Calif. Physicians To Start Posting Contact Details for Medical Board
California physicians will have until June 27 to post signs in their offices or otherwise inform patients about how to contact the Medical Board of California to lodge quality of care complaints, HealthLeaders Media reports.
All 125,000 physicians licensed by the state medical board are required to comply with the new rule.
Rule Details
The regulation comes in response to concerns that some patients do not notify the medical board about quality-of-care lapses.
Under the rule, physicians must provide a notice with the name, phone number and Web site of the medical board in one of three ways. They can:
- Prominently place the notice in documents given to patients or their representatives;
- Include the information in a written statement that is signed and dated by patients or their representatives; or
- Post a sign in an area of the medical office that is clearly visible to patients.
Possible Impact of Rule
The medical board said more consumer information could help it discipline physicians for misconduct and post quality complaints on its Web site.
However, the California Medical Association has criticized the new rule for potentially undermining the doctor-patient relationship.
Similar notification requirements currently exist in other states, including Georgia, Idaho, Kansas and Texas (Clark, HealthLeaders Media, 4/6).
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