More than 150 years ago, California doctors were confronted with the challenges of rampant quackery, epidemics of contagious disease, and a desperate need to establish standards for the profession. It was these conditions that would bring 75 physicians together in 1856, to create the Medical Society of the State of California. Renamed the California Medical Association in 1923, the professional association of California’s physicians is dedicated to “the science and art of medicine, protection of public health, and betterment of the medical profession.”

A look at CMA’s history confirms its place as a state and national health care leader with a strong commitment to safeguarding the doctor-patient relationship. The list of CMA accomplishments is long and includes establishment of the first medical schools in California, which later became Stanford and the University of California. CMA started the first public health department, began looking for ways to fund health care for the poor in the 1930s, and established some of the first blood banks and organ transplant guidelines in the country.

Today, CMA looks to the courts, as well as the state legislature, regulatory agencies and the federal government to influence health policy and improve the health care delivery system in California for doctors and patients.

In the courts, CMA filed a federal lawsuit and won against the three largest for-profit health plans in California for interfering with the doctor-patient relationship. CMA is a powerful force in state government by advocating for sound legislation that will positively affect the delivery of health care and the practice of medicine in the Golden State.

Lawmakers in Washington D.C. have made national health system reform a top priority and CMA is there fighting to expand access to quality, affordable health care and ensure a physician-led, patient-centered health care system in California.

The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties, and is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.

The Center for Legal Affairs is one of the centers within the CMA. The Legal Center is responsible for legal compliance and oversees CMA's legal library. The Center provides advice to CMA’s Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, non-profit subsidiaries and executive management regarding non-profit governance, ethics, and employment issues. On the advocacy front, CMA looks to the courts, as well as the legislature, regulatory agencies, and negotiations with interested parties to influence health policy and improve the health care delivery system in California. CMA attorneys develop and maintain an extensive library of documents, CMA ON-CALL, and publish a seven volume legal treatise, California Physician’s Legal Handbook (CPLH), which discuss court cases, laws and regulations as they apply to the practice of medicine in California. The CPLH handbook is used throughout the state and beyond by physicians, lawyers and other agencies and is available for public purchase.

If you would like additional information about CMA, its services or the CPLH handbook please write to legalinfo@cmanet.org.