Full access
Professional News
Published Online: 5 November 2010

Calif. Clinicians Must Comply With Truth-in-Advertising Law

Rich DalyAuthors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 45, Number 21
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.45.21.psychnews_45_21_014

Abstract

The measure, for which psychiatrists have long advocated, should answer patients' questions over whether they are receiving treatment from a medical doctor or someone with a Ph.D. or other degree.
California psychiatrists and other physicians have won a long-sought victory with the enactment of a law in September that requires expanded patient notification by clinicians about their highest level of education and the specific licenses they hold.
California physician organizations, including the California Psychiatric Association, waged a two-year legislative battle with advocates for allied health workers before California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the measure (AB 583) to provide expanded “truth in advertising.”
The law requires health care providers to communicate in writing to all of their patients their licensure and academic-degree information. It also requires health care practitioners to display this information prominently on their Web sites.
The bill applies to all health care practitioners, with limited exceptions for certain health care facilities and laboratories, including for “a person who provides professional medical services to enrollees of a health care service plan that exclusively contracts with a single medical group in a specific geographic area . . . .”
“The California legislation is the type of measure that psychiatrists, like other medical specialists, wanted to see enacted, because it helps to make patients better informed,” said Paula Johnson, a deputy director of APA's Department of Government Relations, in an interview with Psychiatric News.
California is the latest state to address patient confusion about the qualifications of their clinician. Similar patient-notification laws were enacted in recent years in Oklahoma and Florida, said Johnson.
Federal legislation with a similar goal, the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act (HR 5295), was introduced earlier this year by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and is supported by APA. That bill, which would require all health care professionals to fully and accurately inform patients of their qualifications and training, was referred to a committee and has not advanced beyond that stage (Psychiatric News, June 18).

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News
Volume 45 • Number 21 • November 5, 2010
Pages: 9

History

Published online: 5 November 2010
Published in print: November 5, 2010

Authors

Affiliations

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.