On October 8 and 9, 2016, Steven L. Simas, founder and owner of Simas & Associates, Ltd. spoke at the 2016 Annual Conference for the California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA). The conference was held at the Santa Clara Convention Center and had over several hundred physical therapists in attendance. This year’s conference featured Read more…
States are cracking down on harm to animals. California is no different: see Fines for Pet-Patient Harm to Increase. However, there is a big emphasis in making Veterinarians mandatory reporters of harm. By mandatory reporter, this means imposing an affirmative duty upon Veterinarians, Registered Veterinarian Technicians, and Veterinary Support staff Read more…
On January 1, 2014, AB 1000 went into effect. The Direct Access bill provided, among other things, authorization for a patient to directly access physical therapy services up to 45 days or 12 visits before requiring a physician to approve the plan of care for the patient. The physical therapy Read more…
The practice of veterinary dentistry in California is governed by Section 4826 of the Business and Professions Code and Section 2037 of the California Code of Regulations. The laws are clear in stating that performing dentistry upon an animal is the practice of veterinary medicine and needs to be done Read more…
Many licenses granted by the state of California are given with a finite time period. This finite time period permits the licensing agency the opportunity to review each licensee’s fitness to practice under a license… as well as collect a small fee for having done so. Renewal Requirements The license Read more…
The Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) has proposed a regulatory action to adopt a new section that they believe will better protect animal patients and California consumers. The proposed regulation will allow licensed physical therapists and registered veterinarian technicians to perform animal rehabilitation under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Currently, Read more…
After defending hundreds of health care licensing investigations and disciplinary actions from Boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs over the years, certain things have become very apparent. First, a licensing Board or Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) investigator is not contacting you for praise or accolades – there has Read more…
Obesity is no longer considered just a case of over-eating and lack of self-control. It is acknowledged as a “chronic progressive disease resulting from multiple environmental and genetic factors” by various International and National scientific organizations, including the World Health Organization. The National Institute of Health recommends bariatric surgery as Read more…
In the age of the Internet, it is imperative that any professional licensed by the State of California, from an accountant or contractor to a physician or physical therapist, look himself or herself up on the licensing board’s website on an occasional and frequent basis. The Department of Consumer Affairs–which Read more…
As one of California’s leading law firms representing licensed professionals and healthcare professionals throughout the State, Simas & Associates, Ltd. has and does represent physicians, accountants, contractors, veterinarians, and many other licensed professionals in hundreds of investigations throughout our many years of practice. Because this issue arises frequently, this blog is Read more…