating if
36it is below average, average, or above average for the most recent
3710-year period.
38(ii) Reporting the number of years the licensee has been in
39practice.
P7 1(iii) Reporting the total number of licensees in that
specialty or
2subspecialty, the number of those who have entered into a
3settlement agreement, and the percentage that number represents
4of the total number of licensees in the specialty or subspecialty.
5(3) Current American Board of Medical Specialties certification
6or board equivalent as certified by the Medical Board of California,
7the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, or the California
8Board of Podiatric Medicine.
9(4) Approved postgraduate training.
10(5) Status of the license of a licensee. By January 1, 2004, the
11Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of
12California, and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine shall
13adopt regulations defining the status of a licensee. The board shall
14employ this definition when disclosing the status of a licensee
15pursuant to Section 2027. Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert
Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the Medical
16Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California,
17and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine shall include the
18information described in subdivision (f) of Section 2228.
19(6) Any summaries of hospital disciplinary actions that result
20in the termination or revocation of a licensee’s staff privileges for
21medical disciplinary cause or reason, unless a court finds, in a final
22judgment, that the peer review resulting in the disciplinary action
23was conducted in bad faith and the licensee notifies the board of
24that finding. In addition, any exculpatory or explanatory statements
25submitted by the licentiate electronically pursuant to subdivision
26(f) of that section shall be disclosed. For purposes of this paragraph,
27“peer review” has the same meaning as defined in Section 805.
28(c) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete
law, the Medical
29Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California,
30the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the Physician
31Assistant Board shall disclose to an inquiring member of the public
32information received regarding felony convictions of a physician
33and surgeon or doctor of podiatric medicine.
34(d) The Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical
35Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine,
36and the Physician Assistant Board may formulate appropriate
37disclaimers or explanatory statements to be included with any
38information released, and may by regulation establish categories
39of information that need not be disclosed to an inquiring member
40of the public because that information is unreliable or not
P8 1sufficiently related to the licensee’s professional practice. The
2Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of
3California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the
4
Physician Assistant Board shall include the following statement
5when disclosing information concerning a settlement:
6
7“Some studies have shown that there is no significant correlation
8between malpractice history and a doctor’s competence. At the
9same time, the State of California believes that consumers should
10have access to malpractice information. In these profiles, the State
11of California has given you information about both the malpractice
12settlement history for the doctor’s specialty and the doctor’s history
13of settlement payments only if in the last 10 years, the doctor, if
14in a low-risk specialty, has three or more settlements or the doctor,
15if in a high-risk specialty, has four or more settlements. The State
16of California has excluded some class action lawsuits because
17those cases are commonly related to systems issues such as product
18liability, rather than questions of individual professional
19
competence and because they are brought on a class basis where
20the economic incentive for settlement is great. The State of
21California has placed payment amounts into three statistical
22categories: below average, average, and above average compared
23to others in the doctor’s specialty. To make the best health care
24decisions, you should view this information in perspective. You
25could miss an opportunity for high-quality care by selecting a
26doctor based solely on malpractice history.
27When considering malpractice data, please keep in mind:
28Malpractice histories tend to vary by specialty. Some specialties
29are more likely than others to be the subject of litigation. This
30report compares doctors only to the members of their specialty,
31not to all doctors, in order to make an individual doctor’s history
32more meaningful.
33This report reflects data only for settlements made on or after
34January
1, 2003. Moreover, it includes information concerning
35those settlements for a 10-year period only. Therefore, you should
36know that a doctor may have made settlements in the 10 years
37immediately preceding January 1, 2003, that are not included in
38this report. After January 1, 2013, for doctors practicing less than
3910 years, the data covers their total years of practice. You should
40take into account the effective date of settlement disclosure as well
P9 1as how long the doctor has been in practice when considering
2malpractice averages.
3The incident causing the malpractice claim may have happened
4years before a payment is finally made. Sometimes, it takes a long
5time for a malpractice lawsuit to settle. Some doctors work
6primarily with high-risk patients. These doctors may have
7malpractice settlement histories that are higher than average
8because they specialize in cases or patients who are at very high
9risk for problems.
10Settlement of a claim may occur for a variety of reasons that do
11not necessarily reflect negatively on the professional competence
12or conduct of the doctor. A payment in settlement of a medical
13malpractice action or claim should not be construed as creating a
14presumption that medical malpractice has occurred.
15You may wish to discuss information in this report and the
16general issue of malpractice with yourbegin delete doctor.”end delete
17
begin delete(e)end deletebegin delete end deletebegin insertdoctor.”
end insert
begin insertend insert
18begin insert(e)end insertbegin insert end insertThe Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical
19Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine,
20and the Physician Assistant Board shall, by regulation, develop
21standard terminology that accurately describes the different types
22of disciplinary filings and actions to take against a licensee as
23described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a). In
24providing the public with information about a licensee via the
25Internet pursuant to Section 2027, the Medical Board of California,
26the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the California Board
27of Podiatric Medicine, and the Physician Assistant Board shall not
28use the terms “enforcement,” “discipline,” or similar language
29implying a sanction unless the physician and surgeon has been the
30subject of one of the actions described in paragraphs
(1) to (5),
31inclusive, of subdivision (a).
32(f) The Medical Board of California shall adopt regulations no
33later than July 1, 2003, designating each specialty and subspecialty
34practice area as either high risk or low risk. In promulgating these
35regulations, the board shall consult with commercial underwriters
36of medical malpractice insurance companies, health care systems
37that self-insure physicians and surgeons, and representatives of
38the California medical specialty societies. The board shall utilize
39the carriers’ statewide data to establish the two risk categories and
40the averages required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of
P10 1subdivision (b). Prior to issuing regulations, the board shall
2convene public meetings with the medical malpractice carriers,
3self-insurers, and specialty representatives.
4(g) The Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical
5Board of California,
the California Board of Podiatric Medicine,
6and the Physician Assistant Board shall provide each licensee,
7including a former licensee under subdivision (a), with a copy of
8the text of any proposed public disclosure authorized by this section
9prior to release of the disclosure to the public. The licensee shall
10have 10 working days from the date the board provides the copy
11of the proposed public disclosure to propose corrections of factual
12inaccuracies. Nothing in this section shall prevent the board from
13disclosing information to the public prior to the expiration of the
1410-day period.
15(h) Pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision
16(b), the specialty or subspecialty information required by this
17section shall group physicians by specialty board recognized
18pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 651 unless
19a different grouping would be more valid and the board, in its
20statement of reasons for its regulations,
explains why the validity
21of the grouping would be more valid.
22(i) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the Medical Board of California,
23the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the California
24Board of Podiatric Medicine shall include the information listed
25in subdivision (f) of Section 2228 on any board documents
26informing the public of probation orders and probationary licenses,
27including, but not limited to, newsletters.
Section 1006 is added to the Business and Professions
30Code, to read:
(a) begin deleteExcept end deletebegin insertOn and after January 1, 2018, except end insertas
32provided by subdivision (c), the State Board of Chiropractic
33Examiners shall require a licensee to disclose on a separate
34document her or his probationarybegin delete statusend deletebegin insert status, all of the
35information described in subdivision (d), the address of the board’s
36Internet Web site, and the board’s telephone numberend insert to a patient,
37the patient’s guardian, or health care surrogate prior to the patient’s
38
first visit following the probationary order while the licensee is on
39probation in any of the following circumstances:
P11 1(1) The accusation alleges, the statement of issues indicates, or
2the legal conclusions of an administrative law judge find that the
3licensee is implicated in any of the following:
4(A) Gross negligence.
5(B) Repeated negligent acts involving a departure from the
6standard of care with multiple patients.
7(C) Repeated acts of inappropriate and excessive prescribing
8of controlled substances, including, but not limited to, prescribing
9controlled substances without appropriate prior examination or
10without medical reason documented in medical records.
11(D)
end delete
12begin insert(C)end insert Drug or alcohol abuse that threatens to impair a licensee’s
13ability to practicebegin delete medicineend deletebegin insert
chiropracticend insert safely, including practicing
14under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
15(E)
end delete
16begin insert(D)end insert Felony conviction arising from or occurring during patient
17care or treatment.
18(F)
end delete
19begin insert(E)end insert Mental illness or other cognitive impairment that impedes
20a licensee’s ability to safely practicebegin delete medicine.end deletebegin insert
chiropractic.end insert
21(2) The board ordered any of the following in conjunction with
22placing the licensee on probation:
23(A) That a third-party chaperone be present when the licensee
24examines patients as a result of sexual misconduct.
25(B) That the licensee submit to drug testing as a result of drug
26or alcohol abuse.
27(C) That the licensee have a monitor.
28(D) Restricting the licensee totally or partially from prescribing
29controlled substances.
30(3) The
licensee has not successfully completed abegin delete clinicalend delete
31 training program or any associated examinations required by the
32board as a condition of probation.
33(4) The licensee has been on probation more than once.
34(b) The licensee shall obtain from each patient a signed receipt
35following the disclosure that includes a written explanation of how
36the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation
37on the board’s Internet Web site.
38(c) The licensee shall not be required to provide the disclosure
39prior to the visit as required by subdivision (a) if thebegin delete patient is
40unconscious
or otherwise unable to comprehend the disclosure
P12 1and sign the receipt pursuant to subdivision (b) and a guardian or
2health care surrogate is unavailable to comprehend the disclosure
3and sign the receipt. In that instance, the licensee shall disclose
4her or his status as soon as either the patient can comprehend the
5disclosure and sign the receipt or a guardian or health care surrogate
6is available to comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt.end delete
7occurs in an emergency room and the licensee who will be treating
8the patient during the visit is not known to the patient until
9immediately prior to the start of the visit.end insert
10(d) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert
Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the board shall develop a
11standardized format for listing the following information pursuant
12to subdivision (e):
13(1) The listing of the causes for probation alleged in the
14accusation, the statement of issues, or the legal conclusions of an
15administrative law judge.
16(2) The length of the probation and the end date.
17(3) All practice restrictions placed on thebegin delete licenceeend deletebegin insert licenseeend insert by
18thebegin delete committee.end deletebegin insert
board.end insert
19(e) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert
Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the board shall provide the
20information listed in subdivision (d) as follows:
21(1) To an inquiring member of the public.
22(2) On any board documents informing the public of probation
23orders and probationary licenses, including, but not limited to,
24newsletters.
25(3) begin deleteUpon availability of a licensee’s BreEZe profile Internet begin insertOn the board’s end insertInternet Web
26Web page on the BreEZe system pursuant to Section 210, in plain
27view on the BreEZe profile end deletebegin delete page of begin insert
site.end insert
28a licensee subject to probation or a probationary license.end delete
Section 2027 of the Business and Professions Code is
31amended to read:
(a) The board shall post on its Internet Web site the
33following information on the current status of the license for all
34current and former licensees:
35(1) Whether or not the licensee is presently in good standing.
36(2) Current American Board of Medical Specialties certification
37or board equivalent as certified by the board.
38(3) Any of the following enforcement actions or proceedings
39to which the licensee is actively subjected:
40(A) Temporary restraining orders.
P13 1(B) Interim suspension orders.
2(C) (i) Revocations, suspensions, probations, or limitations on
3practice ordered by the board or the board of another state or
4jurisdiction, including those made part of a probationary order or
5stipulated agreement.
6(ii) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the board, the Osteopathic Medical
7Board of California, and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine
8shall include, in plain view on the BreEZe profile Internet Web
9page of each licensee subject to probation or a probationary license,
10the information described in subdivision (f) of Section 2228. For
11purposes of this subparagraph, a BreEZe profile Internet Web page
12is a profile Internet Web page on the BreEZe system pursuant to
13
Section 210.
14(D) Current accusations filed by the Attorney General, including
15those accusations that are on appeal. For purposes of this paragraph,
16“current accusation” means an accusation that has not been
17dismissed, withdrawn, or settled, and has not been finally decided
18upon by an administrative law judge and the board unless an appeal
19of that decision is pending.
20(E) Citations issued that have not been resolved or appealed
21within 30 days.
22(b) The board shall post on its Internet Web site all of the
23following historical information in its possession, custody, or
24control regarding all current and former licensees:
25(1) Approved postgraduate training.
26(2) Any final revocations and
suspensions, or other equivalent
27actions, taken against the licensee by the board or the board of
28another state or jurisdiction or the surrender of a license by the
29licensee in relation to a disciplinary action or investigation,
30including the operative accusation resulting in the license surrender
31or discipline by the board.
32(3) Probation or other equivalent action ordered by the board,
33or the board of another state or jurisdiction, completed or
34terminated, including the operative accusation resulting in the
35discipline by the board.
36(4) Any felony convictions. Upon receipt of a certified copy of
37an expungement order granted pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the
38Penal Code from a licensee, the board shall, within six months of
39receipt of the expungement order, post notification of the
40expungement order and the date thereof on its Internet Web site.
P14 1(5) Misdemeanor convictions resulting in a disciplinary action
2or accusation that is not subsequently withdrawn or dismissed.
3Upon receipt of a certified copy of an expungement order granted
4pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code from a licensee, the
5board shall, within six months of receipt of the expungement order,
6post notification of the expungement order and the date thereof on
7its Internet Web site.
8(6) Civil judgments issued in any amount, whether or not
9vacated by a settlement after entry of the judgment, that were not
10reversed on appeal, and arbitration awards issued in any amount,
11for a claim or action for damages for death or personal injury
12caused by the physician and surgeon’s negligence, error, or
13omission in practice, or by his or her rendering of unauthorized
14professional services.
15(7) Except as
provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B), a summary
16of any final hospital disciplinary actions that resulted in the
17termination or revocation of a licensee’s hospital staff privileges
18for a medical disciplinary cause or reason. The posting shall
19provide any additional explanatory or exculpatory information
20submitted by the licensee pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section
21805. The board shall also post on its Internet Web site a factsheet
22that explains and provides information on the reporting
23requirements under Section 805.
24(A) If a licensee’s hospital staff privileges are restored and the
25licensee notifies the board of the restoration, the information
26pertaining to the termination or revocation of those privileges shall
27remain posted on the Internet Web site for a period of 10 years
28from the restoration date of the privileges, and at the end of that
29period shall be removed.
30(B) If a
court finds, in a final judgment, that peer review
31resulting in a hospital disciplinary action was conducted in bad
32faith and the licensee notifies the board of that finding, the
33information concerning that hospital disciplinary action posted on
34the Internet Web site shall be immediately removed. For purposes
35of this subparagraph, “peer review” has the same meaning as
36defined in Section 805.
37(8) Public letters of reprimand issued within the past 10 years
38by the board or the board of another state or jurisdiction, including
39the operative accusation, if any, resulting in discipline by the board.
P15 1(9) Citations issued within the last three years that have been
2resolved by payment of the administrative fine or compliance with
3the order of abatement.
4(10) All settlements within the last five years in the possession,
5
custody, or control of the board shall be disclosed for a licensee
6in the low-risk category if there are three or more settlements for
7that licensee within the last five years, and for a licensee in the
8high-risk category if there are four or more settlements for that
9licensee within the last five years. Classification of a licensee in
10either a “high-risk category” or a “low-risk” category depends
11upon the specialty or subspecialty practiced by the licensee and
12the designation assigned to that specialty or subspecialty by the
13board pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 803.1.
14(A) For the purposes of this paragraph, “settlement” means a
15settlement in an amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or
16more of any claim or action for damages for death or personal
17injury caused by the physician and surgeon’s negligence, error, or
18omission in practice, or by his or her rendering of unauthorized
19professional services.
20(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, “settlement” does not
21include a settlement by a licensee, regardless of the amount paid,
22when (i) the settlement is made as a part of the settlement of a
23class claim, (ii) the amount paid in settlement of the class claim
24is the same amount paid by the other licensees in the same class
25or similarly situated licensees in the same class, and (iii) the
26settlement was paid in the context of a case for which the complaint
27that alleged class liability on behalf of the licensee also alleged a
28products liability class action cause of action.
29(C) The board shall not disclose the actual dollar amount of a
30settlement, but shall disclose settlement information in the same
31manner and with the same disclosures required under subparagraph
32(B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 803.1.
33(11) Appropriate disclaimers and explanatory statements to
34accompany the information described in paragraphs (1) to (10),
35inclusive, including an explanation of what types of information
36are not disclosed. These disclaimers and statements shall be
37developed by the board and shall be adopted by regulation.
38(c) The board shall provide links to other Internet Web sites
39that provide information on board certifications that meet the
40requirements of subdivision (h) of Section 651. The board may
P16 1also provide links to any other Internet Web sites that provide
2information on the affiliations of licensed physicians and surgeons.
3The board may provide links to other Internet Web sites on the
4Internet that provide information on health care service plans,
5health insurers, hospitals, or other facilities.
Section 2221 of the Business and Professions Code is
8amended to read:
(a) The board may deny a physician’s and surgeon’s
10certificate to an applicant guilty of unprofessional conduct or of
11any cause that would subject a licensee to revocation or suspension
12of his or her license.
13(b) The board in its sole discretion, may issue a probationary
14physician’s and surgeon’s certificate to an applicant subject to
15terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, any of the
16following conditions of probation:
17(1) Practice limited to a supervised, structured environment
18where the licensee’s activities shall be supervised by another
19physician and surgeon.
20(2) Total or partial restrictions on drug prescribing privileges
21
for controlled substances.
22(3) Continuing medical or psychiatric treatment.
23(4) Ongoing participation in a specified rehabilitation program.
24(5) Enrollment and successful completion of a clinical training
25program.
26(6) Abstention from the use of alcohol or drugs.
27(7) Restrictions against engaging in certain types of medical
28practice.
29(8) Compliance with all provisions of this chapter.
30(9) Payment of the cost of probation monitoring.
31(10) Disclosing probationary license status to patients, pursuant
32
to subdivision (b) of Section 2228.
33(c) The board may modify or terminate the terms and conditions
34imposed on the probationary certificate upon receipt of a petition
35from the licensee; however, the provisions of subdivision (b) of
36Section 2228 are mandatory with any probationary licensee. The
37board may assign the petition to an administrative law judge
38designated in Section 11371 of the Government Code. After a
39hearing on the petition, the administrative law judge shall provide
40a proposed decision to the board.
P17 1(d) The board shall deny a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate
2to an applicant who is required to register pursuant to Section 290
3of the Penal Code. This subdivision does not apply to an applicant
4who is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section
5290 of the Penal Code solely because of a misdemeanor conviction
6under Section 314 of the Penal Code.
7(e) An applicant shall not be eligible to reapply for a physician’s
8and surgeon’s certificate for a minimum of three years from the
9effective date of the denial of his or her application, except that
10the board may, in its discretion and for good cause demonstrated,
11permit reapplication after not less than one year has elapsed from
12the effective date of the denial.
Section 2221.05 of the Business and Professions Code
15 is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b) of
17Section 2221, the board may issue a physician’s and surgeon’s
18certificate to an applicant who has committed minor violations
19that the board deems, in its discretion, do not merit the denial of
20a certificate or require probationary status under Section 2221, and
21may concurrently issue a public letter of reprimand.
22(b) A public letter of reprimand issued concurrently with a
23physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall be purged three years
24from the date of issuance.
25(c) A public letter of reprimand issued pursuant to this section
26shall be disclosed to an inquiring member of the public and shall
27be posted on the
board’s Internet Web site.
28(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the
29board’s authority to issue an unrestricted license.
Section 2228 of the Business and Professions Code is
32amended to read:
(a) The authority of the board or the California Board
34of Podiatric Medicine to discipline a licensee by placing him or
35her on probation includes, but is not limited to, the following:
36(1) Requiring the licensee to obtain additional professional
37training and to pass an examination upon the completion of the
38training. The examination may be written or oral, or both, and may
39be a practical or clinical examination, or both, at the option of the
40board or the administrative law judge.
P18 1(2) Requiring the licensee to submit to a complete diagnostic
2examination by one or more physicians and surgeons appointed
3by the board. If an examination is ordered, the board shall
receive
4and consider any other report of a complete diagnostic examination
5given by one or more physicians and surgeons of the licensee’s
6choice.
7(3) Restricting or limiting the extent, scope, or type of practice
8of the licensee, including requiring notice to applicable patients
9that the licensee is unable to perform the indicated treatment, where
10appropriate.
11(4) Providing the option of alternative community service in
12cases other than violations relating to quality of care.
13(b) begin deleteThe end deletebegin insertOn and after January 1, 2018, except as provided by
14subdivision (d), the end insertboard or the California Board of Podiatric
15Medicine shall require a
licensee to disclose on a separate
16document her or his probationarybegin delete statusend deletebegin insert status, all of the
17information described in subdivision (f), the address of his or her
18BreEZe profile Internet Web page, and the telephone number of
19the board, if the probation was imposed by the board, or the
20California Board of Podiatric Medicine, if the probation was
21imposed by the California Board of Podiatric Medicine,end insert to a
22patient, the patient’s guardian, or health care surrogate prior to the
23patient’s first visit following the probationary order while the
24licensee is on probation in any of the following circumstances:
25(1) The accusation alleges, the statement of issues indicates, or
26the legal conclusions of an administrative law judgebegin delete findsend deletebegin insert
findend insert that
27the licensee is implicated in any of the following:
28(A) Gross negligence.
29(B) Repeated negligent acts involving a departure from the
30standard of care with multiple patients.
31(C) Repeated acts of inappropriate and excessive prescribing
32of controlled substances, including, but not limited to, prescribing
33controlled substances without appropriate prior examination or
34without medical reason documented in medical records.
35(D) Drug or alcohol abuse that threatens to impair a licensee’s
36ability to practice medicine safely, including practicing under the
37influence of drugs or alcohol.
38(E) Felony conviction arising from or occurring during patient
39
care or treatment.
P19 1(F) Mental illness or other cognitive impairment that impedes
2a licensee’s ability to safely practice medicine.
3(2) The board ordered any of the following in conjunction with
4placing the licensee on probation:
5(A) That a third-party chaperone be present when the licensee
6examines patients as a result of sexual misconduct.
7(B) That the licensee submit to drug testing as a result of drug
8or alcohol abuse.
9(C) That the licensee have a monitor.
10(D) Restrictingbegin insert the licenseeend insert totally or partiallybegin delete the licenseeend delete
from
11prescribing controlled substances.
12(3) The licensee has not successfully completed abegin delete clinicalend delete
13 training program or any associated examinations required by the
14board as a condition of probation.
15(4) The licensee has been on probation more than once.
16(c) The licensee shall obtain from each patient a signed receipt
17following the disclosure that includes a written explanation of how
18the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation
19on the board’s Internet Web site.
20(d) begin deleteA end deletebegin insertThe end insertlicensee
shall not be required to provide the disclosure
21prior tobegin delete aend deletebegin insert
theend insert
visit as required by subdivision (b) ifbegin delete theend deletebegin insert either of
22the following applies:end insert
23begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertTheend insert patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to
24comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt pursuant to
25subdivision (c) and a guardian or health care surrogate is
26unavailable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt. In
27that instance, the licensee shall disclose her or his status as soon
28as either the patient can comprehend the disclosure and sign the
29receipt or a guardian or health care surrogate is available to
30comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt.
31
(2) The visit occurs in an emergency room and the licensee who
32will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the
33patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.
34(e) Section 2314 shall not apply to subdivision (b), (c), or (d).
35(f) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the board shall develop a
36standardized format for listing the following information pursuant
37to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 803.1, subdivision
38(i) of Section 803.1, and clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of
39paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 2027:
P20 1(1) The listing of the causes for probation alleged in the
2accusation, the statement of issues, or the legal conclusions of an
3administrative law judge.
4(2) The length of the probation and the end date.
5(3) All practice restrictions placed on the licensee by the board.
Section 3663 of the Business and Professions Code is
8amended to read:
(a) The committee shall have the responsibility for
10reviewing the quality of the practice of naturopathic medicine
11carried out by persons licensed as naturopathic doctors pursuant
12to this chapter.
13(b) The committee may discipline a naturopathic doctor for
14unprofessional conduct. After a hearing conducted in accordance
15with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing
16with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
17Government Code), the committee may deny, suspend, revoke, or
18place on probation the license of, or reprimand, censure, or
19otherwise discipline a naturopathic doctor in accordance with
20Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).
21(c) begin deleteExcept end deletebegin insertOn
and after January 1, 2018, except end insertas provided
22by subdivision (e), the committee shall require a naturopathic
23doctor to disclose on a separate document her or his probationary
24begin delete statusend deletebegin insert status, all of the information described in subdivision (f),
25the address of his or her BreEZe profile Internet Web page, and
26the committee’s telephone numberend insert to a patient, the patient’s
27guardian, or health care surrogate prior to the patient’s first visit
28following the probationary order while the naturopathic doctor is
29on probation in any of the following circumstances:
30(1) The accusation alleges, the statement of issues indicates, or
31the legal conclusions of an administrative law judge find that the
32naturopathic doctor is implicated in any of the
following:
33(A) Gross negligence.
34(B) Repeated negligent acts involving a departure from the
35standard of care with multiple patients.
36(C) Repeated acts of inappropriate and excessive prescribing
37of controlled substances, including, but not limited to, prescribing
38controlled substances without appropriate prior examination or
39without medical reason documented in medical records.
P21 1(D) Drug or alcohol abuse that threatens to impair a naturopathic
2doctor’s ability to practice medicine safely, including practicing
3under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
4(E) Felony conviction arising from or occurring during patient
5care or treatment.
6(F) Mental illness or other cognitive impairment that impedes
7a naturopathic doctor’s ability to safely practice medicine.
8(2) The committee ordered any of the following in conjunction
9with placing the naturopathic doctor on probation:
10(A) That a third-party chaperone be present when the
11naturopathic doctor examines patients as a result of sexual
12misconduct.
13(B) That the naturopathic doctor submit to drug testing as a
14result of drug or alcohol abuse.
15(C) That the naturopathic doctor have a monitor.
16(D) Restricting the naturopathic doctor totally or partially from
17prescribing controlled substances.
18(3) The
naturopathic doctor has not successfully completed a
19begin delete clinicalend delete
training program or any associated examinations required
20by the committee as a condition of probation.
21(4) The naturopathic doctor has been on probation more than
22once.
23(d) The naturopathic doctor shall obtain from each patient a
24signed receipt following the disclosure that includes a written
25explanation of how the patient can find further information on the
26naturopathic doctor’s probation on the committee’s Internet Web
27site.
28(e) The naturopathic doctor shall not be required to provide the
29disclosure prior to the visit as required by subdivision (c) ifbegin delete theend delete
30
begin insert
either of the following applies:end insert
31begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertTheend insert patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to
32comprehend the disclosurebegin delete orend deletebegin insert andend insert sign the receipt pursuant to
33subdivision (d) and a guardian or health care surrogate is
34unavailable to comprehend the disclosurebegin delete orend deletebegin insert andend insert sign the receipt.
35Inbegin delete such anend deletebegin insert
thatend insert instance, the naturopathic doctor shall disclose her
36or his status as soon as either the patient can comprehend the
37disclosure and sign the receipt or a guardian or health care surrogate
38is available to comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt.
P22 1
(2) The visit occurs in an emergency room and the naturopathic
2doctor who will be treating the patient during the visit is not known
3to the patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.
4(f) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the committee shall develop a
5standardized format for listing the
following information pursuant
6
begin delete to:end deletebegin insert
to subdivision (g):end insert
7(1) The listing of the causes for probation alleged in the
8accusation, the statement of issues, or the legal conclusions of an
9administrative law judge.
10(2) The length of the probation and the end date.
11(3) All practice restrictions placed on the naturopathic doctor
12by the committee.
13(g) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the committee shall provide the
14information listed in subdivision (f) as follows:
15(1) To an inquiring member of the public.
16(2) On any committee documents informing the public of
17probation orders and probationary licenses, including, but not
18limited to, newsletters.
19(3) In plain view on the BreEZe profile Internet Web page of a
20naturopathic doctor subject to probation or a probationary license.
Section 4962 is added to the Business and Professions
23Code, to read:
(a) begin deleteExcept end deletebegin insertOn and after January 1, 2018, except end insertas
25provided by subdivision (c), the board shall require a licensee to
26disclose on a separate document her or his probationarybegin delete statusend delete
27begin insert status, all of the information described in subdivision (e), the
28address of his or her BreEZe profile Internet Web page, and the
29board’s telephone numberend insert to a patient, the patient’s guardian, or
30health care surrogate prior to the patient’s first visit
following the
31probationary order while the licensee is on probation in any of the
32following circumstances:
33(1) The accusation alleges, the statement of issues indicates, or
34the legal conclusions of an administrative law judge find that the
35licensee is implicated in any of the following:
36(A) Gross negligence.
37(B) Repeated negligent acts involving a departure from the
38standard of care with multiple patients.
P23 1(C) Drug or alcohol abuse that threatens to impair a licensee’s
2ability to practice acupuncture safely, including practicing under
3the influence of drugs or alcohol.
4(D) Felony conviction arising from or occurring during patient
5care or treatment.
6(E) Mental illness or other cognitive impairment that impedes
7a licensee’s ability to safely practice acupuncture.
8(2) The board ordered any of the following in conjunction with
9placing the licensee on probation:
10(A) That a third-party chaperone be present when the licensee
11examines patients as a result of sexual misconduct.
12(B) That the licensee submit to drug testing as a result of drug
13or alcohol abuse.
14(C) That the licensee have a monitor.
15(3) The licensee has not successfully completed a training
16program or any associated examinations required by the board as
17a condition of probation.
18(4) The licensee has been on probation more than once.
19(b) The licensee shall obtain from each patient a signed receipt
20following the disclosure that includes a written explanation of how
21the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation
22on the board’s Internet Web site.
23(c) The licensee shall not be required to provide the disclosure
24prior to the visit as required by subdivision (a) ifbegin delete theend deletebegin insert either of the
25following applies:end insert
26begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertTheend insert patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to
27comprehend the disclosurebegin delete orend deletebegin insert andend insert sign the receipt pursuant to
28subdivision (b) and a guardian or health care surrogate is
29unavailable to comprehend the disclosurebegin delete orend deletebegin insert andend insert sign the receipt.
30Inbegin delete such anend deletebegin insert
thatend insert instance, the licensee shall disclose her or his status
31as soon as either the patient can comprehend the disclosure and
32sign the receipt or a guardian or health care surrogate is available
33to comprehend the disclosure and sign the receipt.
34
(2) The visit occurs in an emergency room and the licensee who
35will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the
36patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.
37(d) Section 4935 shall not apply to subdivisionbegin delete (a) or (b).end deletebegin insert (a),
38(b), or (c).end insert
P24 1(e) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, thebegin delete committeeend deletebegin insert boardend insert shall develop
2a standardized format for listing the following information pursuant
3to subdivision (f):
4(1) The listing of the causes for probation alleged in the
5accusation, the statement of issues, or the legal conclusions of an
6administrative law judge.
7(2) The length of the probation and the end date.
8(3) All practice restrictions
placed on thebegin delete licenceeend deletebegin insert
licenseeend insert by
9thebegin delete committee.end deletebegin insert board.end insert
10(f) Bybegin delete Julyend deletebegin insert Januaryend insert 1, 2018, the board shall provide the
11information listed in subdivision (e) as follows:
12(1) To an inquiring member of the public.
13(2) On any board documents informing the public of probation
14orders and probationary licenses, including, but not limited to,
15newsletters.
16(3) Upon
availability of a licensee’s BreEZe profile Internet
17Web page on the BreEZe system pursuant to Section 210, in plain
18view on the BreEZe profile Internet Web page of a licensee subject
19to probation or a probationary license.
O
97