CA AB2487

Allows physicians and surgeons to complete a one-time 12-credit-hour continuing education course on opiate-dependent patient treatment and management as an alternative to the existing mandatory pain management course.

Requires the 12-credit-hour course to include at least 8 hours of training in buprenorphine treatment or other similar medicinal treatment for opioid use disorders.

Physicians and surgeons meeting federal "qualifying physician" requirements under the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act of 2016 are automatically deemed to have satisfied the requirements.

Physicians choosing this alternative must complete the course requirements by their next license renewal date.

The Medical Board of California is responsible for determining whether physicians have met these requirements.