A Physician Health Program for California
This issue is devoted to a status report on where things stand in January of 2018 in the efforts to get a Physician Health Program for California.
SB1177 (passed in 2016) authorized the Medical Board of California to establish a Physician Health and Wellness Program “as defined.” “As defined” means many things specified in the authorizing legislation. (For a complete copy, Click HERE.) Perhaps the most important element is that the new Program must comply with each of the 16 Uniform Standards created in 2010 by SB1441.
In October, the Medical Board sent its draft regulations for how the new Program will operate to Department of Consumer Affairs for review. For a complete copy of the draft regulations that the Medical Board adopted and sent forward, Click HERE.
After those regulations complete all the required steps and the final version is adopted (note that changes can still be made during that process), MBC will issue a Request for Proposal from any who wish to be selected as the administrating entity for the new program.
Then, after the administrating entity has been selected, MBC will draft a second set of regulations to set the fee that can be charged to the participants.
Uniform Standards
Meanwhile, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has set in motion a review of the Uniform Standards “to determine whether the existing criteria should be updated to reflect recent developments in testing research and technology.” This review presents a vitally important opportunity to bring about changes in what will become the foundation for the new MBC Physician Health and Wellness Program.
For a copy of the Uniform Standards as they exist now in regulation (16CCR 1361.5), Click HERE.
A Vitally Important Opportunity
CPPPH is cooperating with a new Task Force convened by the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) to prepare a list of recommended changes to the Uniform Standards and present them to the DCA. The intent is to pave the way for California to have a Program that will be most able to protect the public by attracting physicians into the program before patient harm. The recommendations from CSAM to DCA will show what changes would bring those standards into line with established clinical experience and expert consensus.
Keeping You Informed
All medical staff leaders and all Wellbeing Committee members should get enough information so they can consider how they may use the new Physician Health and Wellness Program when it becomes available. CPPPH is holding special sessions, offered with no registration fee, for medical staffs and medical groups to give them early information about this important new resource.
Upcoming Events
What You Will Need to Know about the Medical Board of California’s New Physician Health and Wellness Program: How It Will Work; When It May Be Available To You; What Your Role Will Be
- Saturday, March 3, 2018
9:00 am to 12:00 noon
San Diego County Medical Society
5575 Ruffin Road
San Diego, CA 92123
- Saturday, March 24, 2018
9:00 am to 12:00 noon
LAC- USC Medical Center
2051 Marengo Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Northern California dates will be added.
These are special sessions, offered with no registration fee, for medical staffs and medical groups to give them early information about this important new resource. Click HERE for information and to register. There is no fee but advance registration is necessary.
Follow CPPPH on Social Media
You can now get the latest announcements, news and information on the CPPPH guidelines, programs and services by following us on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn.
Click the image(s) below to follow us:
|
