VALLEYWIDE : ‘Deadbeat Doctors’ Measure Signed

Gov. Pete Wilson signed into law Monday legislation aimed at preventing so-called “deadbeat doctors” from practicing in California.

The legislation, by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), is designed to block renewal of medical licenses for doctors who fail to live up to their obligations to provide medical care for the poor under federal scholarship and loan programs.

“There are at least 120 doctors in California who will no longer be able to ‘take the money and run,’ ” said Katz. He added that the amount of money owed by the 120 doctors is between $30 million and $60 million.

Students who obtain scholarships through the National Health Services Corps are required after they graduate to practice in areas defined by the federal government as underserved; if they don’t, they must repay the government at a rate of three times the value of the scholarship. Those receiving loans under the Health Education Assistance Loan program are allowed to waive repayment if they practice for a certain length of time in an underserved area.

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, allows the California Medical Board to refuse to renew the licenses of doctors who have not completed service requirements or repaid their loans. Doctors must renew licenses every two years.