Medical malpractice insurance: volunteer physicians and surgeons.

Under existing law, the Medical Practice Act, the Medical Board of California is responsible for the certification and regulation of physicians and surgeons. Existing law requires the board, in conjunction with the Health Professions Education Foundation, to study the issue of providing medical malpractice insurance to volunteer physicians and surgeons and to report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2008. The bill would create the Volunteer Insured Physicians Program, administered by the board, to provide specified medical malpractice insurance coverage to volunteer physicians providing uncompensated care to patients pursuant to a contract with a qualified health care entity, as defined. The bill would provide funding for the program from the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California for a limited period of time. The bill would require annual reports to the Legislature until January 1, 2015.