The Southern California Physician, May, 2002

1. Stopped legislation that would have placed an undue burden on physicians for continuation of coverage after the physician terminates their contract with a health plan.

2. Thwarted scope-of-practice encroachments from nurse midwives and pharmacists. The proposed legislation would have allowed nurse midwives to prescribe Schedule II drugs outside of hospital settings or protocols. The other proposal would have allowed pharmacists to dispense medications without first getting prior approval from the prescribing physician.

3. Sponsored successful legislation addressing physician shortages in underserved areas by establishing a directory of physicians, primarily specialists, willing to "fly in" to areas of need.

4. Defeated legislation that sought to make hospitals and peer-review committees liable for injuries caused by a "licentiate" through acts similar to acts that occurred previously and should have been subject to an 805 report.

5. Defeated legislation that would have created easier discovery of peer-review proceedings; the purpose being to provide a greater "spotlight" on those proceedings, and make it more difficult for peer-review bodies to fail to take appropriate action

6. Supported successful legislation that would provide matching grant funds to counties and local initiatives for providing health insurance coverage to children who do not receive health benefits through either Healthy Families or Medi-Cal.

7. Co-sponsored a successful bill that substantially increases the fund for reimbursement of emergency and on-call physician services to uninsured patients.

8. Sponsored legislation that would prohibit health plans from delegating responsibility for payment of emergency services and care to any other entity, unless such a delegated entity has demonstrated the ability to promptly pay claims.

9. Sponsored successful legislation that would, for the first time, provide valuable information on the numbers of physicians in active practice throughout the state and their specialty affiliation. This information could help demonstrate the physician shortage problem in California.

10. Sponsored legislation that would prohibit capitated health plans from delegating risk for injectable medications, including chemotherapy and pharmaceuticals for hemophilia, and highly specialized medical procedures such as organ transplants.

For more information, contact Lance Lewis, CMA Government Relations, at (916) 444-5532.

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