State Approves Regulations to Expand Scope for Nonphysicians

Despite continued opposition by CMA, the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved regulations removing requirements that physicians be involved in critical health care activities in hospitals, such as patient admissions, medical examinations, and patient transfers. The regulations would instead allow these activities to be performed by a “licensed health care provider acting within the scope of his or her licensure.” Portions of the proposed regulatory language that would have weakened medical staff self-governance and mandated that clinical psychologists be granted medical staff membership in private hospitals were removed due to opposition by CMA and the Psychiatric Association. However, CMA remains deeply concerned about the impact that these regulations will have on patient care and is currently exploring all appropriate avenues to seek relief.

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