2008 LEGISLATIVE DAY IN SACRAMENTO disorders that an optometrist may treat and
Los Angeles to farm
also provides them unmitigated prescriptive
worker health clinics
authority. SB 1406 would eliminate the
in the Central Valley to
mandatory collaborative relationship
rural health facilities in
between optometrists and ophthalmologists
Northern California.
relating to the treatment of such disorders as glaucoma and AIDS-related infections of the
Funding for the STLRP has
eye. The bill places the oversight for such
been unpredictable and
authority under the purview of the Board of
insufficient. Every year,
Optometry, rather than the Medical Board.
demand for the program
In essence, the bill provides the optometrist
far exceeds available
the discretion to decide the limits of their
funding.
own education and scope of practice. This bill would close a
CMA coordinated a silent march to the capitol, which placed awareness and emphasis on the impact of the 10% Medi-Cal physician funding cuts.
Key points included:
loophole in current law
•
Overly Broad. Allows optometrists
that rewards insurers for
Although no legislation has been introduced,
to diagnose and treat glaucoma, eye
breaking the law by allowing fines and
it was important to use the meetings with
infections brought on by AIDS-related
penalty assessments to offset the fees they
legislators as an opportunity to educate
complications, and treat eye infections
pay to support the Department of Managed
them about this important program and how
in children. Allows optometrists to
Health Care (DMHC). This bill would instead
the decision to terminate the program will
perform nearly all eye surgery, including
use these fines and penalties to help get
compromise patient safety.
LASIK and cataract surgery. Provides
doctors into underserved communities by
prescriptive authority, including the
providing funding for the STLRP.
use of injectables and oral medications.
•
SCCMA Members in Attendance The SCCMA wishes to acknowledge and
Without fundamental medical education
Key points included:
thank the following members and Alliance
and training, these powers will
•
This bill will make sure insurance
members who participated in the CMA
jeopardize patient safety.
companies don’t benefit from breaking
Legislative Leadership Conference in
Lack of Oversight. Requires the
the law.
Sacramento on April 15:
This bill will help address doctor
Amara Balakrishnan, MD
shortages in underserved communities.
Jean Cassetta
California State Board of Optometry and not the Medical Board to determine
•
the appropriate education, training,
Judith Dethlefs, MD
and certification for optometrists to
Diversion Program Closure
Alexander Ding, MD
essentially practice medicine.
On July 26, 2007, the Medical Board
Len Doberne, MD
of California (MBC) abandoned their
Martin Fishman, MD
SB 1379: Funding for Physician Loan Repayment Program (CMASponsored Bill)
responsibility to the public by voting to
Meg Giberson
end the Physician Diversion Program after
James Hinsdale, MD
27 years. This program was designed to
Elliot Lepler, MD
In response to physician shortages in
help rehabilitate physicians with drug,
Bien Nguyen, MD
underserved areas, in 2002 the Legislature
alcohol, or mental health problems without
Bill Parrish
passed the California Physician Corps Loan
placing the public in danger. Instead of
Donald Prolo, MD
Repayment Program (later renamed to honor
addressing problems in the administration
Debbi Ricks
the late Steven M. Thompson). Physicians
of the program, as advocated by the CMA,
Siggie Stillman
selected for the program are eligible for
the MBC chose the easier course and voted
Howard Sutkin, MD
medical school loan repayment grants of up
instead to end the program completely. The
to $105,000, in exchange for a 3-year service
CMA is working with other stakeholders,
The CMA has been very effective this
commitment in a medically underserved
including the California Society for Addiction
year on the legislative front. All legislation
area of the state. Steve Thompson Loan
Medicine and the California Psychiatric
opposed by CMA was defeated in 2007, and
Repayment Program (STLRP) recipients
Association, to reconstruct a physician health
most supported legislation has either passed
work in a variety of settings all over the
program that will protect the public and
or remains under active consideration.
state, from community clinics in downtown
allow physicians to address their diseases.
the bulletin
JULY / AUGUST 2008
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