The California Attorney General recently published an opinion (No. 15-301) clarifying when a report under California Business and Professions Code section 805 must be filed. Section 805 requires hospitals and other entities to file a report with the relevant state healing arts agency “within 15 days after the effective date” of certain adverse actions taken by a peer review body against certain licensed health care providers. The Medical Board of California asked for clarification regarding the term “effective date,” specifically whether the effective date is the date of a proposed action, or the date on which a proposed action is adopted and final. The Attorney General concluded that for purposes of Section 805, the “effective date” is the date that the peer review body’s appeals process is completed and the decision is final.
