CA SB1483

Creates the Physician Health Program administered by a 14-member Physician Health, Awareness, and Monitoring Quality Oversight Committee within the Department of Consumer Affairs to promote awareness and provide voluntary treatment referrals for physicians with impairments from alcohol, substance abuse, mental disorders, or other health conditions affecting safe practice.

Increases biennial physician and surgeon license renewal fees by $39.50 beginning July 1, 2013, with revenue deposited into a new Physician Health, Awareness, and Monitoring Quality Trust Fund to fund the program.

Requires participating physicians to enter written agreements with the program committing to pay treatment expenses and comply with monitoring conditions; participation remains confidential unless the physician was referred by the board as a condition of probation.

Mandates the program immediately report to the board and committee any participant who fails to meet program requirements, including failure to cease practice or submit to evaluation and treatment.

Requires the department to select a program contractor through a competitive procurement process with the committee serving as evaluation body, and mandates annual reporting to the Legislature and biennial audits of program operations.