Two critical bills opposed by the California Medical Association (CMA) – Assembly Bill 1570 and Senate Bill 784 – were both held on the suspense file in the Appropriations Committee of their respective houses of origin, ensuring they will not move forward in the legislature.

AB 1570 would have expanded the scope of practice for optometrists to perform advanced surgical and laser procedures with minimal training, at a great risk to patient safety.

SB 784 would have provided a corporate bar exemption for district hospitals. CMA opposed the bill because it would undermine long-standing protections, which provide patients with the peace of mind that when they see a doctor, the doctor is focused on their care, not the profits or interests of their employers. 

“CMA appreciates all the physicians who lent their voices to opposing these bills,” said CMA president Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D. “Our members are the backbone of our grassroots and advocacy campaigns, and this outcome is a testament to their efforts.”