09/26/03 15:26:05 GOVERNOR DAVIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 09/26/2003
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
L03:156
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/26/2003
GOVERNOR DAVIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 09/26/2003 SACRAMENTO
Governor Gray Davis has signed legislation that authorizes the California Medical Board to approve medical practice, on a temporary basis, by non-citizen physicians participating in a fellowship program in a clinic or hospital in a medically underserved area of the state.
"This bill will provide greater access to health care for California's diverse population," Governor Davis said. "It will also increase the number of medical providers who are culturally and linguistically competent."
AB 948 by Assemblymember Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) allows non-citizen physicians who are legally authorized to be in this country to participate in fellowship programs under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon who has an appointment with the medical school in the state.
These programs will take place in clinics or hospitals in medically underserved areas. Contingent upon the Medical Board's approval, the qualifying physicians would be supervised by a specialist in the area.
The Medical Board already has the authority to approve temporary medical practice by legally admitted non-citizen physicians and by U.S. citizen physicians with medical degrees from medical schools in foreign countries participating in postgraduate study in a California medical school or in a fellowship program in a specialty or subspecialty field.