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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
physicians; surgical centers; call coverage
Purpose
Effective January 1, 2027, classifies, as unprofessional conduct, the failure of an allopathic or osteopathic physician who performs surgeries at an outpatient surgical center to provide an updated call-coverage plan.
Background
The Arizona Medical Board and the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery are established to respectively regulate the practice of allopathic and osteopathic medicine in Arizona. Both boards are responsible for protecting the public from unlawful practitioners by licensing, regulating, investigating complaints and taking disciplinary action against licensees who engage in unprofessional conduct. Current statute defines the act of unprofessional conduct under each respective board (A.R.S. §§ 32-1401; 32-1403; 32-1803; and 32-1854).
An outpatient surgical center is a class of health care institution that has the facility, staffing and equipment to provide surgery and anesthesia services to a patient whose recovery, in the opinions of the patient’s surgeon and, if an anesthesiologist would be providing anesthesia services to the patient, the anesthesiologist, does not require inpatient care in a hospital (A.A.C. R9-10-101.158).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Classifies, as unprofessional conduct, the failure of an allopathic or osteopathic physician who performs surgeries at an outpatient surgical center to annually provide the center with the physician's call-coverage plan, including the hospital call coverage if applicable.
2. Requires an allopathic or osteopathic physician who performs surgeries at an outpatient surgical center to provide the center with an updated call-coverage plan, including the hospital call coverage if applicable, as changes are made.
3. Becomes effective on January 1, 2027.
House Action
HHS 2/9/26 DP 11-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/25/26 53-0-7
Prepared by Senate Research
March 16, 2026
JT/HD/ci