Physicians and surgeons: dentists: unprofessional conduct.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information on whether doctors and dentists must notify patients if they receive an extra payment that should have been returned, nor does it specify the consequences for non-compliance beyond reducing the refund period to 21 days.

Doctors and Dentists: Shortened Duplicate Payment Refund Deadline

This law shortens the time limit for doctors and dentists in California to refund duplicate payments from patients to 21 days.

What This Bill Does

• Reduces the deadline for physicians and surgeons, as well as dentists, to return extra money paid by patients to 21 days after a patient requests it or is notified about it.

Who It Names or Affects

• Doctors and dentists in California
• Patients of doctors and dentists

Terms To Know

Duplicate payment

When a patient pays for services, but the doctor or dentist gets paid again by another company like insurance.

Unprofessional conduct

Actions that are not proper and can lead to punishment from the licensing board.

Limits and Unknowns

• Doesn't specify how doctors and dentists should identify duplicate payments.
• Doesn't change what happens if a doctor or dentist doesn't follow these rules.
• The bill has passed both chambers but hasn't been signed into law yet.

Official Summary Text

SB 1416, as introduced, Wahab.
Physicians and surgeons: dentists: unprofessional conduct.
Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California, that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing law, including the Medical Practice Act and the Dental Practice Act, deem certain violations by licensees to be unprofessional conduct subject to discipline by the licensee’s licensing board.
Existing law requires a physician and surgeon or dentist to refund to a patient any amount paid by the patient for services rendered that was subsequently paid to the physician and surgeon or dentist by a third-party payor and that constitutes a duplicate payment, as prescribed. Existing law requires that the above-described duplicate payment refund be paid, if requested by the patient, either within 30 days of that
request or, if the duplicate payment has not been received, within 30 days of receipt of the duplicate payment by the physician and surgeon or dentist. Existing law requires, if the patient does not request a refund, a physician and surgeon or dentist who knows, or should have known, of the receipt of the duplicate payment to notify the patient, as prescribed, and to refund the payment within 30 days of that notification, except as specified. Existing law makes a violation of the above requirements unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary proceedings as described above.
This bill would reduce the duration for a physician and surgeon or dentist to refund a duplicate payment following patient request or patient notification to 21 days.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF