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This CPPPH newsletter aims to keep readers abreast of current developments and relevant information about physician health and wellbeing in California.
All past issues are available from the CPPPH website: www.CPPPH.org.
Definitions
Wellness activities address quality of life and professional satisfaction for all physicians.
Wellbeing activities focus on an individual physician and provide resources for identifying, evaluating, referring, treating, and monitoring for physicians when addiction, mental health, behavioral issues, and the effects of aging are a concern.
Confidential Assistance Over the Phone
The Physicians’ and Dentists’ Confidential Assistance Line is a 24-hour phone service providing completely confidential doctor-to-doctor assistance for physicians experiencing substance use or mental health issues. Call:
Send Us Your Comments
We want to hear from you. Send comments to gjara@cppph.org.
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To Get a Physician Health Program for California
Each issue of this newsletter has reported the status of AB408 since the bill was introduced in February of 2025. In November, the bill passed the Senate Committee on Business and Professions and became a 2-year bill assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
AB408, sponsored by the Medical Board of California and introduced by Assembly member Marc Berman, would authorize the MBC to establish a Physician Health and Wellness Program that follows the requirements detailed in the bill. See a copy of the full text of the bill HERE.
In the time now before a date is set for the hearing in Senate Committee on Judiciary, amendments are expected to be proposed and discussed at the February 25-27 meeting of the MBC.
CPPPH Newsletter will alert readers to the amendments when they are proposed.
Increased Complexity of Cases Referred to the Colorado PHP
As California takes these steps to get a Physician Health Program (PHP), the report of a study conducted in the Colorado PHP has shown an increase in the levels of severity of the cases handled by that program. See the 12-page article Trends in Case Complexity and Implications for Physician Health Programs: An Analysis of Referrals to the Colorado Physician Health Program (Journal of Medical Regulation Vol 111, No 3 December 2025, pp. 14-26).
The article identifies the factors that measure complexity and defines levels of complexity (mild, moderate, high.) Complexity ratings are assigned based on a combination of clinical complexity (i.e., the number of challenges the individual is experiencing) and administrative complexity (i.e., the time and attention required by the administering entity for oversight and management of the case.).
The authors offer potential reasons for the increasing complexity seen in their PHP – “increased stress in work settings, proposed changes in the regulatory environment that could threaten confidentiality, and the emergence of in-house wellness programs where more ‘simple’ cases may be being handled ‘in house’ while the more complex are being referred to PHPs where greater program structure combined with clinical experience is available.”
The authors provide this summary paragraph: “If the trend we have observed in Colorado is emblematic of other regions, PHPs can expect increased workloads to meet participant needs and provide the necessary support to maintain physician health as well as quality and safety in health care. To accommodate this, there is a need to strengthen PHPs nationwide and ensure stable and adequate funding.” They conclude that physician health programs need to prepare for increases in case complexity, for more referrals for care, higher levels of monitoring, and greater skill in diagnosing and addressing health and behavioral issues.
Podcast Elaborates on the Information
There is an excellent review, expansion and discussion of the information on which the study is based in a recent 28-minute episode of JMR Podcast. Host David Johnson, Chief Assessment Officer of the Federation of State Medical Boards, interviews one of the study’s authors, Michael Gendel, MD, Medical Director Emeritus of the Colorado Physician Health Program. LISTEN HERE: JMR Podcast – Trends in Case Complexity and Implications for Physician Health Programs.
Directory of Physician Assessment and Remedial Education Programs
This 2025 Directory is offered by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) as a courtesy resource guide for physicians seeking assessment programs and remedial education opportunities.
CPPPH Adds Consultation Services
Activities for 2026 include consultation services for individual medical staffs/medical groups as well as a continuation of the videoconference schedule for sessions on effective functioning of medical staff/medical group wellbeing committees.
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