CMA Objects to Regulations that Would Expand Nonphysicians' Scope of Practice
[Posted 06/29/09]

In September, CMA objected to regulations proposed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that would have expanded the scope of practice of psychologists and potentially all other health care practitioners working in licensed health care facilities. The CDPH recently revised its proposal and while it no longer requires that medical staff membership be available to clinical psychologists in private hospitals, CMA still has concerns about the regulations.

The regulations continue to weaken the self-governance rights of medical staffs to establish and enforce certain rules for medical staff membership and privileges. The proposed regulations also remove specific reference to physician oversight in the performance of a number of critical duties, including discharging patients from hospitals, applying restraints to patients, and obtaining informed consent. The regulations as written could be broadly interpreted to allow unqualified health care professionals to carry out the duties of a physician or surgeon.

CMA has submitted comments on these revised regulations and will closely monitor this situation as it develops.

Click here to read the proposed regulations.