(a) The board may select and contract with necessary medical consultants who are licensed physicians and surgeons to assist it in its programs. Subject to Section 19130 of the Government Code, the board may contract with these consultants on a sole source basis.
(b) Every consultant retained under this section for a given investigation of a licensee shall be a specialist, as defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 651.