New Bill Would Tighten Regulations on Medical Peer Review System
Two California lawmakers are co-authoring a new bill (SB 820) that combines their previous legislative efforts to enhance the state's medical peer review system, the Chico Enterprise-Record reports.
The new legislation integrates Sen. Sam Aanestad's (R-Grass Valley) SB 58 with a similar measure by Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino).
The measure would modify the way physicians evaluate colleagues' work in order to better protect patients and ensure fair treatment of medical workers.
Linda Halderman, senior policy adviser to Aanestad, said one provision would accelerate the process for halting a physician's practice if patients were at risk.
Another proposal would allow physicians to have attorneys present during hearings against them, she said.
Partner Assembly Bill
Halderman said legislators have tied SB 820 with a companion bill (AB 120) by Assembly member Mary Hayashi (D-Castro Valley).
For the new regulations to take effect, the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) must approve both bills (Mitchell, Chico Enterprise-Record, 7/16).
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