SB 639: Medical professionals: course requirements.

(1)Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and requires the board to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. Existing law requires general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course related to geriatric medicine or the care of older patients.

This bill would revise the above-described course requirements to include the special care needs of patients with dementia.

(2)Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, establishes the Board of Registered Nursing to license and regulate the practice of nursing. Existing law requires the board to establish standards for continuing education consisting of specified approved coursework. Existing law requires a licensee under the act to submit a statement to the board, under penalty of perjury, indicating compliance with those continuing education requirements.

This bill would require a nurse practitioner who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to certify that they have completed at least 20% of all existing mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of gerontology, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients at the time of renewal. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, establishes the Physician Assistant Board for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants. Existing law authorizes the board to require a licensee to complete specified continuing education coursework as a condition of license renewal.

This bill would require a physician assistant who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older to complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients.

(4)This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 2811.5 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 2270 and AB 2581 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.