By Staff Reporter |

The Arizona Medical Board has been operating in a matter that puts public safety at risk, according to a new audit.

A sunset review released earlier this week by the Arizona Auditor General found the board is failing to resolve complaints in a timely manner, establish sufficient oversight and accountability mechanisms, and act within or fully exercise its statutory authority. 

Statute requires the board consist of 12 governor-appointed members to serve five-year terms. However, as of their latest meeting on Wednesday, the board had nine of its 12 required positions filled, one more than what the audit noted back in February of this year. 

The auditor general warned that these failings outlined in this latest audit present an increased risk to public safety and contribute to inefficient and ineffective operations, statutory noncompliance, unauthorized disciplinary actions, and waste of public resources. 

According to the audit, 78% of complaints closed in fiscal year 2024 weren’t resolved within 180 days as required; some complaints took up to 4.5 years to resolve. Additionally, the board failed to consistently use its authority and enforcement options when resolving complaints.

There were 1,069 complaints opened up in fiscal year 2024, and 1,095 complaints opened up in fiscal year 2025. 

The nature of these complaints concern allegations that a licensee may be medically incompetent, guilty of unprofessional conduct, or mentally or physically unable to safely engage in the practice of medicine. 

Some of the complaints that were resolved past the statutorily required time frame included allegations of a licensee sexually harassing staff, inappropriately performing surgical procedures, inappropriately prescribing controlled substances, and failing to query the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program as required. 

One complaint that took more than three years to resolve concerned a licensee allegedly failing to obtain consent from a patient prior to conducting a medically unnecessary procedure. Nine months later, the board received a second complaint alleging the same licensee operated without informing a patient with a recent infection at the surgical site of the risks and failed to provide adequate post-operative care, treatment, and communication. The board then received two additional complaints for the licensee during those three years to resolve the initial complaint. Although the board substantiated the allegations per the audit, the board allowed the licensee to continue practicing for more than three years. 

The audit noted that the board has historically failed to investigate and resolve complaints in a timely manner. Five prior audits spanning 43 years have raised that same finding, without sufficient resolution. 

The audit also found that the board and its executive directors regularly delegated key responsibilities to staff but didn’t establish oversight and accountability mechanisms necessary to preserve operations, public resources, and statutory and policy compliance.

Although the board wasn’t timely on complaint resolutions, the audit did find that the board was issuing and renewing licenses, registrations, and permits in a timely manner. 

As of February, there were more than 35,000 active licensees and registrations. 

The auditor general recommended the board implement complaint-handling policies and procedures inclusive of mechanisms for tracking, monitoring, identifying, and resolving delays. Additionally, the audit recommended improving staff productivity and performance standards, and establishing accountability measures to ensure the alignment with those standards. 

And the auditor general recommended stricter alignment with statutory processes for taking disciplinary actions, along with training for board members on their full statutory authority and enforcement options. 

The auditor general’s office contracted with Walker & Armstrong, an independent CPA firm, to conduct the audit. 

Raquel Rivera, the board’s executive director, issued a response agreeing to all of the audit’s findings and recommendations. A follow-up will occur in six months, also conducted by Walker & Armstrong.

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