Medical Board Requires "Notice to Consumers" Effective June 27
LACMA and CMA Develop Resources to Help You Comply

California physicians will by June 27, 2010 be required to inform their patients that they are licensed by the Medical Board of California, and to provide patients with the Board’s contact information.

The new regulations require physicians to comply by one of three methods. LACMA and CMA have developed resources that comply with the regulations while highlighting your commitment to quality care and to your willingness to have your patients bring their concerns directly to you.

Regardless of which method you choose, the notice must read as follows: “NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, (800) 633-2322, www.mbc.ca.gov.”

According to the medical board, physicians, not facilities, are responsible for compliance with this regulation. In group settings, only one sign must be posted (should that option be chosen), but it must be posted in a location where it can be seen by all patients.

Despite CMA objections, the Office of Administrative Law recently approved these regulations, which are intended to let consumers know where to go for information on or with complaints about California medical doctors. CMA believes these regulations are an unnecessary administrative burden as state law already requires physicians to post their medical license or wear a name tag indicating their licensing status.

Member Resources for Complying

IMPORTANT: Practices only need to utilize one of these methods in order to comply; you do not need to utilize all three.

1. 1) Written Statement
   To comply using this option, the practice would include the notice in a written statement, signed and dated by the patient or patient's representative, and kept in that patient's file, stating the patient understands the physician is licensed and regulated by the board. LACMA and CMA have developed a "Commitment to Quality Notice" template that is compliant with the regulation, and encourages patients to bring their concerns directly to you.
   
   Click here to download "Commitment to Quality Notice" template.
2. 2) Adding the Notice to Existing Patient Materials
   To comply using this option, the practice would include the notice in a statement on letterhead, new patient welcome packets, discharge instructions, or other document that is given to a patient or the patient's representative.  This option allows the practice to incorporate the notice into existing patient materials rather than creating a new notice. However, in order to be compliant, the notice must be placed immediately above the patient's signature line in at least 14-point type.
   
   The notice must read as follows: "NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, (800) 633-2322, www.mbc.ca.gov."
3. 3) Posting a Sign
   To comply using this option, the practice would post a sign in an area that is conspicuous to patients.  This could be either the waiting room or patient exam rooms. The sign must include the notice printed in at least 48-point Arial font. The LACMA and CMA have developed a poster that highlights your commitment to quality and membership in the medical association and includes the required notice.  Upon request, the LACMA will create a poster listing the LACMA-CMA members from your practice and their specialties. The posters will be sent via email as a PDF document. The practice will then need to print the PDF poster on at least 11" x 14" paper in order to be compliant, which can be done at local printing/photocopy stores.  Should you add physicians to your practice in the future, the LACMA will provide you with an updated PDF poster.
   
   Click here to view a sample "Commitment to Quality Poster"
   Click here to download the "Commitment to Quality Poster" Request Form (complete and fax to LACMA at (213) 226-0353)   
    
   For physicians who do not object to posting only the required Notice to Consumers language in 48-point Arial font, the Medical Board has created a very basic sign which can be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper. 
   
   Click here to access the Medical Board's sign.