CA SB1177

Authorizes the Medical Board of California to establish a voluntary Physician and Surgeon Health and Wellness Program to identify and support early intervention for physicians and surgeons with substance abuse issues.

Requires the board to contract with a private third-party administering entity with expertise in substance abuse treatment for healing arts professionals to manage the program.

Mandates participating physicians and surgeons enter into individual agreements requiring them to pay all expenses related to treatment, monitoring, laboratory tests, and other program activities.

Establishes the Physician and Surgeon Health and Wellness Program Account within the Medical Board's Contingent Fund, with fees from participants deposited therein upon legislative appropriation.

Protects confidentiality of voluntary participants not referred by the board, but allows the administering entity to report program withdrawals or terminations to the board for oversight and compliance purposes.