Physician License Renewal Form No Longer Requires Social Security Number Because of Potential for Identity Theft
[Posted 03/16/06]

Responding to identity theft concerns, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) will no longer require full Social Security numbers (SSNs) on physicians’ biannual medical license renewal forms. The new form only requires the last four digits of the licensees’ SSNs.

CMA—at the urging of a number of its resident and young physician members—had previously approached the medical board about changing the policy requiring SSNs on license renewals. Despite support from the medical board and other licensing boards, DCA, which processes professional license renewals in California, had initially resisted the change. DCA finally implemented the policy change in part because of the demonstrated real risk of identity theft stemming from the burglary of mail from a medical board office in Sacramento.

Contact: Sandra Bressler, 415/882-3377 or sbressler@cmanet.org.