SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2164 by Assemblymember Marc Berman, a California Medical Association (CMA) bill to reduce mental health stigma for physicians. 

“Prioritizing mental health benefits not just physicians – who face high rates of burnout, depression, and suicide – but their patients as well,” said CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D. “CMA thanks Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Berman for ensuring physicians can access critical mental health services without fear of putting their careers at risk.” 

“When our health care providers struggle with substance use disorder and other conditions, we want them to seek out help. During the Medical Board’s most recent sunset review, doctors and medical students shared with me that sometimes they feel that they cannot participate in counseling or recovery programs for fear that they will jeopardize their license, even if they are confident that they can still practice medicine safely,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman, Chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. “AB 2164 ensures that physicians will not be punished for getting the assistance they need. Thank you to SEIU and CMA for their sponsorship of AB 2164, and thank you to Governor Newsom for signing the bill, which will help physicians stay mentally and emotionally healthy.” 

“AB 2164 will be an important first step in changing our professional culture so that doctors can seek treatment of mental health conditions as they would for any other diagnosis," said resident physician and member of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Karthik V. Sarma, M.D. "We thank Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Berman for ensuring that doctors won’t have to choose between their careers and seeking mental health care.”

Previously, the Medical Board of California’s licensure application for physicians and surgeons, including postgraduate training licensees, may have inadvertently discouraged physicians from seeking mental health services and perpetuated stigma around mental health.  

In August, the Medical Board of California revised its licensure application to make clear to physicians that seeking care is encouraged. AB 2164 will further encourage physicians to seek mental health care by prohibiting the medical board and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California from asking invasive questions that stigmatize care on licensure applications.  

AB 2164 was part of CMA’s priority bill package for the 2024 legislative session.