California Extends Medical Staff Reappointment Cycle to Three Years, Aligning with Federal Standards
On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1199 into law, which will take effect on January 1, 2027. This new legislation amends Business and Professions Code sections 2282 and 2453, and Health and Safety Code section 1275.6, to allow for medical staff reappointment cycles to occur every three years instead of the previous two-year requirement. The bill mandates that the governing bodies of general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals ensure their medical staff establish controls for maintaining high standards of professional ethical practices and demonstrating competency every three years. Furthermore, the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) will be prohibited from requiring routine reappointments more frequently than every three years.
