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Bill

AB 408

Physician Health and Wellness Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marc Berman

California bill creating confidential physician wellness program for mental health and substance use treatment to encourage early intervention while protecting medical licensure.

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
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Bill Summary · AB 408

Legislative bill overview

AB 408 creates a Physician Health and Wellness Program in California designed to support physicians' mental health, substance use treatment, and overall wellbeing through confidential intervention and monitoring. The program would provide early intervention services while protecting physician licensure and employment when participants comply with treatment plans.

Why is this important

Physician burnout, depression, and substance use disorders occur at higher rates than the general population and contribute to medical errors, patient safety risks, and physician suicide. A confidential wellness program could encourage physicians to seek help without fear of immediate licensing penalties, potentially improving both physician wellbeing and patient safety outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Confidentiality vs. public safety: Balancing physician privacy protections against the public's right to know about impaired practitioners who may still see patients during treatment
  • Scope and enforcement: Defining which conditions qualify for the program, how compliance is monitored, and what happens if physicians violate treatment agreements
  • Funding and implementation: Determining costs, funding sources, and whether existing medical boards have capacity to administer a parallel wellness system alongside traditional discipline

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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